NEW DELHI: The government is planning to set up at least one electric vehicle charging kiosk in 69,000 petrol pumps across the country, Union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari said on Monday while urging automobile industry to come together to achieve broader national agenda of reducing pollution.
Addressing a virtual conference on electric mobility, the minister urged the industry leaders to encourage the development of the local ancillary industry instead of depending on imports.
He also said the the government is trying to create an ecosystem to accelerate the offtake of electric vehicles in the country. The minister said battery charging ecosystem is crucial for the success of accelerating the electric mobility. Currently, the charging points for electric vehicles are confined only to a few areas in metro cities. Gadkari said the government is working towards making a portion of the upcoming Delhi-Mumbai Expressway an electric highway allowing electric “road trains”, which can replace two to three trucks.
