New Delhi: Even as fuel costs continue to rise, creating considerable public outrage, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari arrived in Parliament today in a green hydrogen-powered automobile, the countryโs first of its kind. As part of a pilot initiative, the Minister drove himself from his home to Parliament this morning. Mr. Gadkari has spoken frequently about the need for a shift to renewables and green energy.
The car is said to be capable of covering 600 kilometres on a single tank, lowering the cost of travel to just $2 per kilometre. It also appears that filling the vehicleโs gasoline tank takes only five minutes.
The Minister can be seen in the front seat of the car, next to the driver. The white car has a green licence plate, which is also seen on electric vehicles.
Mr Gadkari had earlier this month launched Indiaโs first hydrogen-based advanced โFuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV)โ โ Toyota Mirai. He had also shared a video of how green hydrogen can power a car. At the launch, he said that green hydrogen was โan efficient, eco-friendly and sustainable energy pathway to make India energy self-reliantโ.
In January, the Minister stated that he will drive a hydrogen-powered vehicle. โThe Toyota Corporation of Japan has provided me with a vehicle that operates on green hydrogen. As a test study (on alternative fuel), I shall use it personally โhe had stated
Mr Gadkari has long advocated for a green fuel transition, claiming that rapid advancements in green fuel technology will lower the cost of electric cars (EVs), bringing them on level with gasoline-powered vehicles in two years.
Meanwhile, the fuel price hike on Wednesday for the eighth time in the last nine days. In Delhi, petrol and diesel rates were hiked by 80 paise a litre, respectively, according to a price notification of state fuel retailers.
A litre of petrol in the national capital will now cost โน 101.01 as against โน 100.21 previously, while diesel will be sold at โน 92.27 from โน 91.47 per litre earlier.
In Mumbai, petrol will be retailed at โน 115.88 per litre, while diesel will be sold at โน 100.10 per litre. Among the metro cities, fuel rates are the highest in Mumbai. The prices vary across the states due to value-added tax (VAT).
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