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₹600 for 1K km: Gadkari proposes Rs 3 EV charging

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The initiative highlights how falling lithium-ion battery prices and low charging tariffs can slash long-distance passenger travel expenses compared to petrol and diesel. Government estimates project rapid adoption alongside an escalating demand for municipal transit, requiring 10,000 electric buses inside two years. At the same time, the transition incorporates heavy-duty hydrogen transit and biofuel integration, supported by domestic vehicle manufacturers launching flex-fuel platforms. Furthermore, agricultural residue conversion through the Gobardhan scheme is actively turning stubble and grass into compressed biogas to address crop burning.

Key points

  • Declining lithium-ion battery expenses are accelerating consumer vehicle adoption and wid…: Declining lithium-ion battery expenses are accelerating consumer vehicle adoption and widening the operational cost gap over traditional combustion engines.
  • Automakers across the country are readying flex-fuel cars and motorcycles to operate on p…: Automakers across the country are readying flex-fuel cars and motorcycles to operate on pure bioethanol fuels.
  • Agricultural fuel production has significantly increased crop values, returning Rs 45,000…: Agricultural fuel production has significantly increased crop values, returning Rs 45,000 crore to regional farmers.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Speaking at KPMG ENRich 2026, Gadkari said he had made the suggestion to the Maharashtra Chief Minister. He also asked the audience how many people owned electric vehicles. Around 20-25% raised their hands, he said, before predicting that the figure would reach 35-40% the following year.

“Next year, 35-40% of you will be using electric vehicles,” Gadkari told the gathering.

How much would it cost to travel 1,000 km in an EV, petrol and diesel car?

At an electricity tariff of Rs 3 per unit and an assumed efficiency of 5 km per unit, an electric car would need 200 units of electricity to cover 1,000 km, costing just Rs 600. A petrol car delivering 15 km per litre would need around 66.67 litres, costing approximately Rs 7,414 at Mumbai's assumed petrol price of Rs 111.21 per litre. A diesel car with the same mileage would cost around Rs 6,522, based on a diesel price of Rs 97.83 per litre. This means the EV could save around Rs 6,814 compared with the petrol car and Rs 5,922 compared with the…

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