Will vehicles no longer need petroleum products to run? The government plans to make India a nation with 100% electric vehicles and is already considering making electric cars available for zero down payment.

At a programme organised by CII Young India, Power Minister Piyush Goyal said India can become the first nation where 100 percent vehicles will be run on electricity, adding the government is trying to arrange funds for such an initiative.

Goyal said that a group has been formed under Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari. Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Minister of State for Environment and Forests Prakash Javadekar would also be a part of this group. He said that discussions would be held in the first week of April on whether India can become a nation with 100% electricity run vehicles by 2030.

Would it be possible to effectively utilize the savings accumulated by the consumers by switching to a less expensive alternative- electricity. The government says that people would be able to buy an electric car from the money that they would save by not having to buy petrol and diesel.

He said that the government is considering whether electric cars can be made available at a zero down payment. Citing the example of LED lights, Goyal said that because of the huge requirement for LED lights, the government has been able to bring down the purchase price to Rs. 64.41, which in February 2014 used to be Rs. 310.

Mentioning electricity bills, he said there is no need to increase the fee, adding one just needs to be smart and effectively utilize the electricity. He further called for an open minded approach and an honest thinking.