Union Transport Ministry, ISRO working to make electric buses economically viable



Staff Reporter 
Union Transport Ministry and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) are working in collaboration to develop cost-effective battery technologies to make electric buses economically viable. As per the communique issued by the office of Nitin Gadkari, Union Transport Minister, a ‘breakthrough’ could be anticipated in 6-12 months. 
The cost-effective battery technologies will help in cutting down on carbon emissions, especially in the urban areas. “It has been decided to design electric transportation system for buses in collaboration with ISRO,” stated the communique issued by the office of Nitin Gadkari. On Saturday, a meeting was held in this regard between the officials of Ministry of Transport and Highways and Ministry of Science and Technology and ISRO. 
In the meeting, discussion was held on how to develop cost-effective solutions in battery-technologies so that electric buses become economically viable. Ministry of Road Transport and ISRO will work closely on the project. Ministry of Road Transport will submit all its documents with regard to battery-specification requirement to ISRO, within a week. ISRO will develop a time-bound programme for development of these commercial batteries. Ministry of Road Transport will bear the cost for the research. 
“We want to promote research and innovation in transportation technology. Ministry of Road Transport is committed to it. One can anticipate some breakthrough in some 6 to 12 months,” it was stated in the press communique from Gadkari’s office. 
Earlier, while addressing a seminar on chemicals and plastics industry in the city on Friday, Gadkari had disclosed that he had got the idea of affordable battery-driven vehicles while reading a magazine on board a flight. Some days ago, he had revealed in Delhi that he had asked ISRO to develop Lithium-ion batteries that could be used in old diesel cars so as to facilitate the process of replacing diesel-driven vehicles that were more than 10 years old. If the old diesel-driven vehicles could be converted into electric vehicles, it would reduce emission especially in urban areas. Gadkari has been advocating use of hybrid engines and appropriate amendments to relevant laws to accomodate newer innovations. 

(22-08-15)

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