Eicher Trucks and Buses, a division of VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV) Limited, has collaborated with ITC Limited to advance sustainable and eco-friendly mid-mile logistics solutions at various ITC locations in India. In this partnership, ITC, along with its vendor partners, will gradually deploy over 100 units of India’s inaugural 5.5-tonne electric vehicle, the Eicher Pro 2055 EV, for mid-mile transportation from ITC warehouses to customer destinations.
The initial deliveries commenced in December 2023, covering key metros such as Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Pune, and Ahmedabad. This joint effort underscores both brands’ commitment to reducing their carbon footprint and supporting India’s ‘Net Zero’ objectives.
Vinod Aggarwal, Managing Director and CEO of VECV expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating that it aligns with VECV’s goal of providing modern logistics solutions focused on enhanced productivity and efficiency. The Eicher Pro 2055 EV, equipped with a 100% connected ecosystem, including the My Eicher app and an industry-first Uptime Centre, aims to ensure maximum uptime for Eicher customers.
The vehicle, featuring a 12ft deck length and two container solutions, will offer both fast and slow charging options tailored to specific application requirements. The service package considers factors such as charging infrastructure availability, operational needs, charging time limitations, battery capacity, and overall energy management strategies for the fleet. Additionally, the vehicle will incorporate Eicher’s advanced telematics solution and receive support from the My Eicher services.
Sandeep Sule, Divisional Chief Executive, Trade Marketing and Distribution at ITC Limited, emphasized the importance of building agile, resilient, and green supply chains as part of ITC’s Next Strategy. This strategy aims to shape the next phase of growth and structural competitiveness by deploying electric vehicles in end-to-end logistics operations, aligning with the goals of Green Logistics and a sustainable supply chain. The deployment of electric vehicles contributes to a cleaner transportation system, reducing carbon emissions, and Mr Sule highlighted the need to enhance the current EV charging infrastructure to increase the usage of electric vehicles.
