A new study by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) finds that India will need to dramatically increase its adoption of zero-emission trucks (ZETs) to achieve its ambitious climate targets.
India has pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070 and to significantly reduce its carbon footprint by 2030. These goals require a major shift away from fossil fuel-powered vehicles, particularly heavy-duty trucks which are a major source of transport emissions.
The ICCT report states that for India to reach net zero by 2070, it will need to have all its heavy-duty trucks be zero-emission by 2050. An even more ambitious scenario, aligned with the Paris Agreement’s 2°C warming limit, would require 30% of trucks to be zero-emission by 2030 and 100% by 2045.
The report highlights the urgency of accelerating the adoption of ZETs. India currently lags behind in ZET development compared to other vehicle segments and faces challenges in areas like charging infrastructure and hydrogen production.
Widespread ZET adoption offers not only environmental benefits but also economic ones. Transitioning to a clean truck fleet will significantly contribute to India’s overall emissions reduction goals.
