The Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India, Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, launched the “Bharat Zero Emission Trucking (ZET) Policy Advisory” document. The event saw participation from several notable figures, including Dr. Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary, Office of PSA; Sh. Hanif Qureshi, Additional Secretary (Auto), Ministry of Heavy Industries; Sh. Sudhendu Sinha, Adviser (Infrastructure Connectivity & E-Mobility), NITI Aayog; Prof. Shankar Ram from IIT Madras, a member of the Consultative Group on e-Mobility (CGeM); Sh. M. Ravi, Chief of Operations, Centre of Excellence for Zero Emission Trucking (CoEZET) at IIT Madras; Ms. Sharvari Patki, Program Head for Electric Mobility at the World Resources Institute (WRI); and Ms. Chandana K., Program Associate for Sustainable Cities & Transport at WRI.
In his opening remarks, Prof. Sood emphasized the critical role of Zero Emission Trucks (ZET) in achieving decarbonization and enhancing energy security in India. He highlighted the need for both technical expertise and systematic policy interventions to create a supportive ecosystem for the wider adoption of ZETs across the country.
Prof. Karthick Athmanathan, a PSA Fellow and Professor of Practice at IIT Madras, provided context for the Bharat ZET Policy Advisory document. Ms. Sharvari Patki followed with a brief overview, explaining the document’s approach and methodology in formulating the policy interventions outlined within it.
The Bharat ZET Policy Advisory document has been designed as a dynamic and evolving resource, proposing 30 distinct policy interventions aimed at accelerating the adoption of ZETs in India. These interventions are grouped into five key areas: incentives, regulations, infrastructure, business and financing, and stakeholder-centric initiatives. The goal of these interventions is to create a comprehensive framework that addresses the various challenges and opportunities associated with the shift to zero-emission trucking.
The first category, incentivization schemes, focuses on providing financial support through both direct and indirect financing mechanisms, making ZETs more appealing to potential buyers. The regulatory framework is the second category, emphasizing the need to amend existing regulations and introduce new ones to signal market readiness for ZETs.
The third category deals with zero-emission refueling infrastructure, proposing tax credits and innovative service models to establish a reliable network of ZET charging and refueling stations across the country. Financing solutions make up the fourth category, aiming to lower interest rates, facilitate attractive loan options, and diversify financing streams to improve cost parity and encourage ZET adoption.
The fifth and final category, stakeholder-centric initiatives, seeks to increase awareness and upskill stakeholders across the freight ecosystem, thereby fostering trust and transparency in the transition to ZETs.
Both Sh. Hanif Qureshi and Sh. Sudhendu Sinha also addressed the gathering, highlighting the urgent need to electrify the trucking sector in India. They discussed the necessary steps to fully transition to ZETs, with the aim of reaching 100% ZET sales penetration by 2050. This milestone is considered crucial for India to achieve its ambitious Net Zero 2070 target.
The development of the Bharat ZET Policy Advisory document was guided by a Policy Advisory Panel (PAP) established by the Office of the PSA. A Project Management Unit was set up at CoEZET, IIT Madras, to draft the document under the panel’s guidance. The PAP is chaired by Dr. Preeti Banzal, Adviser at the Office of PSA, and vice-chaired by Prof. Karthick Athmanathan. The panel includes representatives from various institutions and companies, such as the Automotive Research Association of India, Ashok Leyland Ltd., Tata Motors Ltd., WRI India, TecSo ChargeZone Ltd., NTPC, IIT Bombay, the World Bank, and the Office of PSA.
Each policy intervention within the document identifies a nodal agency responsible for its implementation, a list of key stakeholders, the impact on the sector, and the methodology used for policy formulation. These recommendations will undergo further refinement through extensive stakeholder consultations, including detailed cost-benefit and impact analyses conducted by the concerned ministries, departments, and institutions.
The full advisory document can be accessed here.
