In a significant move toward advancing India’s clean mobility and net-zero ambitions, Smart Freight Centre (SFC) India, in collaboration with NITI Aayog’s e-FAST India initiative, has released a landmark report titled “From Awareness to Action: Regional Perspectives on Battery-Electric Trucks.”
The national campaign, spanning 11 strategic cities—Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Indore, Thiruvananthapuram, Ranchi, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Alwar, and Mysuru—brought together over 700 stakeholders from across the logistics and energy ecosystem. Participants included government agencies, logistics companies, shippers, financiers, OEMs, charge point operators, and research institutions, all working to develop a collective roadmap for India’s Zero-Emission Trucking (ZET) transition.
Currently, India’s freight sector, responsible for moving nearly 70% of domestic goods, contributes more than 200 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually. The new report highlights regional challenges and opportunities in decarbonizing this vital segment, emphasizing the need for targeted action and policy alignment.
Dr. Hanif Qureshi, IPS, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI), emphasized the campaign’s impact, stating:
“India’s logistics transformation is central to achieving our clean mobility goals. The Smart Freight Centre’s campaign has succeeded in translating the complex Zero Emission Trucking discourse into practical, region-specific insights. This initiative sets a strong precedent for sustainable freight transition across the country.”
Prof. Dr. Christoph Wolff, CEO of Smart Freight Centre, added:
“This initiative represents a new benchmark for collaborative climate action. By uniting over 700 stakeholders across 11 cities, Smart Freight Centre India has catalysed a national conversation on freight decarbonization. Zero-emission trucking is not just an environmental goal—it’s a cornerstone for efficiency, competitiveness, and future-ready logistics in India.”
Stakeholders identified charging infrastructure, financing, policy harmonization, and capacity building as the most pressing challenges to scaling up electric freight adoption. Despite strong momentum, the report notes key bottlenecks such as the lack of freight-specific charging corridors and fragmented state-level EV policies.
The report calls for a national ZET infrastructure roadmap, harmonized policies covering medium- and heavy-duty truck categories (N2 and N3), and data-driven freight corridor planning based on toll and logistics data.
Financing emerged as a critical barrier, with fleet operators citing the high upfront cost of electric trucks—often nearly double that of diesel models—as a deterrent, especially for small logistics players. To address this, the report recommends innovative financial models such as Risk-Sharing Facilities (RSFs), Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS), and lease-to-own frameworks to reduce investment risk. It also suggests blending philanthropic, climate, and private capital to build lender confidence and scale up ZET financing.
A phased transition approach is advocated, beginning with industrial clusters and expanding to intercity freight corridors. The report also stresses the importance of driver training, maintenance readiness, and technological advancements in batteries and charging solutions.
Pramod Rajendran, Partnerships & Program Manager, Smart Freight Centre India, concluded:
“The campaign has revealed both the enthusiasm and readiness of India’s freight ecosystem to act. What’s encouraging is the shared recognition that zero-emission trucks are not only viable but vital to India’s sustainable growth.”
