Delhi, 11 July (H.S.): Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and guidance of Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) has introduced a scheme providing financial incentives for electric trucks (e-trucks) as part of the PM E-DRIVE initiative. This initiative is historic as it marks the first direct governmental support for e-trucks in India, facilitating a transition to sustainable freight mobility.

Union Minister Kumaraswamy emphasized the impact of diesel trucks, which, despite being only 3% of vehicles, contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. The scheme aims to bolster India's clean freight sector and align with the net-zero emissions target by 2070, contributing to the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.

The scheme offers demand incentives for N2 and N3 category e-trucks, with N2 having a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) between 3.5 tonnes and 12 tonnes, and N3 exceeding 12 tonnes. Key provisions include warranties on batteries for five years or 5 lakh kilometres and on vehicles and motors for five years or 2.5 lakh kilometres. Incentives are contingent on the GVW, capped at ₹9.6 lakh per vehicle, which will be applied as an upfront price reduction and reimbursed to OEMs on a first-come, first-served basis.

The program targets the deployment of around 5,600 e-trucks nationwide, including a specific allocation for 1,100 e-trucks in Delhi, backed by a ₹100 crore budget to combat air quality issues. Essential sectors like cement, ports, steel, and logistics are expected to benefit, with leading manufacturers such as Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland already engaged in e-truck production.

The initiative, which also requires the scrapping of old diesel trucks, aims to modernize fleets, lower logistics costs, improve air quality, and promote a self-reliant electric mobility ecosystem, pushing India closer to a sustainable, low-carbon future.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar