Over 700 Stakeholders Across 11 Cities Collaborate Under NITI Aayog–Smart

 In a major stride towards India's clean mobility and net-zero goals, Smart Freight Centre (SFC) India, in collaboration with NITI Aayog's e-FAST initiative, has published its report "From Awareness to Action: Regional Perspectives on Battery-Electric Trucks." The campaign involved more than 700 stakeholders across 11 cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Indore, Thiruvananthapuram, Ranchi, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Alwar and Mysuru.

The initiative brought together government departments, logistics companies, shippers, financiers, OEMs, charging point operators and research institutions to chart a roadmap for Zero-Emission Trucking in India. Opportunities, challenges and regional priorities necessary to decarbonize the freight sector that moves 70% of the domestic goods and emits over 200 million tonnes of CO₂ annually were discussed by the stakeholders.

According to Dr. Hanif Qureshi, IPS, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI), "India's logistics transformation is central to our clean mobility goals. The Smart Freight Centre's campaign has turned the complex ZET discourse into actionable, region-specific insights. It knits together policymakers, financiers and industry-a shining example to be emulated for sustainable freight transition across the country."

Prof. Dr. Christoph Wolff, CEO of Smart Freight Centre, added, "This campaign sets a benchmark for collaborative climate action. By uniting 700 stakeholders across 11 cities, we catalyze a national conversation on freight decarbonization. Zero-emission trucking is not only an environmental goal; it is crucial for efficiency, competitiveness and future-ready logistics in India."

Charging infrastructure, financing, policy alignment, and capacity gaps were some of the key issues identified by participants across these 11 cities. Still, despite the increasing interest, missing freight-specific charging corridors and fragmented state policy on EVs remain major impediments. The creation of a national ZET infrastructure roadmap; harmonization of policies for MHDVs, particularly N2 and N3; and data-driven corridor planning are suggested by stakeholders using freight and toll data.

Other key challenges that came out were around financing. Fleet operators said electric trucks cost roughly twice as much as diesel trucks, and this creates a barrier to wider adoption among smaller players. In order to reduce investment risks, the report calls for financial models like RSF, BaaS, and lease-to-own schemes. Combining philanthropic, climate, and private capital can also give lenders more confidence and increase the scale of ZET financing.

The phased transition recommended by the report will start with industrial hubs and proceed to inter-city corridors. Standardization of driver training, maintenance preparedness, and technological advancements of batteries and charging technologies are emphasized. Coordinated policy alignment, financial innovation, and scaling localized OEM production are pursued to build India's resilient, low-carbon freight ecosystem.

Pramod Rajendran, Partnerships & Program Manager at SFC India, commented, “The campaign underlines both the enthusiasm and preparedness of India's freight ecosystem. The stakeholders believe zero-emission trucks are not only feasible but are essential to sustainable growth in India.”

About Smart Freight Centre India

Smart Freight Centre is an independent, global non-profit organization that orchestrates climate action in freight. Since its opening in May 2023 in India, the SFC has actively cooperated with NITI Aayog's initiative on e-FAST to advance freight electrification. The Pilots to Pathways: SFC Corridor Initiative of SFC hastens the deployment of ZET along key corridors, aggregates demand, plans renewable-powered charging infrastructure, and mobilizes ecosystem-wide implementation.

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