Blitz Bureau
THE Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) last week launched a ground-breaking scheme to provide financial incentives for electric trucks (e-trucks) under the PM E-Drive initiative. This marks the first time the Government is extending direct support for electric trucks, aiming to accelerate the country’s transition to clean, efficient, and sustainable freight mobility.
Highlighting the significance of the scheme, Union Minister for Heavy Industries & Steel, H D Kumaraswamy said, “Diesel trucks, though constituting only 3 per cent of the total vehicle population, contribute to 42 per cent of transport-related greenhouse gas emissions and significantly worsen air pollution. This pioneering scheme, guided by the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, represents India’s first dedicated support for electric trucks. It will drive our nation toward sustainable freight mobility, a cleaner future, and the realization of Viksit Bharat by 2047, in alignment with our net-zero emissions goal by 2070.” Under the scheme, demand incentives will be extended to N2 and N3 category electric trucks, as defined under the Central Motor Vehicle Rules. The N2 category includes trucks with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) above 3.5 tonne and up to 12 tonne.
The N3 category covers trucks with GVW exceeding 12 tonne and up to 55 tonne. In the case of articulated vehicles, incentives will apply only to the puller tractor of the N3 category. To ensure reliability and performance, the scheme mandates comprehensive manufacturer-backed warranties. The battery must be covered under a warranty for five years or 5 lakh kilometres, whichever is earlier.
The vehicle and motor must have a warranty of five years or 2.5 lakh kilometres, whichever is earlier. To promote affordability, the incentive amount will depend on the GVW of the electric truck, with the maximum incentive set at Rs 9.6 lakh per vehicle. These incentives will be offered as an upfront reduction in the purchase price and reimbursed to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) via the PM E-Drive portal on a first-come, first-served basis.
The scheme is expected to support the deployment of approximately 5,600 e-trucks across the country. A dedicated provision for 1,100 e-trucks registered in Delhi has been made, with an estimated outlay of Rs 100 crore, aimed at addressing the capital’s serious air quality challenges. Key sectors set to benefit include the cement industry, ports, steel, and the logistics sector. Several leading OEMs such as Volvo Eicher, Tata Motors, and Ashok Leyland are already engaged in manufacturing electric trucks in India, enhancing indigenous capabilities under the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.
The initiative has received a warm response from both manufacturers and users of e-trucks, who acknowledge the scheme’s potential to lower logistics costs and reduce carbon emissions. Steel Authority of India Limited (Sail) has already committed to procure 150 e-trucks over the next two years for deployment across multiple locations.
To qualify for the incentives, the scrapping of old, polluting trucks is mandatory, ensuring a dual benefit of modernising vehicle fleets and reducing emissions. This forward-looking initiative by the Ministry of Heavy Industries aligns with the Government of India’s broader objective of building a self-reliant electric mobility ecosystem.
By extending incentives to e-trucks, the scheme aims to reduce operational costs for transporters, encourage clean energy adoption in the heavy vehicle segment, and enhance air quality in urban and industrial regions bringing India closer to a sustainable, lowcarbon future.
