Transport and Covid-19: responses and resources

A Pathway to Zero-Emission Trucking in India: Setting the Framework

A picture of trucks on a highway at dusk


This report assesses the potential of decarbonising heavy-duty trucks in India with zero-emission technologies, focusing on battery-electric technology. It presents a four-pillared roadmap for a transition to zero-emission trucks that addresses technology, infrastructure and operations, financing, and policy interventions for India. It achieves this by identifying economically feasible truck segments (based on weight classification) for the transition, along with strategies for developing support infrastructure and innovative financing models.

Join us at Low-Carbon Prosperity in Progress: Transforming Transport in Asia in Bangkok, Thailand, on 27 June for the launch.

Sign up here to join the online launch webinar on 24 July.

Find out more about the NDC Transport Initiative for Asia project.

Policy Insights

  • The total cost-of-ownership of electric trucks is falling. Battery cost reductions and efficiency improvements are significantly reducing battery-electric trucks’ total cost-of-ownership (TCO). Heavy-duty battery-electric trucks are projected to achieve TCO parity with internal combustion engine trucks sooner than hydrogen and fuel-cell electric trucks.
  • Maximise the early mover advantage. Prioritising battery-electric trucks – especially for the 18-tonne and 55-tonne segments – could help India begin the market transformation to heavy-duty zero-emission trucks (ZETs) in the coming decade.
  • Policy levers are critical to zero-emission truck uptakeTransitioning to ZETs in India will rely on important policy levers such as target-setting, purchase incentives, greenhouse gas emissions regulations, and fleet and infrastructure development.

Share this page