The Climate Pledge (TCP), co-founded by Amazon, has unveiled India’s first evidence-based roadmap for transitioning freight transport from diesel-powered vehicles to zero-exhaust-emission battery electric trucks (BETs). Developed in collaboration with C40 Cities, the National EV Highway Guidance Framework outlines a phased strategy to electrify India’s busiest freight corridors by 2035.

The framework recommends beginning with 20 priority highways identified by the Ministry of Heavy Industries by 2027, before expanding to industrial hubs, logistics centres, and major ports to establish a nationwide EV-ready freight network.

Why the Framework Matters

India’s freight sector is expected to witness significant growth over the coming decades, increasing the urgency for cleaner and more sustainable transport solutions. Road transport currently accounts for nearly 70 percent of goods movement in the country, while medium and heavy-duty trucks contribute around 53 percent of particulate emissions despite making up only 3 percent of vehicles on Indian roads.

With freight demand projected to grow more than four-fold by 2050, the roadmap positions electric trucking as a critical solution for reducing emissions while improving logistics efficiency. The framework also aligns with India’s broader electrification push and the country’s net-zero emissions target for 2070.

Industry and Government Collaboration

According to Dr. O.P. Agarwal, Distinguished Fellow at NITI Aayog, large-scale freight electrification will require close coordination between government agencies and private industry stakeholders.

Through initiatives like the e-FAST India platform, NITI Aayog has been working with logistics operators, OEMs, energy providers, and financial institutions to accelerate EV freight adoption. Partnerships involving The Climate Pledge, C40 Cities, and companies such as Ashok Leyland are expected to help move electric trucking beyond pilot projects into mainstream deployment.

Laneshift Pilot Demonstrates Real-World Viability

The framework draws heavily from insights generated through the Laneshift pilot project led by C40 Cities and The Climate Pledge. The initiative brought together truck manufacturers, fleet operators, logistics providers, and financing partners to evaluate electric freight operations under real-world conditions.

As part of the pilot, electric trucks completed over 600 trips along the Bengaluru–Chennai corridor, covering more than 200,000 kilometres across multiple sectors. The project evaluated vehicle reliability, operating costs, and commercial feasibility while supporting early adoption through long-term contracts.

To further assess scalability, the initiative also conducted a 6,500-kilometre pilot along India’s Golden Quadrilateral freight network connecting Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata.

Strong Early Market Signals

The Laneshift project demonstrated that electric freight operations are commercially viable, particularly for routes exceeding 400 kilometres per day. The initiative also resulted in a 4.2-times increase in electric truck orders and helped secure long-term commercial agreements, reflecting growing industry confidence in zero-emission freight solutions.

The framework highlights that India now has the scale, policy momentum, and industry participation needed to accelerate the transition toward cleaner long-haul transportation.

Also Read: Delhi EV Policy 2026: Ambitious Push, But Is the Ecosystem Ready?

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