Transforming Trucking in India: Pathways to Zero-Emission Truck Deployment | Economic Survey & Government Reports - UPSC PDF Download

 Page 1


Transforming 
Trucking in India
Pathways to Zero-Emission Truck Deployment
NITI Aayog, RMI | September 2022
Page 2


Transforming 
Trucking in India
Pathways to Zero-Emission Truck Deployment
NITI Aayog, RMI | September 2022
NITI Aayog 
The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) was formed via a resolution of the Union Cabinet on 1 January 2015. NITI Aayog is 
the premier policy ‘Think Tank’ of the Government of India, providing both directional and policy inputs. While designing strategic and long-
term policies and programmes for the Government of India, NITI Aayog also provides relevant technical advice to the Centre and States. The 
Government of India, in keeping with its reform agenda, constituted NITI Aayog to replace the Planning Commission instituted in 1950. This was 
done in order to better serve the needs and aspirations of the people of India. An important evolutionary change from the past, NITI Aayog acts 
as the quintessential platform of the Government of India to bring States to act together in national interest, and thereby fosters Cooperative 
Federalism.
About RMI
RMI is an independent nonprofit founded in 1982 that transforms global energy systems through market-driven solutions to align with a 1.5°C 
future and secure a clean, prosperous, zero-carbon future for all. We work in the world’s most critical geographies and engage businesses, 
policymakers, communities, and NGOs to identify and scale energy system interventions that will cut greenhouse gas emissions at least 50 
percent by 2030. RMI has offices in Basalt and Boulder, Colorado; New York City; Oakland, California; Washington, D.C.; and Beijing. RMI has been 
supporting India’s mobility and energy transformation since 2016.
About Us
Page 3


Transforming 
Trucking in India
Pathways to Zero-Emission Truck Deployment
NITI Aayog, RMI | September 2022
NITI Aayog 
The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) was formed via a resolution of the Union Cabinet on 1 January 2015. NITI Aayog is 
the premier policy ‘Think Tank’ of the Government of India, providing both directional and policy inputs. While designing strategic and long-
term policies and programmes for the Government of India, NITI Aayog also provides relevant technical advice to the Centre and States. The 
Government of India, in keeping with its reform agenda, constituted NITI Aayog to replace the Planning Commission instituted in 1950. This was 
done in order to better serve the needs and aspirations of the people of India. An important evolutionary change from the past, NITI Aayog acts 
as the quintessential platform of the Government of India to bring States to act together in national interest, and thereby fosters Cooperative 
Federalism.
About RMI
RMI is an independent nonprofit founded in 1982 that transforms global energy systems through market-driven solutions to align with a 1.5°C 
future and secure a clean, prosperous, zero-carbon future for all. We work in the world’s most critical geographies and engage businesses, 
policymakers, communities, and NGOs to identify and scale energy system interventions that will cut greenhouse gas emissions at least 50 
percent by 2030. RMI has offices in Basalt and Boulder, Colorado; New York City; Oakland, California; Washington, D.C.; and Beijing. RMI has been 
supporting India’s mobility and energy transformation since 2016.
About Us Authors and Acknowledgements
Authors 
NITI Aayog 
Sudhendu J. Sinha
Joseph Teja 
RMI
Contacts
For more information, contact:
info@rmi.org
Acknowledgments
We would like to acknowledge Clay Stranger, Dave Mullaney, Samhita 
Shiledar, Marie McNamara, Pranav Lakhina, and Jake Straus of 
RMI, and Chetna Nagpal, and Isha Kulkarni of RMI India for their 
contribution to the development of this report
Suggested Citation
NITI Aayog, RMI, Transforming Trucking In India: Pathways to Zero 
Emission Truck Deployment, September 2022. 
Available at NITI Aayog: 
https://www.niti.gov.in/documents/reports/
Available at RMI: 
https://rmi.org/insight/transforming-trucking-in-india/
All images from Shutterstock unless otherwise noted.
Page 4


Transforming 
Trucking in India
Pathways to Zero-Emission Truck Deployment
NITI Aayog, RMI | September 2022
NITI Aayog 
The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) was formed via a resolution of the Union Cabinet on 1 January 2015. NITI Aayog is 
the premier policy ‘Think Tank’ of the Government of India, providing both directional and policy inputs. While designing strategic and long-
term policies and programmes for the Government of India, NITI Aayog also provides relevant technical advice to the Centre and States. The 
Government of India, in keeping with its reform agenda, constituted NITI Aayog to replace the Planning Commission instituted in 1950. This was 
done in order to better serve the needs and aspirations of the people of India. An important evolutionary change from the past, NITI Aayog acts 
as the quintessential platform of the Government of India to bring States to act together in national interest, and thereby fosters Cooperative 
Federalism.
About RMI
RMI is an independent nonprofit founded in 1982 that transforms global energy systems through market-driven solutions to align with a 1.5°C 
future and secure a clean, prosperous, zero-carbon future for all. We work in the world’s most critical geographies and engage businesses, 
policymakers, communities, and NGOs to identify and scale energy system interventions that will cut greenhouse gas emissions at least 50 
percent by 2030. RMI has offices in Basalt and Boulder, Colorado; New York City; Oakland, California; Washington, D.C.; and Beijing. RMI has been 
supporting India’s mobility and energy transformation since 2016.
About Us Authors and Acknowledgements
Authors 
NITI Aayog 
Sudhendu J. Sinha
Joseph Teja 
RMI
Contacts
For more information, contact:
info@rmi.org
Acknowledgments
We would like to acknowledge Clay Stranger, Dave Mullaney, Samhita 
Shiledar, Marie McNamara, Pranav Lakhina, and Jake Straus of 
RMI, and Chetna Nagpal, and Isha Kulkarni of RMI India for their 
contribution to the development of this report
Suggested Citation
NITI Aayog, RMI, Transforming Trucking In India: Pathways to Zero 
Emission Truck Deployment, September 2022. 
Available at NITI Aayog: 
https://www.niti.gov.in/documents/reports/
Available at RMI: 
https://rmi.org/insight/transforming-trucking-in-india/
All images from Shutterstock unless otherwise noted.
India is well-positioned to become a crucial player in the inevitable transition to zero-emission freight vehicles. 
India is experiencing historical growth — urbanisation, population increase, the rise of e-commerce, and increasing income levels have 
heightened the demand for goods and services. The road freight sector is expected to grow fourfold by 2050 to meet this rising demand. By 
continuing to run on fossil fuel these burgeoning fleets will only further pollute air, exacerbate public health hazards, increase energy costs, and 
drive-up emissions at a time when many countries are working valiantly to bring them down. In India, for example, using conventional trucks to 
meet growing demand would require spending over US$1 trillion cumulatively on crude oil imports for diesel production by 2050. 
ZETs are the clear-cut solution to all of these problems and more. By reducing both air pollution and costs while enhancing industrial 
competitiveness, ZET adoption can directly support the citizens and the Indian economy in addition to helping meet climate targets. 
The Indian economy is poised to leapfrog diesel vehicles and scale ZET adoption. This will require synchronised effort amongst private 
and public actors to increase the manufacturing supply and deliver the needed charging infrastructure to support a robust ZET ecosystem. 
Policymakers can draw on previous national and state incentives that helped spur demand for passenger electric vehicle adoption. By 
coordinating similar efforts, they can help industry players transfer risk, reduce costs, and seed the nascent ZET market — ultimately 
harmonising ZET demand and supply to drive market scale.
We hope that this report will act as a foundation and prompt collaboration to make a ZET future a near-term reality in India. By pioneering early 
ZET adoption, ecosystem actors can unlock substantial economic, energy security, and emissions benefits for India, and together claim our 
position as a global leader in this urgent shift. 
Mr. Clay Stranger, 
Managing Director of RMI
Foreword
Page 5


Transforming 
Trucking in India
Pathways to Zero-Emission Truck Deployment
NITI Aayog, RMI | September 2022
NITI Aayog 
The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) was formed via a resolution of the Union Cabinet on 1 January 2015. NITI Aayog is 
the premier policy ‘Think Tank’ of the Government of India, providing both directional and policy inputs. While designing strategic and long-
term policies and programmes for the Government of India, NITI Aayog also provides relevant technical advice to the Centre and States. The 
Government of India, in keeping with its reform agenda, constituted NITI Aayog to replace the Planning Commission instituted in 1950. This was 
done in order to better serve the needs and aspirations of the people of India. An important evolutionary change from the past, NITI Aayog acts 
as the quintessential platform of the Government of India to bring States to act together in national interest, and thereby fosters Cooperative 
Federalism.
About RMI
RMI is an independent nonprofit founded in 1982 that transforms global energy systems through market-driven solutions to align with a 1.5°C 
future and secure a clean, prosperous, zero-carbon future for all. We work in the world’s most critical geographies and engage businesses, 
policymakers, communities, and NGOs to identify and scale energy system interventions that will cut greenhouse gas emissions at least 50 
percent by 2030. RMI has offices in Basalt and Boulder, Colorado; New York City; Oakland, California; Washington, D.C.; and Beijing. RMI has been 
supporting India’s mobility and energy transformation since 2016.
About Us Authors and Acknowledgements
Authors 
NITI Aayog 
Sudhendu J. Sinha
Joseph Teja 
RMI
Contacts
For more information, contact:
info@rmi.org
Acknowledgments
We would like to acknowledge Clay Stranger, Dave Mullaney, Samhita 
Shiledar, Marie McNamara, Pranav Lakhina, and Jake Straus of 
RMI, and Chetna Nagpal, and Isha Kulkarni of RMI India for their 
contribution to the development of this report
Suggested Citation
NITI Aayog, RMI, Transforming Trucking In India: Pathways to Zero 
Emission Truck Deployment, September 2022. 
Available at NITI Aayog: 
https://www.niti.gov.in/documents/reports/
Available at RMI: 
https://rmi.org/insight/transforming-trucking-in-india/
All images from Shutterstock unless otherwise noted.
India is well-positioned to become a crucial player in the inevitable transition to zero-emission freight vehicles. 
India is experiencing historical growth — urbanisation, population increase, the rise of e-commerce, and increasing income levels have 
heightened the demand for goods and services. The road freight sector is expected to grow fourfold by 2050 to meet this rising demand. By 
continuing to run on fossil fuel these burgeoning fleets will only further pollute air, exacerbate public health hazards, increase energy costs, and 
drive-up emissions at a time when many countries are working valiantly to bring them down. In India, for example, using conventional trucks to 
meet growing demand would require spending over US$1 trillion cumulatively on crude oil imports for diesel production by 2050. 
ZETs are the clear-cut solution to all of these problems and more. By reducing both air pollution and costs while enhancing industrial 
competitiveness, ZET adoption can directly support the citizens and the Indian economy in addition to helping meet climate targets. 
The Indian economy is poised to leapfrog diesel vehicles and scale ZET adoption. This will require synchronised effort amongst private 
and public actors to increase the manufacturing supply and deliver the needed charging infrastructure to support a robust ZET ecosystem. 
Policymakers can draw on previous national and state incentives that helped spur demand for passenger electric vehicle adoption. By 
coordinating similar efforts, they can help industry players transfer risk, reduce costs, and seed the nascent ZET market — ultimately 
harmonising ZET demand and supply to drive market scale.
We hope that this report will act as a foundation and prompt collaboration to make a ZET future a near-term reality in India. By pioneering early 
ZET adoption, ecosystem actors can unlock substantial economic, energy security, and emissions benefits for India, and together claim our 
position as a global leader in this urgent shift. 
Mr. Clay Stranger, 
Managing Director of RMI
Foreword Table of Contents
Executive Summary...................................................................................................................................... 6
Introduction................................................................................................................................................. 12
Economic Analysis........................................................................................................................................ 17
Key Findings.................................................................................................................................................  24
Solutions...................................................................................................................................................... 35
Policy Interventions.................................................................................................................................................. 39
Charging Solutions.................................................................................................................................................... 47
Technology and Manufacturing............................................................................................................................... 61
Financing and Business Models............................................................................................................................... 69
ZET Corridors as an Intersection of Solutions................................................................................................ 79
Conclusion and Next Steps............................................................................................................................ 86
Technical Appendix....................................................................................................................................... 91
Policy Appendix............................................................................................................................................ 96
Endnotes...................................................................................................................................................... 100