India Smart Grid Forum (ISGF) organised a conference on ‘Promotion of Freight Movement through Electric Trucks’ on February 2, 2024, in New Delhi.
The focal point of the discussion at the conference centered on, India as the world’s fifth-largest economy with a GDP close to $3.7 trillion, transports 1418 billion tonne-kilometers of cargo within the country annually. The increasing demand for commodities, driven by urbanisation, population growth, e-commerce expansion, and rising income levels, is expected to boost road freight movement to 9.6 trillion tonne-kilometers by 2050. Currently, road transportation contributes 56% of India’s transportation sector’s CO2 emissions, with trucks handling about 70% of domestic freight demand. As freight movement by road escalates, the number of trucks is projected to soar from 4 million in 2022 to approximately 17 million by 2050, emphasising the pivotal role of trucks in decarbonising the transportation sector.
Priyadarshini Alok, Programme Manager, Shakti, participating at the event said “The adoption of Electric Trucks has the potential to catalyse the development of inventive business models. It is crucial to facilitate the collaboration between the informal sector and the trucking industry, particularly in the context of highway operations, e.g., Integration of Dhabas with battery swapping or Charging Infrastructure.”
Electrifying goods transport in industrial corridors is crucial for sustainable transportation amid climate change concerns. Transitioning to electric vehicles (EVs) is vital for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Feasibility analysis evaluates technical, economic, and operational aspects to determine practicality and viability. Pilot demonstration projects validate feasibility analysis findings, offering real-world data on electric truck performance and benefits.