Event Detail
Bharat ZET Policy Advisory Workshop on ZETs & Charging Infrastructure Deployment
Date:
NITI Aayog’s e-FAST India platform, in collaboration with AITWA, TCI-IIMB and WRI India, conducted a focused consultation with logistic service providers (LSPs), shippers and charge point operators (CPOs) at IIM, Bangalore
This consultation is part of a nationwide series engaging stakeholders on the Bharat Zero Emission Trucking (BZET) Policy Advisory, launched by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India.
The session captured practical, ground-level insights to strengthen India’s roadmap for zero-emission trucks:
- Stakeholders identified toll waivers for Zero-Emission Trucks (ZETs) as a critical short-term measure for early adoption. This can strategically complement PM E-DRIVE incentives, creating an integrated CAPEX and OPEX framework. They recommended a 100% exemption for 3-5 years, which could cut operational costs by 15-20% and signal strong policy support for early adopters.
- Stakeholders also recommended exploring subscription-based toll models (such as subsidising the FASTag annual pass), which can be structured either by toll count or annual renewal, benefiting ZET operations.
- Participants noted that while Battery Electric Trucks (BETs) carry additional battery weight, a universal Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) allowance is not essential across sectors. Many freight segments are volume-driven rather than weight-limited (unlike sectors such as steel or cement). As a result, GVW-related support should be targeted only for use cases where payload limits genuinely constrain operations.
- A key takeaway was the need for highly reliable high-kW charging infrastructure, supported by grid strengthening to prevent outages. Participants also emphasized that strategic land identification near substations, while ensuring freight accessibility and proximity to high-volume corridors, is essential for viable Charge Point Operator (CPO) business models and smooth ZET operations.
- A phased demand-side mandate was viewed as a credible medium-term lever, providing clarity to shippers and logistics service providers and creating predictable demand pathways for cleaner fuel adoption.
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