Electric truck push: Government offers up to Rs 9.6 lakh incentive per vehicle under PM E-DRIVE; SAIL to procure 150 e-trucks

The authorities on Friday launched its first customer-facing incentive scheme for electrical vans under the PM E-DRIVE initiative, providing up to Rs 9.6 lakh per vehicle. The scheme, introduced by Union minister H D Kumaraswamy, has earmarked Rs 500 crore for e-truck incentives out of a complete Rs 10,900 crore programme outlay.Targeting industries corresponding to ports, logistics, metal and cement, the scheme will help the adoption of up to 5,600 electrical vans. “Diesel trucks, though constituting only 3 per cent of the total vehicle population, contribute to 42 per cent of transport-related greenhouse gas emissions,” Kumaraswamy mentioned, calling the scheme a pioneering step in direction of sustainable freight mobility and the Viksit Bharat 2047 imaginative and prescient.The scheme offers incentives relying on the gross vehicle weight of vans, with the very best help pegged at Rs 9.6 lakh, PTI reported. These incentives shall be given as an upfront low cost to patrons and reimbursed to OEMs by way of the PM E-DRIVE portal on a first-come, first-served foundation. Importantly, scrapping of previous polluting vans is obligatory to avail advantages.The Ministry of Heavy Industries acknowledged that incentives would cowl electrical vans under the N2 (3.5–12 tonnes) and N3 (12–55 tonnes) classes, as per the Central Motor Vehicle Rules. Trucks supported under the scheme should carry a five-year/5 lakh km battery guarantee and five-year/2.5 lakh km guarantee for motor and vehicle.In a submit on X, Kumaraswamy mentioned the trouble can even advance Make in India targets, scale back logistics prices, promote localisation, and create inexperienced jobs throughout the EV and battery ecosystem.SAIL has dedicated to procuring 150 e-trucks over two years and goals to be certain that a minimum of 15 per cent of autos employed throughout its items are electrical.Around Rs 100 crore has been allotted to help about 1,100 e-trucks registered in Delhi, concentrating on the nationwide capital’s air high quality considerations. Several OEMs have already begun electrical truck manufacturing in India.Explaining the scheme’s novelty, Heavy Industries Secretary Kamran Rizvi mentioned, “This is the first time the government is directly incentivising customers to buy electric trucks. Earlier schemes like FAME or PLI were manufacturer-facing.”The scheme mandates indigenisation by way of a phased manufacturing programme with restricted import reliance. “Imported components are allowed to a minimal extent; most sourcing must be local,” he mentioned.Rizvi additionally shared updates on broader progress under PM E-DRIVE. Of 24.5 lakh two-wheelers focused over two years, 12 lakh have already been supported. In the three-wheeler section, 1.6 lakh autos have been supported towards a goal of two lakh.In public transport, the ministry has sanctioned 10,400 e-buses, together with 4,500 for Bengaluru, 2,800 for Delhi, 2,000 for Hyderabad, 1,000 for Ahmedabad and 600 for Surat. A nationwide tender floated by CESL for 10,900 e-buses is predicted to draw robust trade response.On electrical ambulances, Rizvi mentioned one mannequin by Force Motors was homologated final month, with others in growth. The ministries of Health and Road Transport are engaged on security and affected person care tips, anticipated earlier than year-end.