NITI Aayog emphasised the urgent need for strategic electrification of India's key freight corridors, as 70 per cent of the country's freight transport relies on roadways.
Rajiv Gauba, Member of NITI Aayog, highlighted that only around 800 heavy-duty electric trucks were sold in 2025, urging for blended finance mechanisms and leasing models to reduce electric trucks' capital costs nearer to those of diesel trucks.
During the 5th 'E-Fast India Summit 2026,' Gauba announced the launch of the Platform for Aggregating Clean Transport (PACT) and the Zero Emission Truck (ZET) Marketplace, marking a milestone in India's clean mobility efforts.
He invited logistics providers, manufacturers, charge point operators, and financiers to participate in shaping financing instruments and corridor developmentthrough these platforms.
According to Gauba, the e-FAST initiative has grown over four years from a dialogue forum to an instrument of coordinated action, reflecting India's shift from clean mobility intent to execution.
He stressed that transitioning to electric mobility is crucial for economic growth, environmental sustainability, and strategic goals, supporting India's Net Zero commitment by 2070 and Viksit Bharat vision by 2047.
Gauba also pointed out that faster electric vehicle adoption is key to enhancing the country's energy security and citizens' quality of life.
The government's progress includes PLI schemes for automobiles and advanced chemistry cells, boosted public charging infrastructure through Oil Marketing Companies' investments, and demand-side initiatives like FAME, PM e-DRIVE, PARIVARTAN, and PM e-Bus Sewa that have driven EV sales upward.
noted heavy trucks represent only 3-4 per cent of vehicles but account for over a third of transport carbon emissions.
Gauba identified market challenges such as logistics sector fragmentation, high financing costs, and lack of coordinated corridor planning.
He explained that PACT and the ZET Marketplace aim to address these issues by aggregating demand, innovating financing, and enabling corridor-based projects to accelerate electric freight adoption.
