India’s Electric Truck Scheme: A Big Move for Clean Air and Jobs

By Jony Shekhawat | Published Date : July 14, 2025

On July 11, 2025, the Indian government launched its first scheme focused on electric trucks at a price range of Rs 9.6 lakh per vehicle.

The Indian government has launched a new scheme to support electric trucks by giving up to Rs 9.6 lakh per vehicle under the PM E-DRIVE program. This is India’s first-ever scheme focused on electric freight trucks. About Rs 500 crore has been set aside to help buy around 5,600 trucks. The goal is to reduce pollution, cut diesel use, and lower transport costs across the country.

July 11, 2025, Mark this date. That’s when India looked at its smoke-spewing freight trucks and said, “Enough.” In a move that’s part policy, part power play, the Ministry of Heavy Industries rolled out something bold: cash for electric trucks.

A New Start for Clean Freight

Table Of Contents

1. A New Start for Clean Freight

2. Why Should Anyone Care?

3. Hold On, It’s Not All Smooth Roads

4. Final Thoughts

 

These electric trucks make up just 3% of India’s vehicle fleet, yet they blow out almost half the transport-related emissions. They’ve been running wild without much policy pushback until now.

For years, India’s electric dreams focused on trucks, rickshaws, and buses. FAME I and FAME II are two national schemes that focus on the manufacturing of passenger electric 3-wheelers. They came, they helped, but they never touched the freight giants that keep India’s economy rolling. That changes with E-drive.

Why Should Anyone Care?

Because money talks and so do fuel bills. Running an electric truck is cheaper, quieter, and cleaner. Yes, the sticker price is high. But once that subsidy kicks in and diesel costs stop making holes in pockets, it starts making sense. The new electric Tata trucks are available on the market.

And here’s the kicker: to get the subsidy, these trucks have to be made in India. That means more work for Indian factories, battery makers, and EV garages. Jobs go up. Imports go down. And suddenly, we’re not just buying green, we’re building it.

Even Delhi, the gas chamber capital, is getting a slice of the pie: Rs 100 crore to roll out 1,100 e-trucks, mostly for urban use where pollution hits hardest. And that’s not all, 10 national highway segments are now in line to go zero-emission only for trucks. Imagine that: clean highways, humming trucks, and no black smoke trails.

Hold On, It’s Not All Smooth Roads

Let’s not sugarcoat it. Charging stations? Still not enough. Long-haul electric trucking? A bit of a stretch — unless you like waiting hours at rest stops. And for small fleet operators, even the discounted price tag might feel like a punch in the wallet. Various other brand trucks like Ashok Leyland trucks, BharatBenz and Eicher are manufacturing electric trucks.

Some experts are even betting that hydrogen might take over the long-range freight game in a few years. But that’s another battle for another day.

Final Thoughts

This isn’t just about e-trucks. It’s about India finally pointing its climate cannon at the freight sector, the part that was hiding in plain sight. It's about flipping the switch on a diesel-dominated industry and betting big on clean, quiet cargo haulers. So yes, July 11, 2025, may not make it into textbooks. But in the battle between pollution and progress, this might just be the day the tides turned.

Related News - 

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Frequently Asked Questions on Electric Trucks

1. What’s this electric truck scheme all about?

Ans: On July 11, 2025, India hit the brakes on diesel freight and said, “Let’s clean this up.” The government launched a new plan to support electric trucks, offering up to Rs 9.6 lakh per vehicle. It’s the first time freight trucks are getting this kind of attention, and about Rs 500 crore is being set aside to support the shift.

2. Why should regular folks care about this?

Ans: Because trucks may be out of sight, but they’re not out of impact. They’re only 3% of the vehicles on the road, yet they cause nearly half the pollution from transport. Electric trucks don’t just help the air, they also save money on fuel and reduce noise. Cheaper to run, cleaner for the planet.

3. Who’s making these electric trucks?

Ans: Big names like Tata, Ashok Leyland, BharatBenz, and Eicher are already rolling out electric models. And here’s the twist: to get the government subsidy, the trucks have to be made in India. That means more local jobs, more EV factories, and fewer imports eating up our money.

4. What else is part of this plan?

Ans: Delhi’s getting Rs 100 crore to launch over a thousand e-trucks, mainly for city use. And 10 highway routes are set to go completely zero-emission for trucks. It’s not just about vehicles, it’s a push to rethink how India moves its goods. Clean highways, no black smoke, and a step toward a greener future.