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Ashok Leyland Set To Launch Electric Commercial Vehicles Soon - Electrifying India's Logistics
India, being ranked as the world second most polluted country after Bangladesh, faces a significant challenge in achieving its climate goals. The country's commercial transport system is one big factor that contributes to almost a third of the nation's harmful vehicle smoke.
Electric commercial vehicles have enough potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and dependency on fossil fuels. They can play a pivotal role in transforming the entire country's landscape of logistics and transportation.
Recently, it was reported that Ashok Leyland, Asia's fourth largest truck maker, is keen to launch its commercial fleet of electric vehicles in the upcoming six to twelve months. As of now, the company plans to roll out multiple models, but in minimal volume.
"You will start seeing, over the next six to 12 months, the first set of our battery electric vehicles coming into the field," Chief Technology Officer N. Saravanan said in an interview with ET Auto.
Last month, Ashok Leyland revealed its strategy to produce autonomous electric trucks for Indian ports. The company is further collaborating with Adani Enterprises and Reliance Industries to introduce hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and is investing around Rs 1,200 crore in its EV subsidiary Switch Mobility.
Even being the world's fifth largest economy, India still relies on roads to transport 70 per cent of its goods. The country is witnessing a surge in urbanisation and consumer demand, leading to a projected quadruple increase in the number of trucks required by 2050, leading to a worse climate crisis.
However, transitioning to cleaner vehicles poses significant challenges. The cost of electric trucks is higher compared to diesel ones, and the lack of charging infrastructure presents a major hurdle, especially for small fleet operators who dominate India's trucking industry.
Apart from Ashok Leyland, India's largest truck maker, Tata, has also announced several long-range prototypes in January. Bharat Benz also partnered with Reliance to develop alternate fuel trucks. Other companies like InfraPrime Logistics, Olectra Greentech, and Triton EV have announced their electric trucks.
Thoughts On Ashok Leyland's Upcoming Electric Commercial Vehicles
Ashok Leyland's upcoming electric trucks will be a huge milestone in our country's leap towards a sustainable future for commercial transportation in India. But we have to understand that, despite the potential, the existing market is tiny.
To promote electric trucks, more incentives and relaxation should be made available. Also, to keep up with the upfront cost of purchasing an electric truck, better financing options should be offered to customers.
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