India Eyes 9 GW EV Truck Charging Infrastructure by 2030 to Drive Green Logistics

By 2030, more than 70% of India’s demand for electric truck charging is expected to come from Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh.

• ICCT notes that installing high-capacity chargers at freight corridors and logistics hubs would support the wider adoption of electric trucks.
• A study by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) estimates that India may need nearly 9 gigawatts (GW) of charging infrastructure to support the growing demand for electric trucks. This requirement is about five times higher than Delhi’s present power generation capacity.
• A Care Edge report released in July 2025 noted that by the initial months of FY 2024-25, India had 26,367 public EV charging stations, with roughly one charger available for every 235 electric vehicles.
• In July 2025, India introduced rules for its e-truck incentive program as part of the PM’s E-DRIVE initiative. From the total budget of ₹10,900 crore, ₹500 crore has been set aside for this initiative. It offers buyers an upfront price cut of up to ₹9.6 lakh per e-truck, with manufacturers later reimbursed through the PM E-DRIVE portal.

The initiative is designed for trucks in the N2 and N3 categories, with weights ranging from 3.5 to 55 tonnes. It mandates phasing out old diesel trucks while offering a five-year battery coverage along with a warranty of either five years or 2.5 lakh km for the vehicle or motor. The objective is to push green logistics, cut down emissions, and enhance air quality by promoting the use of electric trucks.

• A study by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) examined the charging infrastructure required for India’s shift to battery-powered trucks by 2050. It evaluated depot and highway charging needs for medium- and heavy-duty e-trucks, projected charger demand for 2030 and 2050, and analyzed state-level requirements using road freight traffic data.

• Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh lie on key freight and logistics routes such as the Golden Quadrilateral and the Delhi–Mumbai and Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridors, positioning them as prime regions for early infrastructure development and investment.
• Since states manage crucial factors like land, tariffs, and grid capacity, evaluating charging needs at the state level is essential for proper planning.
• Although technologies are available, India must decarbonize trucks quickly to reduce the burden on sectors that are tougher to clean up. To meet its Net Zero 2070 target, the country needs all new truck sales to be zero-emission by 2050.

A report released at the India Clean Transportation Summit in New Delhi on August 25, 2025, highlighted that while measures like fuel efficiency rules and the PM E-DRIVE scheme encourage battery-powered trucks and charging facilities, wider adoption will depend on deploying high-capacity chargers across freight corridors and logistics hubs.

The report made some policy recommendations:

• Create comprehensive charging infrastructure plans at both national and state levels.
• Align high-capacity truck charging with electricity grid planning.
• Use advanced data systems to fill gaps in tracking truck movements.
• Incorporate battery-electric truck charging into freight and logistics strategies.

• The automobile sector’s Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, introduced in 2021, was designed to draw investments totaling Rs 42,000 crore. So far, around Rs 26,000–27,000 crore has been invested, with the rest anticipated over the next two years. This initiative has reduced average manufacturing costs, strengthening India’s position as a competitive hub for vehicle production.
• Understanding that batteries account for almost 40% of an electric vehicle’s cost, the government introduced an Rs 80,000 crore PLI initiative to promote advanced chemistry cell battery production. Although the programmed aims for a production capacity of 50 GWh by 2029, industry experts suggest that total output could surpass 100 GWh, with contributions from firms not enrolled in the scheme.
• These programs go beyond offering subsidies, focusing on strengthening the domestic supply chain through financial support and adapting regulations.