This piece originally appeared in The Wire.
Last year, at COP26, India pledged to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2070. The transportation sector is responsible for nearly 14% of India’s total greenhouse gas emissions. It is also the fastest-growing greenhouse gas emission sector in India. Road transport, in particular, accounts for over 90% of transport emissions in the country. Therefore, to achieve the net-zero goal, India has to decarbonise road transport.
Electrification is a great strategy for decarbonisation, even today with India’s current electricity mix; over the years, the benefits will only increase as more and more renewable energy becomes available to power the vehicles. And there are existing electrification efforts focused on two- and three-wheelers, cars, and buses. These are steps in the right direction, but are they enough? Unfortunately, no, and it’s because they don’t include trucks.
India has more than 2.8 million trucks that run over 100 billion kilometres per year. While they comprise only about 2% of on-road vehicles, these trucks are responsible for about 40% of emissions and fuel consumption from road transport. Studies suggest that the share of electric trucks when it comes to overall freight trucks should be 79% by 2070 to reach net-zero emissions.
In that case, why do we not yet see any electric trucks on Indian roads?
First, it is absolutely feasible to electrify trucks. Indeed, some leading countries have already set targets to phase out internal combustion engine medium and heavy trucks. California in the United States has committed to 100% zero-emission trucks by 2045. Additionally, Austria will require that 100% of new registrations of heavy-duty vehicles less than 18 tonnes be zero-emission starting in 2030, and for those greater than 18 tonnes, starting in 2035. Norway has set a 50% zero-emission sales target for new heavy-duty trucks by 2030. It’s not only about developed countries, either. Our neighbouring country, Pakistan, has an electric truck sales target of 30% by 2030 and 90% by 2040.
So, if the electrification of trucks is possible, then why is it not happening in India? There are multiple reasons, but here are three of the main ones.
