Heavy Industries Additional Secretary Hanif Qureshi Launches ZET Tools Developed By IIT Madras In Partnership With Smart Freight Centre India

New Delhi, Apr 12, 2025: In a significant move toward transforming India’s freight ecosystem, Smart Freight Centre India (SFC) and CoEZET successfully co-hosted a high-impact seminar titled ‘Zero-Emission Trucks: Driving Adoption with Innovation’.

Held against the backdrop of growing momentum for sustainable freight solutions, the seminar convened leading voices from government, industry, academia, and finance to chart a collaborative pathway for accelerating the deployment of Zero-Emission Trucks (ZETs) across India in the backdrop of industry efforts on e-truck deployments and supportive government initiatives such as PM E-DRIVE and e-FAST(Electric Freight Accelerator for Sustainable Transport).

A key milestone of the event was the official launch of three transformative tools, the ZET TCO Tool, ZET Solution Design, and ZET Range Estimator, developed by CoEZET, IIT Madras in partnership with SFC India. This set of web-enabled tools is developed to support fleet operators in making informed and confident decisions on Zero-Emission Truck (ZET) adoption. 

Dr Hanif Qureshi, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries, in his keynote address, highlighted the logistics costs in India that remain significantly high, and that e-trucks can play a transformative role in reducing these expenses. He emphasized that multiple factors support e-truck adoption, including initiatives like the PM E-DRIVE Scheme, which is accelerating charging infrastructure development and electric vehicle uptake. These efforts will further promote indigenization and contribute to India’s vision of achieving Net Zero by 2070.

“India faces a unique challenge with disproportionately high logistics costs, which hampers our global competitiveness. The limited flow of private capital into our logistics sector further exacerbates this issue. To overcome this, we must create an enabling environment that attracts investment and supports innovation,” Qureshi stated. 

Sudhendu J Sinha, Advisor, NITI Aayog, in his special address, said, “We must build a system where every stakeholder, industry, government, and consumers sees clear value. It must be a win-win for all. I sincerely commend Smart Freight Centre and all e-FAST partners for their collaborative efforts. With the momentum we are witnessing, I am confident that within a year, we will see significant traction in zero-emission truck adoption across India.” 

“Transport is pivotal to India’s economy not just as an engine of growth but also as a critical lever for decarbonization. Accelerating the shift to zero-emission trucks is vital for building a cleaner, more resilient future,” said Ajithkumar T K, Chief Executive Officer, CoEZET, in his welcome address. He added, “With strong government support, the goal of net zero by 2070 is not just aspirational, it’s essential. The transition to e-trucks at scale will also play a key role in achieving the PM Gati Shakti targets of logistic cost reduction.” 

“This seminar marked a pivotal moment in India’s journey toward zero-emission freight. It is no longer just about announcements; it is about action. With robust data, innovative tools, and cross-sector collaboration, we now have the means to translate ambition into scalable solutions. Zero-emission logistics is no longer a distant vision; it is an achievable imperative,” said Dr Christoph Wolff, CEO, Smart Freight Centre.

The event also marked the release of the report 'Gearing for an E-Freight Future: A Landscape Study and Favorability Analysis', which offered deep insights into India’s ZET ecosystem and practical strategies to overcome adoption barriers.

A panel discussion on ‘Strategies for Accelerating ZET Adoption’ and ‘Supply-Side Readiness for a Seamless ZET Transition’ brought together some leading names from Public offices, private sector organisations and industry associations, including PepsiCo , All India Transport Welfare Association (AITWA), CJ Darcl Logistics, All India Motor Transport Corporation (AIMTC), Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), Ashok Leyland,  World Bank, Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL) and International Federation of Electric Vehicle Association (IFEVA) to discuss on the pathway for sustainable logistics solutions. The discussions highlighted the need for inclusive policies, economic viability, stakeholder collaboration, and stronger awareness efforts to drive ZET adoption to a scale.

The discussions highlighted the need for inclusive policies, economic viability, stakeholder collaboration, and stronger awareness efforts to drive ZET adoption to a scale. The event concluded with insightful case studies from OEMs, including BillionE and Switch Labs, showcasing real-world applications and the potential of zero-emission technologies in India’s freight sector.

Smart Freight Centre (SFC) is a global non-profit focused on climate action in the freight sector. Launched in May 2023, the SFC India program collaborates with the Indian freight sector to reverse the projected 400% increase in CO2 emissions by 2047. SFC partners with NITI Aayog’s e-FAST and key stakeholders to drive freight electrification and decarbonization in India.