72% of Indian truck fleet operators ready to go electric—If key barriers are addressed

Authored by Jaideep Saraswat, Associate Director, Vasudha Foundation, and Nikhil Mall, Senior Manager, Vasudha Foundation

India’s trucking sector is the lifeline of its economy carrying nearly 70% of domestic freight, connecting farms, factories, and markets across the country. With over 4 million medium and heavy-duty trucks on the road and freight demand expected to quadruple by 2050, the sector’s scale and impact are enormous[1]. Yet, this very backbone of India’s logistics system is also a significant source of carbon emissions, fuel dependency, and operational inefficiency.

As India moves toward its 2070 net-zero goal and aims to electrify 30% of new vehicle sales by 2030, decarbonizing trucking has become an urgent priority. While two- and three-wheelers have led India’s EV revolution, the heavier freight segment, responsible for over a third of road transport CO₂ emissions, remains the toughest nut to crack. Transitioning to Zero Emission Trucks (ZETs) such as battery-electric and hydrogen-based vehicles could redefine India’s freight future—reducing emissions, improving energy security, and lowering logistics costs.

However, success depends not just on technology but on the people and businesses that run the trucks: India’s fleet operators. Predominantly small and mid-sized enterprises, they face daily realities of thin profit margins, driver shortages, and unpredictable operating costs. Understanding their perceptions, constraints, and readiness is vital to shaping a just and practical transition.

To capture this ground-level perspective, a nationwide survey of truck fleet operators was conducted, covering 217 participants representing over 3,600 trucks across India. The findings offer a rare, data-driven glimpse into the sector’s evolving mindset—and the results are promising: 72% of fleet operators are ready to transition to Zero Emission Trucks, provided key barriers such as cost, infrastructure, and technology support are addressed.

What the Survey Reveals:

1. Operator Readiness and Concerns

• 72% of fleet operators said they would purchase a Battery Electric Truck (BET) once their main concerns are resolved.

• High upfront costs, lack of charging infrastructure, and unfamiliarity with new technology emerged as the top barriers.

• Operators travel an average of 344 km per vehicle per day, while they expect an electric truck to offer a range of about 382 km, signaling operational feasibility.

• 81% of operators are ready to reskill their workforce to manage electric truck operations.

• 95% of operators report that their clients have not yet requested low-emission freight, highlighting a demand-side awareness gap.

2. Digital Transformation Still Nascent

Only about 27% of operators have a clear understanding of how digital tools can improve operations. Among those using fleet management systems, satisfaction levels remain moderate. Operators prioritize driver analytics, tire monitoring, and route optimization as critical digital features. Bridging this digital divide is vital to lower India’s logistics cost-to-GDP ratio, currently at 14–18%, almost double the global average.

3. Human Capital: The Backbone of India’s Trucking Transition

Behind every truck on India’s highways is a driving partner who keeps the wheels of commerce turning. Yet, the survey reveals that driving partner welfare remains one of the sector’s weakest links.

While 63% of fleet operators provide insurance coverage to their driving partners, a significant proportion still do not, primarily due to high attrition rates, cost concerns, and the administrative challenges of managing policies. The result is a workforce that often remains financially insecure and socially unprotected.

Attrition among driving partners continues to be alarmingly high. Key factors include long stretches away from home, inadequate roadside amenities, and a lack of dignity or recognition for the profession. Many of them are shifting to intracity jobs or gig-based driving platforms that offer shorter hours and better work-life balance, even if the pay is lower.

4. Building Confidence Through Experience and Knowledge

Transitioning to zero-emission fleets requires more than technology, it demands trust and tangible experience. The survey found strong enthusiasm among operators for pilot projects that would allow them to test electric trucks in real-world conditions, assess performance, and build confidence in the new systems. Over three-quarters of respondents also expressed interest in developing long-term decarbonization roadmaps for their businesses, underscoring that this shift is no longer just aspirational—it’s strategic.

5. Paving the Way: A Collective Roadmap for Zero-Emission Trucking

Insights from the survey make one thing clear, India’s trucking transition will succeed only through coordinated action across policy, finance, technology, and capacity building.

Policymakers must create transparent and supportive regulations that build confidence in new technologies. This includes mandating visibility of critical metrics such as battery State of Health (SoH) and Remaining Useful Life (RuL) on vehicle dashboard, developing frameworks for battery refurbishment and second-life applications, and ensuring vehicle and battery warranties extend through the full lifecycle. Policies that integrate low-emission freight obligations for logistics clients can also drive market demand for sustainable transport solutions.

On the financing front, the sector needs innovative business models to make adoption affordable. Mechanisms such as OEM buyback guarantees, leasing models, battery-as-a-service options, and pay-per-use frameworks can help reduce perceived risks and improve financing access for smaller operators. Similarly, shared or performance-based insurance schemes can incentivize safe and efficient driving while offering coverage tailored for electric components.

Technology and digitalization are central to the transformation. Encouraging the use of data-driven fleet management, route optimization, tire analytics, and driver behavior monitoring can help reduce fuel waste, downtime, and logistics costs, ultimately improving India’s competitiveness in freight movement.

Lastly, infrastructure remains the bedrock of adoption. Expanding charging networks along key freight corridors and Tier-2 and Tier-3 hubs will be essential.

Read the full white paper: “Insights and Recommendations from India’s Fleet Operator Survey 2025” by the Center for Zero Emission Truck Transition Support (CZETTS), Vasudha Foundation & All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC).

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[1] https://vasudha-foundation.org/http-www-vasudha-foundation-org-wp-content-uploads-zet-model-roadmap-2-pdf/

Also read: Secrets to building winning electric vehicle fleets for trucks and buses