The Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI), Government of India, has launched the PM EDRIVE scheme, a first-of-its-kind initiative providing financial incentives for electric trucks (eTrucks). This scheme, effective as of July 11, 2025, aims to accelerate the transition to sustainable freight mobility and support India's net-zero emissions goal by 2070. The scheme targets N2 category trucks (Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) above 3.5 tonnes and up to 12 tonnes) and N3 category trucks (GVW exceeding 12 tonnes and up to 55 tonnes), offering incentives up to ₹9.6 lakh per vehicle as an upfront reduction in purchase price, reimbursed to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) via the PM EDRIVE portal.
Key provisions include mandatory manufacturer-backed warranties for the battery (5 years or 5 lakh kilometers) and the vehicle/motor (5 years or 2.5 lakh kilometers). The scheme anticipates supporting the deployment of approximately 5,600 eTrucks nationwide, with a dedicated allocation for 1,100 eTrucks in Delhi (outlay of ₹100 crore) to address air quality concerns. Beneficiary sectors include cement, ports, steel, and logistics. A prerequisite for incentive eligibility is the mandatory scrapping of old, polluting trucks. Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) has committed to procuring 150 eTrucks over the next two years. The scheme aligns with the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision and seeks to reduce operational costs, promote clean energy adoption, and improve air quality.
Key Entities Referenced
PM EDRIVE: A Government of India initiative to promote electric vehicles, under which financial incentives for electric trucks are being provided.
Ministry of Heavy Industries: The Indian government ministry responsible for launching the eTruck incentive scheme.
H.D. Kumaraswamy: Union Minister for Heavy Industries Steel, involved in launching the eTruck scheme.
Narendra Modi: Prime Minister of India, whose green mobility vision guides the eTruck incentive scheme.
N2 category: Electric trucks with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) above 3.5 tonnes and up to 12 tonnes, as defined under the Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR), eligible for incentives.
N3 category: Electric trucks with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) exceeding 12 tonnes and up to 55 tonnes, as defined under the Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR), eligible for incentives.
Delhi: A city in India, where a dedicated provision for 1,100 eTrucks is made under the scheme to address air quality challenges.
Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL): A Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) that has committed to procure 150 eTrucks for deployment across multiple locations.
Ministry of Heavy Industries
India Rolls Out First-Ever e-Truck Incentive Scheme
Under PM Modi’s Green Mobility Vision
HD Kumaraswamy Launches Game-Changing e-
Truck Scheme to Cut Freight Emissions and Boost
Make in India
GoI Unveils 9.6 Lakh Incentive for Electric Trucks to
Power Net-Zero Freight Transition
5,600 e-Trucks, Cleaner Cities: PM E-DRIVE
Accelerates India’s Green Freight Revolution
Posted On: 11 JUL 2025 2:57PM by PIB Delhi
Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the guidance of Union Minister for
Heavy Industries & Steel, Shri H.D. Kumaraswamy, the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI), Government of
India, has launched a groundbreaking scheme to provide financial incentives for electric trucks (e-trucks)
under the PM E-DRIVE initiative. This marks the first time the Government of India is extending direct
support for electric trucks, aiming to accelerate the country’s transition to clean, efficient, and sustainable
freight mobility.Highlighting the significance of the scheme, Union Minister Shri H.D. Kumaraswamy stated, “Diesel trucks,
though constituting only 3% of the total vehicle population, contribute to 42% of transport-related greenhouse
gas emissions and significantly worsen air pollution. This pioneering scheme, guided by the visionary
leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, represents India’s first dedicated support for electric trucks.
It will drive our nation toward sustainable freight mobility, a cleaner future, and the realization of Viksit
Bharat by 2047, in alignment with our net-zero emissions goal by 2070.”
Under the scheme, demand incentives will be extended to N2 and N3 category electric trucks, as defined
under the Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR).
The N2 category includes trucks with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) above 3.5 tonnes and up to
(cid:108)
12 tonnes.
The N3 category covers trucks with GVW exceeding 12 tonnes and up to 55 tonnes. In the case of
(cid:108)
articulated vehicles, incentives will apply only to the puller tractor of the N3 category.
To ensure reliability and performance, the scheme mandates comprehensive manufacturer-backed warranties.
The battery must be covered under a warranty for five years or 5 lakh kilometres, whichever is
(cid:108)
earlier.
The vehicle and motor must have a warranty of five years or 2.5 lakh kilometres, whichever is
(cid:108)
earlier.
To promote affordability, the incentive amount will depend on the GVW of the electric truck, with the
maximum incentive set at ₹9.6 lakh per vehicle. These incentives will be offered as an upfront reduction in
the purchase price and reimbursed to OEMs via the PM E-DRIVE portal on a first-come, first-served basis.
The scheme is expected to support the deployment of approximately 5,600 e-trucks across the country. A
dedicated provision for 1,100 e-trucks registered in Delhi has been made, with an estimated outlay of ₹100
crore, aimed at addressing the capital’s serious air quality challenges.
Key sectors set to benefit include the cement industry, ports, steel, and the logistics sector. Several leading
OEMssuch as Volvo Eicher, Tata Motors, and Ashok Leylandare already engaged in manufacturing electric
trucks in India, enhancing indigenous capabilities under the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.The initiative has received a warm response from both manufacturers and users of e-trucks, who acknowledge
the scheme’s potential to lower logistics costs and reduce carbon emissions.
As a strong show of CPSE leadership, the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) has committed to procure
150 e-trucks over the next two years for deployment across multiple locations. Additionally, SAIL has set an
internal target to ensure that at least 15% of all vehicles hired across its units are electric.
To qualify for the incentives, the scrapping of old, polluting trucks is mandatoryensuring a dual benefit of
modernising vehicle fleets and reducing emissions.
This forward-looking initiative by the Ministry of Heavy Industries aligns with the Government of India’s
broader objective of building a self-reliant electric mobility ecosystem. By extending incentives to e-trucks,
the scheme aims to reduce operational costs for transporters, encourage clean energy adoption in the heavy
vehicle segment, and enhance air quality in urban and industrial regionsbringing India closer to a sustainable,
low-carbon future.
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TPJ/NJ
(Release ID: 2143995)