Policymakers and Stakeholders Meet to Decarbonise Road-Freight Sector

A closed-door roundtable conference was held at the Indian International Centre in New Delhi as part of the Delhi Climate Innovation Week. The event brought together senior policymakers, industry experts, researchers, and financiers. The goal was to create a roadmap for decarbonising India's long-haul freight sector through regulations, technology, and financial feasibility.

Three Structured Themes Explored for Comprehensive Solutions

The roundtable was organised across three key themes. These were fuel efficiency norms and regulatory ecosystems, innovation and technology readiness, and investment pathways for systemic action. The aim was to develop comprehensive solutions rather than piecemeal approaches.

Freight Emissions Could Double Without Intervention

Long-haul freight in India is growing significantly alongside economic activity. Without intervention, emissions from the freight sector could more than double by mid-century. This would make it impossible to meet national climate and air quality goals, making immediate action critical.

Coordinated Policy Approach Needed Across Governments

Rahul Kapoor, Director Finance at the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India, stressed that policy cannot be looked at in isolation. He stated that scaling up islands of excellence happening across India requires an overall structured approach. This approach must consider technology, policy ecosystem, resources, economics, and livelihoods while aligning central and various state governments.

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Incentives Good for Kickstart, Strategic Policy Needed for Long-Term Change

Amit Bhatt, Managing Director of ICCT India, noted a growing appetite for freight decarbonisation with massive changes happening in the regulatory system. He emphasised that this change needs to be driven at scale. While incentives are good for an initial kickstart, sustaining long-term change requires strategic policy pathways that define clear targets for different technologies.

10,000 Electric Trucks Expected in Next Five Years

Kaustubh Gosavi, Program Lead for Electric Mobility at WRI India, highlighted that close to 10,000 electric trucks are expected on Indian roads in the next five years. He posed critical questions about grid load, energy ecosystem solutions, and integration of renewable energy while achieving economic viability.

Post-Roundtable Briefing Note to Outline Strategic Roadmap

The conference established a platform for examining possibilities for electric and alternative energy heavy vehicle deployment, charging infrastructure development, and logistics optimisation strategies. Financial possibilities were also discussed. A post-roundtable briefing note will outline insights and immediate steps to establish a strategic roadmap.

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