IIT-M maps Green Trucking plan

An Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) study has outlined a practical and financially viable roadmap to power Zero Emission Truck (ZET) charging infrastructure using renewable energy.
Developed by the Centre for Excellence in Energy and Telecommunications (CEET) and the Centre of Excellence for Zero Emission Trucking (CoEZET) at IIT-M, the study proposes integrating dedicated solar and wind power generation with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to run high-capacity ZET charging parks. The aim is to decarbonise freight mobility while reducing dependence on conventional grid power.
As part of the initiative, IIT-M released a policy-ready handbook titled “RE-Charge Ready Reckoner”, offering a techno-economic and regulatory roadmap for renewable energy integration into truck charging hubs. The handbook is designed to guide policymakers, charge park operators and industry stakeholders in planning sustainable infrastructure.
The research adopts a corridor-based approach, analysing freight movement along the Chennai–Bengaluru and Solapur–Vijayapura routes using traffic data, techno-economic modelling and policy analysis. It highlights that while trucks form a small share of total vehicles, they account for a disproportionately high share of road pollution, making their electrification crucial for cleaner air and energy security.
The handbook also includes a ‘ZET Charge Park Calculator’, an Excel-based planning tool to help stakeholders estimate renewable capacity, investment requirements, cost savings and carbon emission reductions.
IIT-M said the study positions renewable-integrated electric freight systems as a key driver in India’s clean energy transition and supports the broader goal of sustainable, zero-emission logistics.