Get Paid to Go Green! – Govt Offers Up to ₹9.6 Lakh Incentive on Electric Trucks Under New PM E-DRIVE Scheme
Govt launches PM E-DRIVE with ₹9.6 lakh incentive for buying electric trucks.
In a groundbreaking push toward green logistics, the Indian government has rolled out a powerful incentive plan that could earn buyers up to ₹9.6 lakh per electric truck under the all-new PM E-DRIVE scheme — the first of its kind targeting customer-facing support for electric trucks.
Unveiled by Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy, the scheme is part of a larger ₹10,900 crore initiative to promote sustainable transport. Of that, ₹500 crore has been set aside just for e-truck adoption, with a target to put 5,600 electric trucks on Indian roads.
“This is a landmark step. Though diesel trucks account for just 3% of total vehicles, they cause 42% of transport-related greenhouse gas emissions. PM E-DRIVE is a massive leap toward our 2070 net-zero goal and the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047,” Kumaraswamy said.
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Who Benefits?
Industries like logistics, ports, cement, and steel are major targets. The Steel Authority of India (SAIL) has already committed to purchasing 150 e-trucks and aims for 15% electrification across its vehicle fleet.
What’s in it for Buyers?
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Up to ₹9.6 lakh incentive per electric truck
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Reserved quota for 1,100 e-trucks in Delhi to combat pollution
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Incentives based on gross vehicle weight
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Available for N2 (3.5–12 tonnes) and N3 (12–55 tonnes) truck categories
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Old diesel truck scrapping is mandatory to qualify
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Subsidy applied upfront and reimbursed to manufacturers
Kumaraswamy emphasized the move as a direct push for buyers, not just manufacturers. “Under FAME and PLI, benefits mostly went to OEMs. PM E-DRIVE is different — it’s built to trigger demand directly from the ground,” he said.
Big Boost for Make in India
Heavy Industries Secretary Kamran Rizvi confirmed that the scheme includes a phased manufacturing plan, meaning local sourcing is mandatory and imports are heavily restricted.
Rizvi also revealed that 12 lakh e-two-wheelers and 1.6 lakh e-three-wheelers have already been supported under the broader PM E-DRIVE initiative, with bus adoption also scaling up rapidly.
Major e-bus allocations include:
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4,500 for Bengaluru
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2,800 for Delhi
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2,000 for Hyderabad
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1,000 for Ahmedabad
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600 for Surat
The biggest-ever e-bus tender in India has also been floated by CESL, promising fresh interest from global manufacturers.
What About Electric Ambulances?
In a surprising reveal, Rizvi confirmed that India’s first electric ambulance has already been homologated by Force Motors, with commercial production expected by early 2026. The ministries of Health and Road Transport are collaborating on safety and care guidelines.
