Zero-emission trucks: IIT Madras unveils renewable charging blueprint

As India pursues its ambitious target of becoming a net zero emitter by 2070 , cutting emissions from the mobility sector has emerged as a critical priority. While fossil fuel vehicles are steadily being replaced by electric vehicles, a key challenge remains unresolved: how to sustainably power millions of EV batteries without shifting emissions from tailpipes to power plants.

Addressing this crucial gap, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras has unveiled a practical and financially viable roadmap for powering zero-emission truck charging infrastructure entirely through renewable energy. The roadmap, supported by a comprehensive handbook, aims to reduce dependence on fossil-based charging infrastructure by integrating solar and wind power into high-capacity charging parks for electric trucks.

The initiative focuses on building a charging ecosystem that aligns clean mobility with clean energy. By combining dedicated solar and wind generation with Battery Energy Storage Systems , the roadmap offers a scalable solution to meet the high electricity demand of heavy-duty electric trucks while minimising reliance on conventional grid power. This integrated approach is expected to significantly lower lifecycle emissions from freight transport, one of the largest contributors to India’s carbon footprint.

Developed by IIT Madras’ Centre for Excellence in Energy and Telecommunications and the Centre of Excellence for Zero Emission Trucking, the study provides techno-economic and regulatory pathways for deploying renewable-powered charging parks along major freight corridors and logistics hubs. It also introduces the RE-Charge Ready Reckoner , a planning tool to guide policymakers, utilities and private developers in project design, investment assessment and regulatory compliance.

Commenting on the initiative, IIT Madras Director professor V Kamakoti said sustainable decarbonisation of trucking depends on greening the electricity supply that powers electric mobility. The handbook, he added, offers a policy-ready framework and a viable business model to accelerate the shift toward renewable-powered charging infrastructure.

By enabling clean electricity to drive electric mobility, the IIT Madras roadmap seeks to ensure that India’s transition to EVs delivers genuine, system-wide emission reductions.