Big corporates plug into electric trucks as rising diesel and logistics expenses drive a rethink

Mumbai: India's biggest industrial companies are accelerating investments in electric trucks as volatile diesel prices, rising logistics costs, and sustainability commitments reshape freight economics, fuelling a surge in adoption of eco-friendly vehicles across sectors.

Companies such as UltraTech Cement, Vedanta, and JSW are expanding their electric mobility footprint in logistics operations. Manufacturers, on their part, are reporting a rush of enquiries from large corporates looking to reduce reliance on conventional fuels and improve operating efficiency.

The momentum is starting to reflect in industry sales, with electric truck registrations nearly quadrupling in the first five months of 2026. This also signals growing customer acceptance and increased commercial deployment across logistics, ports, cement, mining, and quick-commerce operations.

Among the early movers is UltraTech Cement, which has deployed electric trucks for bulk logistics operations, ranking among the country's largest interstate EV truck deployments in the industrial freight segment. The company plans to progressively replace conventional diesel-powered vehicles in its logistics network. Vedanta, too, is pushing fleet electrification. "We have also transitioned approximately 14% of our light motor vehicle fleet to electric mobility, with over 200 electric vehicles deployed," said a company spokesperson.

The shift is extending beyond fleet adoption. The JSW Group is making a strategic foray into sustainable commercial mobility through JSW Greentech, which will design and manufacture next-generation electric commercial vehicles, underscoring growing confidence in the long-term potential of the segment.

Truck makers say corporate interest has risen sharply over the past year. Ashok Leyland is seeing a sharp increase in enquiries and pilot projects, driven by sustainability commitments, evolving regulations, and increasing awareness of the long-term economic benefits of electrification.

The company is witnessing strong interest from multinationals, large fleet operators, ecommerce and logistics firms, FMCG distributors, municipal institutions and customers operating in ports and industrial hubs. These sectors are emerging as the earliest adopters since they operate on dedicated routes and centralised networks that simplify charging and vehicle deployment.

Cement, steel, minerals, FMCG distribution, ecommerce and port operations are seeing the strongest adoption of electric trucks. "These applications are particularly promising as vehicles operate within defined ecosystems where charging can be planned efficiently," said Sanjeev Kumar, president, MHCV at Ashok Leyland. Blue Energy Motors is undergoing a similar trend. The company said enquiries for its e-trucks have risen nearly threefold in the last four to five months, with a major share coming from large corporates and fleet operators.

"Businesses today are increasingly focused on building resilience against fuel price volatility and supply-chain uncertainties, and this is emerging as a key driver accelerating interest in electric trucks," said Anirudh Bhuwalka, founder and managing director at Blue Energy Motors. Industry executives expect the pace of adoption to accelerate over the next few years as battery technology improves and charging infrastructure expands. "Over the next two to three years, we expect substantial progress across the EV ecosystem," said Kumar. "Battery technology is likely to deliver higher energy density and improved durability."

Improvements in energy efficiency and faster charging capabilities are expected to extend vehicle range and productivity, while expanding charging infrastructure across logistics corridors, industrial zones, and urban centres will improve operational convenience for fleet operators. The economics, however, remain central to the transition. As battery costs decline and vehicle utilisation improves, total ownership costs are expected to become increasingly attractive.

Industry stakeholders said innovative ownership models such as battery-as-a-service (BaaS) and battery swapping, along with easier financing, dedicated EV freight corridors and continued policy support, will be critical in accelerating large-scale adoption of electric trucks across India's freight ecosystem.