NITI Aayog launches PACT to scale up zero-emission trucking in India

NITI Aayog has launched the Platform for Aggregating Clean Transport (PACT) at the 5th e-FAST India Summit, a move aimed at accelerating the deployment of zero-emission trucks across the country. The platform was unveiled by NITI Aayog Member Rajiv Gauba in the presence of senior officials from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the Ministry of Heavy Industries, and industry stakeholders.

PACT is designed to aggregate freight demand from shippers, logistics service providers, and other ecosystem players, converting it into concrete deployment opportunities on identified freight corridors. By bringing together vehicle manufacturers, financiers, charge point operators, and fleet operators, the platform seeks to improve demand visibility, guide charging infrastructure planning, and strengthen the business case for electric medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.

The launch comes as India's electric freight market shows rapid growth. E-freight vehicle deployments rose from 201 vehicles in FY25 to 826 in FY26, with over 3,000 electric medium- and heavy-duty trucks now operating nationwide. Sustaining this momentum, officials said, will require coordinated action on demand aggregation, charging networks, financing access, and investor confidence.

Speaking at the summit, Gauba noted that while domestic EV manufacturing capacity and policy support have advanced, the next phase depends on addressing ecosystem-wide challenges through collaboration. He highlighted the role of innovative financing models, corridor-based charging infrastructure, and market-driven partnerships in accelerating commercial adoption of e-trucks.

Road transport secretary V. Umashankar stressed the need for innovations in logistics operations, battery governance, and charging finance. He pointed to battery health monitoring systems and new operating models for high-utilization vehicles as measures that could improve transparency, strengthen resale values, and reduce financing risks.

The summit also introduced the ZET Marketplace, an interactive platform connecting e-truck manufacturers, logistics providers, charge point operators, financiers, and technology firms. The marketplace is intended to help stakeholders showcase products, explore commercial opportunities, and form partnerships to move zero-emission freight projects from intent to implementation.

Sessions at the summit focused on financing and de-risking mechanisms, charging infrastructure, policy priorities, and lessons from early deployments. The discussions underscored the need to shift from isolated pilots to coordinated, commercially viable deployment at scale.

With initiatives like PACT and the ZET Marketplace, NITI Aayog and its partners aim to convert freight demand, investment interest, and technology readiness into scalable zero-emission freight projects across India.