JNPA flags off 50 EV trucks, plans 90% fleet shift by 2026; India’s ports step up green logistics.
India marked a historic green milestone today as Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal flagged off the country’s first fleet of electric heavy-duty trucks with swappable batteries at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA). The launch positions JNPA as the first Indian port with the largest EV truck fleet, reinforcing its leadership in sustainable logistics.
A total of 50 trucks were inducted today, with the fleet set to expand to 80 by year-end. JNPA has set an ambitious target to electrify 90% of its internal heavy truck fleet, about 600 vehicles, by December 2026. Alongside, a heavy-duty battery swapping station was also commissioned to support large-scale EV operations.
During the ceremony, an MoU between JNPA and the Isaac Centre for Public Policy (ICPP), Ashoka University, was signed to establish a tariff benchmarking framework across cargo types, ensuring transparent and efficient port pricing.
Sonowal hailed the initiative as a “decisive stride in India’s maritime decarbonisation journey”, adding:
“When JNPA electrifies its fleet, it sends a message that Indian ports are not only keeping pace with global practices but are also pioneering benchmarks in sustainability, efficiency, and innovation.”
The initiative aligns with PM Narendra Modi’s vision of greener ports under Maritime India Vision 2030, the Green Ports initiative, and the National Logistics Policy (NLP). It also strengthens India’s net-zero commitment by 2070 and supports the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP).
Unmesh Sharad Wagh, IRS, Chairperson of JNPA, called the EV fleet a “paradigmatic leap towards a cleaner, greener, and more resilient future for port operations”, noting that as India’s largest container port, handling nearly 50% of the nation’s container trade, JNPA must lead by example.
The EV truck deployment is expected to:
- Reduce emissions, noise, and pollution in port ecosystems.
- Showcase commercial-scale EV adoption in high-throughput logistics.
- Provide a replicable model for other major and non-major ports.
- Enhance efficiency in last-mile connectivity.
This launch adds to JNPA’s recent achievements, from being ranked among the Top 25 Global Ports in the World Bank’s CPPI Index to setting records in container handling and advancing projects in digitalisation and green energy.
With this pioneering move, JNPA cements its place as a trailblazer of India’s port-led green growth, integrating environmental stewardship with operational excellence.
Source: maritime Gateway
