India Unveils Bharat ZET Policy Advisory to Accelerate Decarbonization in Transport Sector

In his keynote address, Prof. Sood highlighted the crucial role of Zero Emission Trucks (ZET) in India's decarbonization and energy security efforts.

In a significant step towards achieving India's Net Zero 2070 target, Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India, launched the "Bharat Zero Emission Trucking (ZET) Policy Advisory" at Vigyan Bhawan Annexe, New Delhi, on August 21, 2024. The event was attended by key stakeholders, including Dr. Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary, Office of PSA; Sh. Hanif Qureshi, Additional Secretary (Auto), Ministry of Heavy Industries; Sh. Sudhendu Sinha, Adviser (Infrastructure Connectivity & E-Mobility), NITI Aayog; and other distinguished experts from academia, industry, and government.

In his keynote address, Prof. Sood highlighted the crucial role of Zero Emission Trucks (ZET) in India's decarbonization and energy security efforts. He emphasized the need for technical expertise and systematic policy interventions to create a supportive ecosystem for the widespread adoption of ZETs in India.

Prof. Karthick Athmanathan, PSA Fellow and Professor of Practice at IIT Madras, provided context for the Bharat ZET Policy Advisory document. Ms. Sharvari Patki from the World Resources Institute (WRI) gave an overview, outlining the approach and methodology behind the proposed policy interventions.

Sh. Hanif Qureshi and Sh. Sudhendu Sinha also spoke on the occasion, underlining the importance of truck electrification and discussing the roadmap to achieve 100% ZET sales penetration by 2050. This milestone is seen as essential for India to meet its ambitious Net Zero 2070 goal.

The Bharat ZET Policy Advisory document outlines 30 policy interventions aimed at accelerating ZET adoption. These interventions are organized into five key areas: incentives, regulations, infrastructure, business and financing, and stakeholder-centric initiatives. Each policy suggestion comes with a designated nodal agency, a list of key stakeholders, and an impact analysis for the sector. The document is intended to be dynamic, with recommendations refined through stakeholder consultations and detailed analyses.

The development of the advisory was guided by a Policy Advisory Panel (PAP) led by Dr. Preeti Banzal, Adviser, Office of PSA, and supported by a Project Management Unit at IIT Madras' Centre of Excellence for Zero Emission Trucking (CoEZET). The panel includes leading figures from academia, industry, and international organizations, reflecting a collaborative effort to drive India's transition to a zero-emission trucking future.

The Bharat ZET Policy Advisory sets the stage for India Chem 2024, where the latest innovations in the chemical and petrochemical sectors will be showcased, further reinforcing India's commitment to sustainable industrial practices.