India’s First Fleet Of Electric Heavy Trucks With Swappable Batteries Rolled Out At JNPA

In a significant step towards green logistics, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal on Thursday (25 September) flagged off India’s first fleet of electric heavy trucks with swappable batteries at the Nhava Sheva Distribution Terminal in Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA).

With this induction, JNPA now hosts the largest EV truck fleet at any Indian port.

The initiative saw the launch of 50 electric heavy trucks, with the fleet set to expand to 80 by the end of this year.

A heavy-duty battery swapping station was also commissioned to support the operations.

JNPA has set an ambitious target of converting 90 per cent of its internal fleet of nearly 600 heavy trucks to electric by December 2026.

Union Minister Sonowal underscored the importance of the move, stating, "When JNPA takes a decisive step in electrifying its fleet of logistics vehicles, it sends a message far beyond port boundaries. It sends a message that India’s ports are ready to embrace the future, ready to pioneer practices that will set benchmarks for sustainability, efficiency, and innovation".

He highlighted that ports across India are also investing in solar and wind power, LNG and hydrogen fuel infrastructure, and electrification of cargo handling equipment as part of a broader decarbonisation drive.

Sonowal lauded JNPA’s recent achievements, noting its inclusion among the Top 25 ports globally in the World Bank’s Container Port Performance Index (CPPI), along with records in container handling and progress in SEZ development, digitalisation, and green energy.

JNPA Chairperson Shri Unmesh Sharad Wagh, also CMD of VPPL, called the launch a “paradigmatic leap towards a cleaner, greener, and more resilient future for port operations,” emphasising that sustainability must form the foundation of growth.

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