Government launches first incentive scheme for electric trucks under PM E-DRIVE
On 11 July 2025, the Ministry of Heavy Industries launched India's first incentive scheme for electric trucks under PM E-DRIVE, with up to ₹9.6 lakh per vehicle.
Summary
The Ministry of Heavy Industries, under Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, launched on 11 July 2025 a scheme of demand incentives for electric trucks under the PM E-DRIVE initiative, the first time the Government of India is directly supporting e-trucks. Incentives will apply to N2 (gross vehicle weight above 3.5 tonnes up to 12 tonnes) and N3 (above 12 tonnes up to 55 tonnes) category electric trucks under the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, with the amount linked to gross vehicle weight and capped at ₹9.6 lakh per vehicle. The battery must carry a warranty of five years or 5 lakh km, whichever is earlier, and the scheme is expected to support about 5,600 e-trucks. Kumaraswamy said diesel trucks, though only 3% of vehicles, contribute 42% of transport-related greenhouse gas emissions.
Key facts
- Scheme
- First central incentive for e-trucks, under PM E-DRIVE
- Eligible
- N2 (>3.5–12 t GVW) and N3 (>12–55 t GVW) electric trucks
- Max incentive
- ₹9.6 lakh per vehicle, linked to GVW
- Battery warranty
- 5 years or 5 lakh km
- Target
- ~5,600 e-trucks
- Rationale
- Diesel trucks: 3% of vehicles, 42% of transport GHG emissions
Practice MCQs 3 questions
What is the maximum incentive per vehicle under the e-truck scheme launched under PM E-DRIVE on 11 July 2025?
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Correct answer: C — ₹9.6 lakh
Ministry of Heavy Industries: the incentive depends on GVW, with the maximum set at ₹9.6 lakh per vehicle.
Approximately how many electric trucks is the PM E-DRIVE e-truck scheme expected to support?
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Correct answer: A — 5,600
Ministry of Heavy Industries: the scheme is expected to support the deployment of approximately 5,600 e-trucks across the country.
Consider the following statements about the e-truck incentive scheme (July 2025): 1. N2 category covers trucks with GVW above 3.5 tonnes and up to 12 tonnes. 2. N3 category covers trucks with GVW above 12 tonnes and up to 55 tonnes. 3. The battery must carry a warranty of three years or 3 lakh km. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
Statements 1 and 2 are correct as per the CMVR categories cited by the Ministry. Statement 3 is wrong: the battery warranty must be five years or 5 lakh km, whichever is earlier.