New Delhi: Montra Electric has signed two Memorandums of Understanding with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to support the replacement of ageing trucks and buses with electric commercial vehicles in Delhi-NCR, as the government steps up efforts to reduce vehicular emissions in the region.
The separate agreements were signed by Montra Electric’s electric medium and heavy commercial vehicle, or e-MHCV, business and its electric small commercial vehicle, or e-SCV, division at an event in New Delhi.
The MoUs form part of the Government of India’s scheme supporting the National Capital Region Planning Board’s policy for replacing old trucks and buses operating in the National Capital Region.
Under the initiative, Montra Electric’s two commercial vehicle businesses will offer electric mobility solutions to eligible fleet operators and customers seeking to replace older internal-combustion-engine vehicles.
The policy is intended to accelerate the adoption of electric commercial vehicles, improve air quality through zero tailpipe emissions and contribute to India’s broader decarbonisation objectives.
Commercial vehicles form an important part of the region’s freight and passenger transport network, but ageing diesel-powered fleets can also be significant contributors to urban air pollution. Replacing them is therefore less about giving the fleet a cosmetic makeover and more about cleaning up what comes out of the exhaust pipe.
Montra Electric currently offers medium- and heavy-duty electric trucks under its Rhino range. Its small electric commercial vehicle portfolio includes the Eviator, aimed at urban and last-mile freight applications.
The company said its two entities would work with eligible operators to support the transition towards cleaner freight movement across Delhi-NCR.
The government’s vehicle-replacement programme is expected to help reduce emissions from older conventional commercial vehicles while encouraging the development of a broader ecosystem for electric trucks, including vehicle supply, charging infrastructure and fleet adoption.
The effectiveness of the initiative will ultimately depend on how quickly fleet owners find electric commercial vehicles commercially viable. Still, the agreements mark another step towards modernising one of India’s busiest transport regions, where cleaner trucks could benefit both freight efficiency and the air breathed by millions of residents.
