H. D. Kumaraswamy chaired a high-level stakeholder consultation to accelerate the adoption of electric buses and electric trucks across India. (a file photo)
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Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H. D. Kumaraswamy on Wednesday chaired a high-level stakeholder consultation to encourage the wider adoption and deployment of electric buses (E-Buses) and electric trucks (E-Trucks) across the country.The meeting brought together key stakeholders from across India, including fleet operators, aggregators, transport leaders, financial institutions, leasing companies, and industry representatives engaged in the rapidly evolving electric mobility ecosystem.The consultation was convened to understand operational realities, accelerate the adoption of E-Buses and E-Trucks, and strengthen collaboration between the government and private stakeholders, MHI said.E-buses and e-trucks seen as future of transport and logisticsAddressing the gathering, Kumaraswamy said that E-Buses are set to become the future backbone of passenger transportation in India, while E-Trucks will play a transformative role in shaping the future of sustainable logistics and freight movement.“India is witnessing a decisive shift towards clean and efficient transportation. E-Buses are the future of passenger mobility, and E-Trucks will define the next era of logistics and freight transport in our country,” he said, adding that the government was committed to working hand-in-hand with operators and industry stakeholders to ensure that India’s transition to electric mobility is practical, inclusive, and commercially sustainable.He further emphasised that the initiative aligns closely with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi towards sustainability, operational efficiency, and responsible governance.“This consultation was not merely a policy discussion. It was an important platform to hear directly from the operators and stakeholders who are driving transport services on the ground across India. Their feedback and experience are extremely valuable in shaping the future roadmap,” Kumaraswamy said.Industry feedback on financing, infrastructure and fleet deploymentDuring the meeting, the stakeholders also shared extensive feedback, operational experiences, sectoral concerns, and practical suggestions relating to financing access, charging infrastructure, fleet deployment, operational viability, and long-term ecosystem support for electric commercial vehicles, the MHI noted.The consultation is being viewed as a significant step by the MHI towards accelerating India’s transition to sustainable heavy mobility while actively engaging industry stakeholders in shaping the country’s next phase of transport and logistics transformation.The MHI is already running the PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) Scheme, under which the Centre has allocated ₹4,391 crore in subsidies for more than 14,000 E-Buses and ₹500 crore to support E-Truck buyers.Senior officials of the MHI, including Secretary Kamran Rizvi and Additional Secretary Hanif Qureshi, were also present during the discussions.Published on May 21, 2026
