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The Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel launched the e-Truck Incentive Scheme, under "PM E-DRIVE.

About e-Truck Incentive Scheme

It provides financial help to businesses and transporters who buy electric trucks. This is for the first time, the government directly supports the purchase of electric trucks, to make it cheaper for companies to switch from diesel to electric.

The amount of finances a business gets as an incentive depends on how heavy the electric truck is. The maximum amount anyone can receive is ₹9.6 lakh per vehicle. Businesses receive these incentives as an immediate reduction in the price when they buy the electric truck.  

What are the objectives of this Scheme?

Reduce Running Costs => To lower the daily expenses for transport companies. Electric trucks can be cheaper to run over time compared to diesel trucks because electricity costs less than fuel, and they usually need less maintenance.

Encourage Clean Energy => Promotes using clean energy sources in the heavy vehicle industry. By using electricity instead of fossil fuels, these trucks produce zero harmful exhaust gases from their tailpipes.

Improve Air Quality => Make the air much cleaner in our cities and industrial areas. Fewer diesel trucks mean less harmful pollution in the air we breathe.

Speed Up India's Green Transition => Helps India move faster towards freight transportation that is clean, efficient, and good for the environment. India aims to become a country that produces very little carbon pollution.

Which Trucks Get the Benefits of This Scheme?

N2 Category Trucks => These are trucks with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) – which means the total weight of the truck plus its maximum load – above 3.5 tonnes and up to 12 tonnes.

N3 Category Trucks => These are heavier trucks with a GVW that is more than 12 tonnes and goes up to 55 tonnes.

What Guarantees Do These Electric Trucks Need to Have?

Battery Warranty => The truck's battery must have a warranty for five years or for 5 lakh kilometers, whichever comes first. This means if the battery has problems within this period or mileage, the manufacturer must fix or replace it.

Vehicle and Motor Warranty => The electric truck itself and its motor must have a warranty for five years or for 2.5 lakh kilometers, whichever comes first. This covers the overall reliability of the vehicle.

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Government launches PM E-Drive Scheme

Source: 

PIB