Govt May Exempt Electric Trucks From Toll Hike Linked to Battery Weight: Gadkari

The Union government is considering a proposal to exempt electric trucks from paying higher toll charges arising due to their additional battery weight, road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari said on Tuesday.

Electric trucks are typically two tonnes heavier than diesel-powered vehicles, pushing them into a higher toll bracket. Industry executives have argued that this penalises zero-emission freight operators and discourages adoption.

Speaking at an industry roundtable organised by INTENT, Gadkari said the government is actively exploring solutions to make e-trucks more commercially viable. He also highlighted emerging technologies such as flash-charging that could accelerate the decarbonisation of India’s road freight sector.

India spends nearly $20 billion annually on fuel imports, Gadkari noted, stressing that new technologies must not only cut emissions but also make economic sense for businesses. “Proven technology, economic viability, raw material availability and marketability of the final product are critical. Businesses will only adopt them if they are profitable,” he said.

Industry leaders at the event urged relief from steep toll fees and pushed for faster rollout of high-capacity charging stations, especially along key freight corridors used by the steel and cement industries.

Currently, highway tolls are determined by vehicle category and maximum gross vehicle weight (GVW). For instance, light goods carriers are capped at 3.5 tonnes GVW, while heavy-duty carriers exceed 12 tonnes. The heavier build of electric trucks, due to their battery packs, means they often fall into higher toll categories.

Decarbonising freight transport is seen as central to India’s net-zero goals. Although trucks account for only 3% of India’s total vehicles, they generate almost one-third of road transport CO₂ emissions. Gadkari reiterated that a mix of biofuels, LNG, CNG and zero-emission trucks will be necessary to reduce road pollution.