NHEV commences 3rd tech trial in Tamil Nadu
POWER & RENEWABLE ENERGY

NHEV commences 3rd tech trial in Tamil Nadu

The National Highways for Electric Vehicles (NHEV), an initiative by the Government of India, had launched its third tech trial run aimed at upgrading five of Tamil Nadu’s highways into electric highways. This project followed successful trials in Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra, which helped stakeholders plan the deployment and management of electric vehicles, including cars, buses, and SUVs. The third trial in Tamil Nadu would focus on five routes, namely Trichy to Chennai, Trichy to Madurai, Coimbatore to Ulundurpet, Krishnagiri to Madurai, and Madurai to Kanyakumari. For the first time, electric, hydrogen, and zero-emission freight vehicles were to be included, alongside the previously tested electric SUVs and buses.

It was stated that the data gathered would assist in identifying optimal locations for charging stations, their frequency, costs, and overall investment to upgrade these highways into e-highways. Abhijit Sinha, Programme Director at NHEV, had reportedly mentioned that this trial shifted the focus to ensuring that highway upgrades also included freight and logistics components. He had added that logistical aspects were being integrated to assess the deployment of electric, hydrogen, and zero-emission vehicles on the 5,500 km e-highway currently under upgrade.

Despite hydrogen and electric trucks having lower operating costs compared to diesel, they were not yet widely available for commercial use. This trial, as Sinha explained, was designed to collect real-time data to support their initial deployment, similar to previous e-mobility pilot projects for electric buses and SUVs under the Ease of Doing Business programme.

Tamil Nadu had been selected after a thorough evaluation of its potential contributions. Positioned to become a one-trillion-dollar economy, the state played a crucial role in India’s logistics sector, serving as a hub for automobiles, logistics, and trucking in southern India. It also housed numerous industries, including component suppliers, steel and cement manufacturers, and other manufacturing units. The project aimed to reduce India’s logistics costs from 14% to 9%, with Tamil Nadu’s progress in reducing trucking costs potentially serving as a model for other states. Sinha had emphasised the focus on decarbonising the trucking industry and transitioning to zero-emission freight vehicles.

The National Highways for Electric Vehicles (NHEV), an initiative by the Government of India, had launched its third tech trial run aimed at upgrading five of Tamil Nadu’s highways into electric highways. This project followed successful trials in Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra, which helped stakeholders plan the deployment and management of electric vehicles, including cars, buses, and SUVs. The third trial in Tamil Nadu would focus on five routes, namely Trichy to Chennai, Trichy to Madurai, Coimbatore to Ulundurpet, Krishnagiri to Madurai, and Madurai to Kanyakumari. For the first time, electric, hydrogen, and zero-emission freight vehicles were to be included, alongside the previously tested electric SUVs and buses. It was stated that the data gathered would assist in identifying optimal locations for charging stations, their frequency, costs, and overall investment to upgrade these highways into e-highways. Abhijit Sinha, Programme Director at NHEV, had reportedly mentioned that this trial shifted the focus to ensuring that highway upgrades also included freight and logistics components. He had added that logistical aspects were being integrated to assess the deployment of electric, hydrogen, and zero-emission vehicles on the 5,500 km e-highway currently under upgrade. Despite hydrogen and electric trucks having lower operating costs compared to diesel, they were not yet widely available for commercial use. This trial, as Sinha explained, was designed to collect real-time data to support their initial deployment, similar to previous e-mobility pilot projects for electric buses and SUVs under the Ease of Doing Business programme. Tamil Nadu had been selected after a thorough evaluation of its potential contributions. Positioned to become a one-trillion-dollar economy, the state played a crucial role in India’s logistics sector, serving as a hub for automobiles, logistics, and trucking in southern India. It also housed numerous industries, including component suppliers, steel and cement manufacturers, and other manufacturing units. The project aimed to reduce India’s logistics costs from 14% to 9%, with Tamil Nadu’s progress in reducing trucking costs potentially serving as a model for other states. Sinha had emphasised the focus on decarbonising the trucking industry and transitioning to zero-emission freight vehicles.

Next Story
Technology

AirBrick Infra Sets Rs 1 billion Target, Expands to Dubai and Tier-II Cities

AirBrick Infra, one of India’s fastest-growing AI-led commercial interior design and build firms, has announced a sales order target of Rs 1 billion for FY 2025–26. The projection represents a 50 per cent growth over the previous fiscal year and reflects rising demand, increased repeat business, and the company's robust tech-first delivery model.  Now in its third year of operations, AirBrick continues its rapid scale-up, having successfully delivered over 70 projects spanning 3 lakh sq ft in FY 2023–24. FY 2024–25 witnessed the onboarding of several Fortune 500 clients, sett..

Next Story
Resources

Virtusa Foundation Powers Green Education Drive in Bengaluru

The Virtusa Foundation, CSR arm of digital engineering and technology leader Virtusa Corporation, has announced key infrastructure and mobility initiatives at the Ramakrishna Mission, Shivanahalli, Bengaluru. The launch marks the inauguration of a 16-room residential facility for lady teachers and the deployment of two solar-powered electric buses, underscoring Virtusa’s commitment to its core pillars of Education, Environment and Empowerment (3Es).  Located on the forest fringe near Bannerghatta National Park, the initiative supports tribal and underserved communities, complementi..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Godrej Enterprises Drives India’s Smart Green Logistics Shift

As India accelerates its transformation into a global manufacturing and logistics hub, Godrej Enterprises Group (GEG) is taking the lead with its smart, sustainable intralogistics solutions. Through its Material Handling Equipment (MHE) and Storage Solutions businesses, GEG is redefining operational efficiency in modern warehouses and factories using IoT, automation, and AI. GEG has consistently maintained a 20–25 per cent market share in the intralogistics sector over the past three years. Today, over 37 per cent of GEG’s revenues come from its Good & Green portfolio, and its net..

Advertisement

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?