Electric Vehicles Power Waste Collection in Indian Cities

18 Jun 2025 CW Team

Under the Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban, major Indian cities are leading a shift towards electric vehicles (EVs) for waste collection, reducing emissions and operational costs while improving urban sanitation.

In Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, over 200 electric autos have replaced diesel garbage trucks. These EVs cover the city's 159 square kilometres and help save more than 71,000 litres of diesel annually. Over ten years, this is projected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 21,000 tonnes, significantly improving air and noise pollution levels.

Chennai has deployed 5,478 electric rickshaws for door-to-door garbage collection across 15 zones, serving over 2.1 million households. Each vehicle travels about 40 kilometres a day. The initiative cuts carbon emissions by 41 tonnes daily, or about 15,160 tonnes annually. The EVs include separate bins for wet, dry, and hazardous waste to encourage waste segregation at the source.

In Indore, the municipal corporation has rolled out 100 electric vehicles in central areas such as Rajwada. This fleet is estimated to reduce carbon emissions by approximately 24,918 tonnes a year. Indore has also installed 20 solar-powered EV charging stations, each equipped with 10 kW panels that generate between 800 and 1,000 units of electricity per day. The initiative is expected to save around Rs 60 million annually in fuel and maintenance costs.

These cities are setting a benchmark for sustainable waste management. Their use of EVs, backed by solar energy and digital tracking systems, demonstrates how municipalities can build cleaner, more efficient, and environmentally friendly infrastructure. These efforts are part of a broader national push under the Swachh Bharat Mission to enhance quality of life in urban India.

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