Eicher Trucks & Buses has announced a series of energy efficiency measures coinciding with National Energy Conservation Day, focusing on manufacturing operations and on-road fleet optimization.
The company, a business unit of Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles (VECV), operates over 387,000 connected vehicles that utilize predictive analytics through its MyEicher platform to improve fuel economy and reduce idle time. The fleet includes commercial vehicles running on alternative fuels such as compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), and electric powertrains deployed across multiple Indian states.
Manufacturing efficiency centers on the company's Bhopal facility, which incorporates Industry 4.0 technologies and digital systems for resource management. The plant features a 52-million-liter water body that supplies the paint shop and receives recycled water, creating a closed-loop system. The water body now supports aquatic life and serves as a stopover for migratory birds.
Energy management at company facilities includes LED lighting installations replacing approximately 5,000 conventional fixtures, along with IoT-based monitoring systems and variable frequency drive motor controls.
VECV has set a target of achieving 70% renewable energy usage by fiscal year 2027, supported by a 6-megawatt solar installation currently under expansion. The company also aims to become water positive by 2030.
The sustainability program encompasses waste reduction, emission controls, and zero waste to landfill initiatives, aligned with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 6, 7, 12, and 13.
VECV is a joint venture between the Volvo Group and Eicher Motors Limited, established in August 2008. The company manufactures and distributes Eicher-branded trucks and buses in 40 countries, along with Volvo Buses India and engines for the Volvo Group.