JNPA Launches India's First Electric Heavy Truck Fleet with Swappable Batteries

The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) on Thursday launched India's first fleet of electric heavy trucks equipped with swappable battery technology at the Nhava Sheva Distribution Terminal, marking a significant milestone in the country's maritime logistics transformation.

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal flagged off the inaugural fleet of 50 vehicles, with the deployment making JNPA the largest operator of electric truck fleets among Indian ports. The ceremony was attended by R. Lakshmanan, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, and Unmesh Sharad Wagh, Chairperson of JNPA.

The port authority plans to expand the electric fleet to 80 trucks by year-end and aims to convert 90% of its internal heavy truck fleet—approximately 600 vehicles—to electric by December 2026. A dedicated heavy-duty battery swapping station was also commissioned during the event to support the fleet operations.

"Today, when JNPA takes a decisive step in electrifying its fleet of logistics vehicles, it sends a message that India's ports are ready to embrace the future and pioneer practices that will set benchmarks for sustainability, efficiency, and innovation," Sonowal said during the ceremony.

The initiative aligns with India's broader sustainability goals, including the country's net-zero commitment by 2070 and the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan. JNPA, which handles nearly half of India's container trade, positions this deployment as a proof point for the nation's logistics transformation under the PM Gati Shakti initiative and National Logistics Policy.

As part of the event, JNPA signed a memorandum of understanding with the Isaac Centre for Public Policy at Ashoka University, Delhi. The partnership aims to develop a reference framework for port authorities to determine tariffs from cost and port benchmarking perspectives across various cargo types.

Wagh described the launch as "a paradigmatic leap towards a cleaner, greener, and more resilient future for port operations," emphasizing the port's commitment to reconciling economic growth with ecological responsibility.

The electric truck deployment is expected to reduce operational emissions, particulate pollution, and noise levels within the port ecosystem while establishing a benchmark for other major and non-major ports across India. The initiative supports the Government of India's Maritime India Vision 2030 and Green Ports initiative.

JNPA has gained recognition in recent months, ranking among the top 25 ports globally in the World Bank's Container Port Performance Index and achieving records in container handling operations. The port authority continues advancing projects in special economic zones, digitalization, and green energy as part of its comprehensive sustainability strategy.