Ashok Leyland and the Centre of Excellence for Zero Emission Trucking (CoEZET) at IIT Madras have launched a nationwide initiative to build awareness and acceptance of battery electric trucks, with a demonstration drive covering 40 cities between September 2026 and February 2027.
The ‘GET ZET – Electric Truck Awareness to Acceptance’ initiative was launched in Chennai on September 29 and will cover major logistics hubs and industrial corridors across 14 states and the Delhi region.
Demonstration drive targets freight ecosystem
The programme will cover Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, besides Delhi.
The initiative will bring together fleet owners, logistics operators, financiers, load providers, charging infrastructure partners, policymakers and industry experts to discuss the opportunities and challenges involved in the transition to zero-emission freight transportation.
Participants will also get an opportunity to experience Ashok Leyland’s electric commercial vehicle technology through interactive demonstrations and trial experiences.
BOSS Electric to be showcased
The BOSS Electric truck, along with its charging setup, will be demonstrated during the programme, allowing stakeholders to experience the vehicle and understand the wider electric commercial vehicle ecosystem.
Ashok Leyland MD & CEO Shenu Agarwal said technology maturity alone would not determine the transition to zero-emission mobility, with user confidence also critical to adoption at scale.
He said the initiative, being conducted with CoEZET, IIT Madras, would bring electric truck technology closer to customers and other stakeholders, enabling them to experience its real-world potential.
IIT Madras focuses on ZET adoption
IIT Madras Dean (ICSR) Prof. Manu Santhanam said CoEZET has been working on the adoption of zero-emission trucks since 2022, with a vision of achieving 100% zero-emission truck penetration by 2047.
The centre’s work spans policy, technology, skilling and outreach. The latest initiative builds on its earlier awareness programmes and focuses on helping stakeholders experience and evaluate battery electric trucks.
Santhanam said hands-on trial rides would help demonstrate the quieter, smoother and more comfortable driving experience of electric trucks while addressing driver concerns and building acceptance among the trucking community.
The 40-city programme is aimed at strengthening engagement across the commercial vehicle ecosystem and supporting the development of the infrastructure, financing, operational knowledge and user confidence required for wider adoption of zero-emission trucks in India.