Kerala Moves Ahead with India’s First State-Led Electric Truck Corridor on NH-66

Key Highlights

• India’s first state-led electric truck corridor planned on NH-66.

• Dedicated PM E-DRIVE web portal launched by KSEBL.

• ₹2,000 crore central support for highway charging infrastructure.

• Focus on 120 kW and 240 kW high-capacity chargers.

• Supports cleaner logistics and export competitiveness.

Kerala has taken a major step toward clean freight transport by planning India’s first state-led electric truck corridor along National Highway 66 (NH-66). This busy national highway is a key freight route in the state, carrying large volumes of port cargo, industrial goods, and construction materials. The initiative is being developed under the central government’s PM E-DRIVE scheme and aims to build strong electric charging infrastructure for trucks.

Also Read: PM EDRIVE Delivers 1.13 Million EVs with Lower Subsidies, Shows Market Maturity

High-Level Workshop to Shape Electric Freight Roadmap

To move this plan forward, the Kerala State Electricity Board Limited (KSEBL), along with the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), organised a high-level workshop. The meeting brought together senior government officials, power utilities, electric vehicle manufacturers, and logistics operators. The main focus was to create a clear electric freight roadmap for the state and identify practical steps for implementation.

Dedicated Web Portal Launched for PM E-DRIVE Implementation

During the workshop, Electricity Minister K. Krishnankutty launched a dedicated web portal to support the PM E-DRIVE scheme. This platform helps streamline the use of privately owned land for charging infrastructure. Eligible Charge Point Operators can register private land parcels that meet Category C requirements. These land details will then be aggregated and sent as structured proposals to the Ministry of Heavy Industries, making the process faster and more transparent.

₹2,000 Crore Central Support for Charging Infrastructure

Under the PM E-DRIVE programme, the central government has allocated ₹2,000 crore to develop electric truck and bus charging infrastructure along major national and state highways across India. Kerala showed early leadership by submitting land proposals even before a nodal agency was officially appointed. After the operational guidelines were released, KSEBL was named the nodal agency and further strengthened land aggregation efforts.

Strong EV Adoption Gives Kerala an Early Advantage

Kerala already has a strong base in electric mobility. The state has registered more than 3 lakh electric vehicles, which account for over 10 per cent of new vehicle sales. This is among the highest EV adoption rates in the country and gives Kerala a solid foundation to expand into electric freight transport.

Why NH-66 Is Critical for Electric Freight

NH-66 is Kerala’s most important freight corridor, passing through densely populated districts such as Ernakulam, Kollam, Kozhikode, Alappuzha, and Thiruvananthapuram. With the expansion of Vizhinjam Port and rising coastal industrial activity, freight movement on this highway is expected to grow significantly. State officials stressed that planned electrification is essential to control emissions, reduce congestion, and manage the environmental impact of rising logistics traffic.

Cleaner Air and Stronger Exports Through Electric Trucks

Medium and heavy-duty trucks are among the biggest contributors to road transport pollution in India. Electrifying freight movement on NH-66 can help improve air quality and lower fuel and operating costs for industries. It can also strengthen Kerala’s export sectors such as rubber, seafood, cashew, and plantation products, which increasingly face global climate and carbon disclosure norms.

Focus on High-Capacity Charging and Driver Facilities

KSEBL Chairman Minhaj Alam said the board’s role is to convert the national PM E-DRIVE vision into a reliable and scalable charging ecosystem for medium and heavy-duty electric trucks. Additional Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar added that Kerala’s proposals will focus on high-capacity charging systems of 120 kW and 240 kW to support long-haul freight and future truck technologies.

Transport Commissioner Nagaraju Chakilam highlighted that mobility should be seen as both an energy consumer and a potential energy provider. The state plans to develop charging hubs with wayside amenities for truck drivers. These facilities will include charging stations and real-time road condition information, developed in coordination with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

Coordinated Effort to Set a National Example

The workshop also identified key freight electrification use cases, infrastructure rollout strategies, financing models for early adoption, and ways to align state actions with national clean mobility programmes. Through close coordination between KSEBL, the Power Department, Motor Vehicles Department, EV Accelerator Cell, and local industries, Kerala aims to set a national benchmark for corridor-based electric freight transport in India.

Also Read: Chandigarh Receives 15 New Electric Buses, Targets Highest EV Adoption by 2027

CMV360 Says

Kerala’s plan to develop India’s first state-led electric truck corridor on NH-66 marks a major shift toward cleaner freight transport. Backed by the PM E-DRIVE scheme, strong EV adoption, and coordinated efforts from key departments, the initiative aims to reduce pollution, support growing industrial freight, and build future-ready charging infrastructure. This move positions Kerala as a national leader in sustainable logistics and electric mobility.