An Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) study has come out with a practical, financially-viable roadmap for powering Zero Emission Truck (ZET) charging infrastructure with renewable energy.

The institute also released a comprehensive handbook to support policymakers and industry stakeholders in accelerating adoption.

The study and handbook have been developed by the Centre for Excellence in Energy and Telecommunications (CEET) and the Centre of Excellence for Zero Emission Trucking (CoEZET) housed in the Department of Engineering Design, IIT Madras.

A Video explaining this handbook can be viewed and downloaded from the following link - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aVLJGDndSPu0-phlRy7wL7bAryjufkkH/view?usp=sharing

The research sets out pathways for integrating dedicated solar and wind power generation, supported by Battery Energy Storage Systems, into high-capacity ZET charge parks. The objective is to decarbonise electric mobility while reducing dependence on conventional grid power.

As a key outcome of the study, CEET and CoEZET have released “RE-Charge Ready Reckoner”- ‘A Handbook on Renewable Energy Integration for Zero Emission Truck Charge Parks’, designed as a policy-ready reference aligned with the various State and Central Govt. requirements.

The handbook is intended to inform and strengthen national and state EV charging strategies through evidence-based analysis and real-world modelling.

Highlighting the timeliness and requirement of this handbook, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IITM, and Chair, CEET, said, “As our Nation transitions to Zero Emission Trucking, sustainable decarbonization requires appropriate greening of the electricity supply to ZET Charge Parks. This handbook is an outcome of a study undertaken by CEET and IITM CoEZET that presents a techno-economic framework and a business mechanism for setting up Renewable Energy integrated ZET Charge Parks. I expect this to be a valuable resource to various stakeholders including Decision Makers and Charge Park Owners and Operators to catalyze Green Charge Parks.”

Elaborating further, Prof. C S Shankar Ram, Principal Investigator, CoEZET, IIT Madras, added, “India’s logistics sector underpins economic growth, handling nearly 65 per cent of freight movement by road and contributing close to 5 per cent of GDP. However, trucks—while accounting for only about 3 per cent of vehicles—are responsible for an estimated 53 per cent of on-road particulate matter pollution. The study underscores that transitioning this segment to zero-emission trucking offers disproportionately high gains for air quality, public health and energy security.”

What distinguishes this work is its corridor-based approach focused specifically on heavy-duty ZET charging with renewable energy integration. The study analyses two major freight corridors—Chennai–Bangalore and Solapur–Vijayapura—combining traffic data, techno-economic modelling, policy analysis and power electronics design.

The handbook serves as a technical and financial blueprint, addressing concerns around upfront investment, operating costs and long-term returns. It highlights how the integration of renewable energy and BESS can significantly lower energy costs and demand charges, while positioning ZET charge parks as future multi-energy hubs.

To support implementation on the ground, the handbook includes a ‘ZET Charge Park Calculator’, an Excel-based planning tool that enables stakeholders to estimate renewable energy capacity, land requirements, investment needs, returns on investment, annual cost savings and CO₂ emission reductions. This tool is intended to aid charge point operators, fleet owners, DISCOMs and government agencies in making informed, site-specific decisions.

With outcomes ranging from accelerated deployment of renewable-powered ZET charge parks to reduced diesel imports and improved air quality, the study positions renewable-integrated electric freight as a high-impact lever in India’s clean energy transition. The handbook is now publicly available through CoEZET, IIT Madras, for use by policymakers, industry and the broader mobility ecosystem.