Ashok Leyland, the flagship company of the Hinduja Group, announced plans on Monday to commercially launch its first hydrogen-powered truck within the next 18-24 months. This follows the successful unveiling of India’s first Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (H2-ICE) heavy-duty truck, developed in partnership with Reliance Industries, last February. Additionally, Ashok Leyland’s Lucknow plant is expected to be operational by the third quarter of the upcoming financial year.
In another significant milestone, Ashok Leyland has started delivering India’s largest single order of electric trucks to Billion Electric Mobility, a member of Group BillionE. The contract includes 180 electric vehicles, featuring the Boss Electric Truck and 45 AVTR 55T electric tractors, set to operate on key routes between Chennai, Bengaluru, and Vijayawada. Currently, the company manufactures electric trucks on a smaller scale but plans to set up specialized assembly lines for electric and alternative energy trucks at its Hosur unit in the future.
Shenu Agarwal, Ashok Leyland’s Managing Director and CEO, emphasized the partnership’s importance, saying, “We are proud of our collaboration with BillionE Group as we begin deliveries of our AVTR 55T Electric Tractor and BOSS ICV Electric trucks. Both platforms are equipped with advanced features, setting new performance standards in the Indian market.”
The Boss Electric Truck is India’s first electric vehicle in the Intermediate Commercial Vehicle (ICV) category, while the AVTR 55T Electric Tractor is the first 4×2 tractor offered by an Indian commercial vehicle manufacturer. Designed for high efficiency and enhanced safety, the trucks feature IP67-rated battery packs for protection against water and dust, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and dual-gun charging capabilities for faster recharging. They are also compatible with the Common Charging Standard 2 (CCS2).
The delivery of these eco-friendly vehicles underscores Ashok Leyland’s commitment to sustainable transportation, playing a vital role in reducing India’s carbon footprint. Kartikey Hariyani, CEO of BillionE and ChargeZone, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “Our energy transition platform, BillionE, is advancing toward a cleaner and more sustainable future. We’re grateful to Ashok Leyland for their support in delivering cutting-edge electric vehicles that further our commitment to a sustainable transport ecosystem.”