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Surat recently concluded a pilot programme testing electric freight vehicles at the Surat Textile Market to assess their feasibility and potential to cut emissions from commercial transport.The initiative involved deployment of electric small commercial vehicles (e-SCVs) and light commercial vehicles (e-LCVs) across multiple logistics stages in the market, one of the city’s largest trading hubs. While full data analysis is still in progress, preliminary findings suggest lower operating costs and reduced tailpipe emissions compared to conventional diesel vehicles.The pilot forms part of the Surat Municipal Corporation’s measures under the National Clean Air Programme. The project was undertaken in collaboration with WRI India, Federation of Surat Textile Traders Association (FOSTTA), Switch Mobility and Euler Motors.Surat, which accounts for nearly 40 per cent of India’s man-made fabric production, sees around 21,000 freight trips daily across 250 markets. According to officials, the majority of these trips are handled by over 7,500 diesel, petrol and CNG-powered vehicles, contributing substantially to local emissions. Representatives from the textile traders’ associations and partner organisations said the pilot offers insights on fleet operations and could help inform future policy and investments in commercial e-mobility. The programme is part of WRI India’s Accelerator for Clean Air Actions and a larger UNEP-led project supported by the Global Environment Facility, with guidance from NITI Aayog.
