Kerala to pioneer electric freight corridor on NHs with fast charging for heavy vehicles

Alathur (Palakkad): In a first-of-its-kind initiative in India, Kerala is set to introduce a network of fast charging stations for large vehicles along national highways at fixed intervals. A green corridor, termed the Zero Emission Trucking Corridor (ZET), will be developed for goods vehicles on National Highway-66 and National Highway-544.

The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has identified suitable locations for installing the charging infrastructure. The project aligns with the Centre’s policy aimed at encouraging the adoption of electric trucks and buses to curb pollution levels.

Fast charging hubs capable of charging up to 20 vehicles at the same time will be established as part of the project. These charging centres will be located near spots where truck drivers usually halt for rest, as well as ports, markets, logistics hubs, and lorry and bus booking offices.

National Highway-66 stretches for about 650 km from Panvel in Maharashtra to Kanyakumari, passing through Kerala. The highway serves as one of the state’s main freight transport routes.

The green corridor will be developed with Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, and Kozhikode as key centres. It will also link Kochi, Thrissur, and Palakkad along National Highway-544, which connects Kochi with Coimbatore.