Secretary of Transport, UT Ladakh Amit Sharma (IAS) inaugurated the session, “Technical Assistance for Identification of Opportunities and Challenges in freight electrification” and flagged off electric freight vehicles on August 21.

Sanjay Dube, President & CEO of the International Institute for Energy Conservation (IIEC) spoke about Evfying last mile freight in UT Ladakh, while Narayankumar Sreekumar, Associate Director of the Electric Mobility Program, Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation presented the project briefing.

Secretary Transport, UT Ladakh Amit Sharma facilitated and appreciated the efforts of the technical assistance team for the decarbonization of the freight segment which directly contribute to the mission Carbon Neutral Ladakh Plan. The initiative of moving road freight to a faster pace of Zero emission truck adoption is feasible. Greenhouse gas emissions enter the atmosphere and contribute to warming, from diesel soot to CO2 to methane must be reduced now, he added.

Amit Sharma highlighted that technical agencies assessed what reductions could be possible in the transportation sector from technology efficiency improvements, vehicle electrification, deep decarbonization, and the use of low-carbon fuels.

There is a growing consensus that the zero-emission truck industry is on course to deliver competitive business cases for the decarbonization of these fleets – through battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) that could eventually be powered by renewable energy, Secretary emphasized.

The initiative is an important milestone in the history of Ladakh. The decisions and policies of the UT administration were made to support to form of Carbon Neutral Ladakh, Amit stated.

The event was attended by the Deputy Director of Motor Garages, UT Ladakh Dr. Zulfiqar Ali (KAS); ARTO Officer, Leh & Kargil; heads of different transport associations; the technical team of IIEC; and the team from the Knowledge Partner-Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation.