According to NDTV Profit reports, Blue Energy Motors MD Anirudh Bhuwalka believes India's green freight ecosystem requires a flexible, multi-fuel approach rather than a zero-sum battle between LNG and EVs. As reported by NDTV Profit, Bhuwalka emphasizes that India's diverse freight ecosystem cannot be served by a single technology solution, with different applications requiring different clean mobility solutions. The company's strategy focuses on building a resilient ecosystem where multiple clean technologies can coexist and scale according to market needs. Rather than viewing it as a choice between cost and infrastructure, I believe the bigger opportunity lies in building a commercially viable ecosystem where clean mobility becomes a natural business decision for fleet operators, Bhuwalka explains. India is an extremely value-conscious market. Fleet operators evaluate every investment through the lens of return on capital, vehicle utilisation, and total cost of ownership. As the industry transitions to newer technologies with higher upfront investments, building confidence among buyers becomes equally important, requiring a combination of supportive policy measures, easier access to financing, and mechanisms that help reduce the initial investment risk during the early stages of adoption.
According to an ICRA report cited by NDTV Profit, CNG/LNG penetration in commercial vehicles has increased to 25% in 2025-26 from 7% in 2020-21, while EV/hybrid adoption remains at a modest 2%. As reported by NDTV Profit, Bhuwalka notes that while the ICRA report reflects current market conditions, it should not be interpreted as a choice between LNG/CNG and electric mobility. LNG is well suited for long-haul operations where range and refueling time are critical, while electric trucks are expected to play an increasing role in fixed-route and regional applications as charging and battery-swapping infrastructure matures. Different applications will require different solutions. Long-haul, regional, and urban operations have different operating requirements, and technologies such as LNG, electric, bio-LNG, and, in the future, hydrogen will each have a role to play. The ICRA report reflects where the commercial vehicle market stands today, but I don't think it should be interpreted as a choice between LNG/CNG and electric mobility.
According to NDTV Profit reports, Blue Energy Motors has achieved an engineering feat by bringing battery-swapping technology to 55-tonne trucks to slash capital costs. The company's modular vehicle architecture is designed to support multiple fuel options, with the focus on total cost of ownership (TCO) ultimately dictating fleet operator choices. At Blue Energy Motors, we believe innovation must solve commercial challenges, not just technological ones. That is why we introduced India's first heavy-duty electric truck with battery-swapping technology, Bhuwalka explains. By separating the battery from the vehicle purchase, customers can significantly reduce their upfront capital investment while benefiting from faster turnaround times and improved vehicle utilisation. The company's BEAT (Blue Energy Advanced Technology Platform) is a modular platform designed and tested for Indian operating conditions, integrating advanced mobility intelligence and delivering industry-leading powertrain efficiency. The differentiation happens through fuel-specific modules such as LNG powertrains, battery systems, electric drive units, and related energy management systems, enabling manufacturing of multiple vehicle variants on common production lines while maintaining high levels of component commonality.
As reported by NDTV Profit, Bhuwalka believes the next 3-5 years are pivotal for India's green freight ecosystem. According to the interview, stronger legislation to adopt LNG and electric mobility will pave the way for rapid adoption. There won't be a single breakthrough moment. Both LNG and EV trucks have reached diesel parity in terms of total operating cost, and adoption has started to grow organically. To move the market towards mass adoption, however, we will need stronger legislative support, competitive acquisition costs, nationwide energy infrastructure, and accessible financing. When businesses can purchase or finance a clean truck with confidence, refuel or recharge it seamlessly across key freight corridors, and achieve a lower total cost of ownership than diesel, adoption will accelerate naturally. The much-anticipated 'UPI moment' for clean mobility will only arrive when sustainable trucks decisively beat conventional diesel economics. When sustainability and profitability converge, large-scale adoption will follow. India's decarbonisation goals will be best served by a multi-fuel ecosystem that strengthens energy security, reduces emissions, and enhances the competitiveness of the logistics sector.
According to NDTV Profit reports, infrastructure is certainly an important enabler, but I wouldn't describe it as the biggest roadblock anymore. The encouraging sign is that this cycle has already begun. At Blue Energy Motors, our fleet has collectively crossed 100 million green kilometres of operations, demonstrating that commercial deployment is already viable in the right applications. Product innovations are also helping bridge the gap. For instance, our double-tank LNG trucks offer a driving range of up to 2,400 km on a single fill, enabling long-haul operations with fewer refuelling stops while the LNG station network continues to expand. Infrastructure, however, is only one part of the equation. Financing, policy support, technology innovation, and fleet economics are equally critical. Sustainable transformation will come from an ecosystem approach, where industry, energy providers, policymakers, and investors work together to accelerate the adoption of cleaner freight solutions. The key lesson is not to replicate China's model, but to adopt its ecosystem approach. Clean mobility succeeds when technology, infrastructure, financing, and policy evolve together.
