Ashok Leyland, the flagship company of the Hinduja Group in India, announced plans to commercially launch its first hydrogen-powered truck within the next 18-24 months. This follows the unveiling of India’s first hydrogen internal combustion engine (H2-ICE) powered heavy-duty truck, developed in collaboration with Reliance Industries (RIL), last February. The company also mentioned that its Lucknow plant will be operational by the third quarter of the next financial year.
In addition, Ashok Leyland has commenced the delivery of the largest single order of electric trucks in India to Billion Electric Mobility, a member of Group BillionE. This order includes 180 electric vehicles, such as the Boss Electric Truck and approximately 45 AVTR 55T electric tractors. These trucks will be operated by Group BillionE on the Chennai-Bengaluru and Chennai-Vijayawada routes. Currently, the company manufactures electric trucks on a small scale but plans to establish dedicated assembly lines for electric and alternative energy trucks at its Hosur unit in the future.
Shenu Agarwal, Managing Director and CEO of Ashok Leyland, expressed pride in the partnership with the BillionE Group and the commencement of deliveries of the AVTR 55T Electric Tractor and BOSS ICV Electric trucks. He highlighted that both the BOSS and AVTR electric platforms boast advanced and premium features, ensuring superior performance. Agarwal emphasized Ashok Leyland's commitment to innovation and leading the shift towards green mobility, offering cutting-edge technologies and an exceptional customer experience.
The BOSS Electric is noted as India’s first and only electric truck in the ICV range, while the AVTR 55T Electric Tractor is the first 4x2 tractor to be commercially offered by an Indian commercial vehicle manufacturer. The vehicles flagged off by Ashok Leyland are designed for advanced performance, safety, and efficiency. They feature battery packs with IP67 protection to prevent water and dust ingress, advanced driver assist systems (ADAS) for enhanced safety, and simultaneous dual-gun charging for faster recharging. The trucks are also equipped with the Common Charging Standard 2 (CCS2).
The delivery of these advanced electric vehicles marks a significant milestone in Ashok Leyland’s mission to revolutionize commercial transportation. The company is dedicated to providing eco-friendly mobility solutions and driving the future of sustainable commercial vehicles through innovative technology, playing a key role in reducing the carbon footprint of India’s transportation sector.
Kartikey Hariyani, Founder and CEO of Billion E-Mobility and ChargeZone, expressed gratitude towards Ashok Leyland for delivering the technologically advanced electric vehicles. He emphasized BillionE's commitment to building a sustainable and eco-friendly transportation ecosystem and driving a cleaner, more efficient future.
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