Energy In Motion Limited (EIM) and Sorigin Green Mobility Private Limited have formalised a strategic partnership to accelerate the adoption of electric heavy-duty freight transportation in India, signing a memorandum of understanding for the deployment of 500 electric heavy commercial vehicles over a two-year period . The agreement, announced in early November, prioritises freight corridors with substantial cargo movement, with the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) ecosystem serving as the primary launchpad for the programme .
The immediate implementation phase will see Sorigin deploy an initial batch of 18 electric heavy commercial vehicles within the JNPA port area, marking a concrete step beyond pilot testing into commercial-scale electric freight operations . EIM will supply its Ashwa 55-tonne electric tractors, which are designed specifically for heavy-duty container and cargo movement in port and industrial environments .
A critical component of the arrangement is the supporting energy infrastructure that EIM is developing around the port. The company has already established battery-swapping facilities in the JNPA region, including a heavy-duty swapping station at Nhava Sheva Distribution Terminal, and has outlined plans for an electric vehicle complex incorporating multiple swapping and charging stations, a service station, and a driver training centre . This infrastructure is intended to support eventual operations exceeding 700 heavy trucks across port terminal corridors .
Sorigin Green Mobility will operate under a service model where customers pay for freight movement without bearing the upfront capital cost of purchasing the vehicles. The company finances, deploys, operates, and maintains the fleet, including trailers, drivers, on-site supervision, maintenance, charging arrangements, vehicle tracking, and emissions reporting . According to Sorigin directors, the company already operates EIM tractors at Jawaharlal Nehru Port and Tuticorin Container Terminal, allowing the new programme to begin with immediate deployment rather than extended trials .
EIM’s business model separates battery ownership from vehicle ownership through a subscription service, a structure the company presents as a means to lower the entry barrier for truck operators. Compatible vehicles can exchange depleted battery packs for charged ones at swapping stations, reducing downtime compared to conventional plug-in charging . This approach is particularly relevant for port drayage operations, where vehicle utilisation and turnaround times are critical economic factors.
The manufacturing backbone for the rollout is EIM’s electric heavy commercial vehicle complex at Ambi village in Talegaon, Pune, which was inaugurated in October 2026. The ₹500-crore facility represents the first phase of a ₹1,000-crore investment programme in Maharashtra and combines vehicle assembly, lithium-ion battery-pack assembly, and an independent battery-testing laboratory, with an initial assembly capacity of 5,000 units annually on a single shift . EIM’s technology partnerships include BAIC Foton Motor for heavy electric vehicles and Contemporary Amperex Technology for battery technology .
Industry observers note that the JNPA-focused deployment addresses one of the most concentrated sources of heavy-duty freight emissions in India, where container trucks operating between terminals and hinterland warehouses contribute significantly to local air pollution. The partnership’s success will depend on the reliability of battery-swapping infrastructure under high-utilisation port conditions and the ability of the service model to demonstrate cost parity with diesel operations. For now, the agreement signals a maturing of India’s electric heavy truck ecosystem from isolated vehicle demonstrations toward integrated, fleet-scale commercial operation