Vedanta Aluminium Expands Electric Forklift Fleet to Cut Emissions

Vedanta Aluminium has rolled out a major push toward cleaner industrial transport, expanding its lithium-ion battery electric forklift fleet to 142 vehicles across its operations in Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

Announced today, the move builds on momentum from World Sustainable Transport Day and signals a decisive shift toward low-emission logistics within the manufacturing sector.

Observed each year by the United Nations on November 26, World Sustainable Transport Day highlights the role of safe and low-carbon mobility in economic growth.

Vedanta’s latest expansion backs this global mission while supporting its goals to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and fully decarbonize its Light Motor Vehicle fleet by 2030. The company’s approach blends environmental action with workplace safety, efficiency, and social impact.

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Rajiv Kumar, CEO of Vedanta Aluminium, noted that the expansion of the electric forklift fleet reflects the company’s belief in sustainability as a driver of innovation and progress. He stated that investing in advanced clean-energy technology not only benefits the environment and business performance but also creates opportunities that were previously unavailable to many segments of the workforce.

“At several units, forklifts are now being operated by women and transgender professionals, underscoring the company’s efforts toward inclusion and empowerment. The initiative has also resulted in the deployment of India’s first 10-tonne capacity electric forklifts at the Jharsuguda smelter, he added.

The multi-phase rollout of 142 electric forklifts is already showing strong results. At the Jharsuguda smelter, where 116 units have been deployed, the shift is expected to cut nearly 4,450 tonnes of COâ‚‚-equivalent emissions each year and save about 1.63 million liters of diesel annually. Faster charging, reduced maintenance, and safer on-site operations are adding to performance gains, linking productivity with a lesser carbon footprint.