India’s haulage sector, with over 2.5 million heavy-duty trucks (above 18.5 t GVW) currently in operation, faces growing pressure to reduce fuel costs, meet tightening emission norms, and improve operational profitability. Fuel accounts for nearly 50% of a fleet’s operating expenses, and as fuel prices and ESG expectations rise, the need for intelligent efficiency upgrades has never been greater. Designed to address this need, energX is a proposed aerodynamic energy recovery system that leverages underbody ram-airflow to power auxiliary systems and reduce engine load. The system consists of a custom air duct that channels high-speed airflow to a pair of 20 kW dual axial turbines, which convert kinetic energy into electricity. This energy is then stored in a battery and routed to electrify components like the alternator, radiator fan, A/C compressor, power steering pump, and water pump.

These parasitic accessories collectively consume up to 30 HP, which is about 15% of a 200 HP engine’s available power. Offloading them from the crankshaft means the full engine output can now be dedicated to propulsion. Unlike traditional powertrain changes or hybridization systems, energX provides this gain without altering the core architecture or compromising reliability.

Based on engineering calculations under full-load conditions, energX is projected to deliver up to 18% fuel efficiency improvement. For a truck with an average mileage of 3.5 km per litre and a typical lifespan of 700,000 km, this translates to 35,200 litres of diesel saved — equivalent to ₹31.68 lakh ($3,816) in fuel cost per vehicle. The system itself is priced at just ₹85,800 ($1,035), with a payback period of only 3,400 km (under two weeks of fleet operation), resulting in a lifetime ROI of over 3600%.

At the national level, the impact of energX is transformative. Across India’s estimated 2.5 million heavy-duty trucks, energX could save more than 8.8 billion litres of diesel, cut fuel expenditure by ₹2.85 lakh crore ($34.4 billion), and reduce CO₂ emissions by over 231 million tonnes — equivalent to planting over 10 billion trees. Each energX-equipped truck would prevent 92.6 tonnes of CO₂, creating carbon credit potential valued at ₹92,600 ($1,115) per vehicle. Across the entire fleet, this translates to a tradable offset pool worth ₹23,150 crore ($2.8 billion).

Designed for both OEM integration and retrofit applications, energX is compatible with BS6-OBD II platforms and aligns directly with green mobility targets, ESG mandates, and carbon finance initiatives. It enables vehicle manufacturers and fleet owners to decarbonize operations without high capital investment or system complexity. Though still in the pre-validation phase, energX is a calculated, forward-looking solution — delivering measurable economic value while accelerating India’s transition toward a smarter, cleaner, and more profitable haulage ecosystem.