For Sarfaraz Haider Khan, the road has always been a path of perseverance, responsibility, and quiet ambition. The 41-year-old who is already a regional logistics entrepreneur with pan-India operations, started out as a driver in 2006. Nearly two decades later, he’s not just behind the wheel; he’s leading a fleet of 65 vehicles and navigating his business into a new era of clean, cost-effective logistics.
Based in Mumbai, Sarfaraz’s business mostly shuttles between the industrial belts of Mumbai and Pune, working extensively with industrial clients in Pune. When he heard about the Eicher Pro X Electric Vehicle, he didn’t wait for mandates or market trends. He simply bought one; out of curiosity!
“I wanted to see for myself if this would actually help us save money and reduce our headaches,” he said. “Nobody told me to do it. I just did.”
What followed was a self-test. Sarfaraz didn’t assign the vehicle to any of his drivers. He drove it himself; for days trip after trip. From Mumbai to Pune to Sanpada, for charging he tested the EV on real routes, under real loads; and it didn’t disappoint.
“I was carrying nearly a ton on hilly roads. I expected it to slow down like our other diesel pickups do. But the Eicher Pro X EV didn’t. Where the diesel climbs at 20-30 km/h, the electric climbs at 40-50. It felt smooth, powerful, and best of all; clutch-free,” he explained.
The benefits weren’t just in performance. Sarfaraz quickly noticed the financial advantages. Each round trip that used to cost ₹2,300 in diesel now cost just ₹1,100 with the EV; a direct saving of ₹1,200 per trip. Over a month, that added up to ₹25,000–₹30,000 in savings. Multiply that by 12, and he was looking at nearly ₹3.6 lakhs annually; just from fuel cost reduction.
“If we optimize routes well, there’s no charging anxiety,” he shared. “We charge fully at Sanpada, reach Pune, then charge at the supplier’s end. I’ve driven nearly 6,000 km so far, and it’s been reliable.”
Still, not everything is easy to adapt. Changes, like charging time, vary from 45 minutes to 90 minutes. For drivers, who already face pressure from tight schedules and growing traffic fines, this adjustment takes time. But Sarfaraz remains patient. “It’s about learning a new rhythm,” he says. “Once the drivers are comfortable, this will be the new normal.”
His company hasn’t received a formal subsidy yet, though a ₹1 lakh incentive is expected soon. This will support his purchase and improve his return-on-investment when weighed against monthly savings and minimal maintenance. “There’s no oil change, no clutch issues. Maintenance has been nearly zero so far,” Sarfaraz noted.
His logistics firm handles parcel, automotive parts; The company operates pan-India, though this EV is currently deployed on intercity routes.
When asked about the future, Sarfaraz was candid. “There’s a driver shortage in the industry. Some of my vehicles are often idle because I don’t have enough drivers. The traffic rules, the fines; without a cleaner, you get penalized. That’s frustrating.”
Still, Sarfaraz isn’t bitter; just realistic. His two children, both in college, are watching his journey closely. His son is in the second year of mechanical engineering. “Will they come into logistics? Maybe. But they’ll have a different approach. More tech, more structure,” he says, smiling.
As India’s transport ecosystem slowly transitions to greener solutions, entrepreneurs like Sarfaraz are the quiet revolutionaries; testing, learning, adapting. He’s not chasing headlines or following policy mandates. He’s simply doing what he’s always done: driving change!
This time, however, the change is with zero-emission electric vehicle!
“The Eicher Pro X EV was co-created with customers keeping our driver partners at the centre. Our latest offering not only reduces operating costs for operators but also enhances driver comfort and vehicle performance. Stories like Sarfaraz Khan’s validate our vision—demonstrating that electric mobility in commercial transport is not just viable, but truly a win-win-win. For Operators, for Society and for Drivers like Sarfaraz.”
– Abhishek Chaudhary, Senior VP – SCVs, Eicher Trucks and Buses
“Each round trip that used to cost ₹ 2,300 in diesel now costs just ₹ 1,100 with the EV –
a direct saving of ₹ 1,200 per trip.”
– Sarfaraz Haider Khan
