Fuelling India’s Green Highway: How UGEL’s Multi-Fuel Gambit is Reshaping the Nation’s Logistics 

UGEL is executing a strategic Rs 900-crore expansion to establish 100 LNG stations across India’s key freight corridors, but its true innovation lies in a pragmatic, multi-fuel model that directly addresses the complex reality of India’s clean energy transition. By strategically locating stations on high-density routes and making each one EV-ready from day one, UGEL is creating adaptable energy hubs that serve both the immediate need for cleaner long-haul trucking (with LNG cutting emissions by ~30% versus diesel) and the future of electric last-mile logistics.

This approach, backed by partnerships like the one with GreenLine to secure demand and a heavy reliance on digital technology for operational reliability, effectively breaks the chicken-and-egg dilemma of vehicle and infrastructure adoption. Ultimately, UGEL isn’t just building a fuel network; it is constructing a scalable, future-proofed bridge toward decarbonization, preparing the groundwork for renewable gases like Bio-LNG while making tangible emissions reductions today.

Fuelling India’s Green Highway: How UGEL’s Multi-Fuel Gambit is Reshaping the Nation’s Logistics 

The relentless pulse of India’s economy beats strongest on its highways. Millions of diesel-guzzling trucks form the nation’s logistical arteries, carrying goods from coast to hinterland and back. But this vital system comes with a heavy environmental cost, contributing significantly to the country’s carbon footprint. In this landscape of both challenge and opportunity, a quiet revolution is brewing, led not by a single silver-bullet technology, but by a pragmatic, multi-fuel strategy. At the forefront is Ultra Gas & Energy Ltd (UGEL), whose ambitious Rs 900-crore plan to build 100 LNG stations, each pre-wired for electric vehicle (EV) charging, is a masterclass in navigating India’s complex transition to clean mobility. 

The Strategy: More Than Just Dots on a Map 

UGEL’s expansion is not a scatter-shot approach. It’s a surgically precise, corridor-first strategy that reads like a logistics masterplan. By targeting the spine of India’s freight movement—the Golden Quadrilateral, the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), and key national highways like NH44/48—UGEL is placing its bets where demand is most concentrated and immediate. 

The logic is compelling: A fleet operator is more likely to invest in a fleet of LNG-powered trucks if they are confident that a refuelling station awaits them every few hundred kilometres on their primary routes. This “build it and they will come” philosophy is underpinned by a sophisticated multi-parameter scoring model. Maqsood Shaikh, MD & CEO of UGEL, highlights that locations are evaluated on freight demand, proximity to LNG terminals, land availability, and crucially, “assured customer off-take.” 

This last point is key. It reveals a business model built on de-risking the infrastructure gamble. By securing commitments from large fleet operators before breaking ground, UGEL ensures its stations are viable from day one. The phased rollout, beginning with industrial powerhouses like Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu, creates interconnected green corridors, effectively creating a nascent nationwide network one high-traffic route at a time. 

The Masterstroke: The EV-Ready LNG Station 

Perhaps the most visionary aspect of UGEL’s plan is its refusal to be pigeonholed. In a country often debating “Electric vs. Hydrogen vs. Gas,” UGEL is betting on “And.” By designing every LNG outlet to be EV-ready from day one, they are building infrastructure for both the present and the future. 

This is a profound insight into the reality of India’s decarbonisation journey. The energy transition will not be a single flip of a switch. Long-haul, heavy-duty trucking—the domain of LNG—has different technical and economic constraints than short-haul and last-mile logistics, where EVs are already making significant inroads. 

Imagine this scenario: A logistics park on the outskirts of Mumbai operates a mixed fleet. Its long-haul trucks, heading to Delhi, refuel with LNG, cutting CO₂ emissions by approximately 30% compared to diesel. Its smaller delivery vans, operating within the city, pull into the same station for a fast charge or a battery swap. This co-location solves two critical problems simultaneously: 

• It alleviates “range anxiety” for fleet operators considering the transition to cleaner technologies, be it LNG or electric. 

• It maximises land and capital efficiency, creating a one-stop-shop for clean mobility that can adapt as technology and market preferences evolve. 

The dedicated EV bay, capable of being activated as a fast-charging point or a battery-swap module within 30 days, is a low-cost, high-flexibility insurance policy against an uncertain energy future. UGEL isn’t just building fuel stations; it’s building adaptable energy hubs. 

The On-the-Ground Reality: Cracking the Chicken-and-Egg Conundrum 

For years, the adoption of alternative fuels in India has been stuck in a classic chicken-and-egg dilemma. Vehicle manufacturers were hesitant to produce LNG trucks without a refuelling network, and energy companies were reluctant to build stations without a critical mass of vehicles. 

UGEL’s partnership with GreenLine, which is targeting a fleet of 10,000 LNG trucks, is the hammer breaking this deadlock. This “demand aggregation” model provides the initial volume needed to justify the infrastructure investment. As Shaikh notes, this early adoption is “demonstrating the reliability of LNG for long-haul operations,” building confidence across the entire ecosystem. When major truck OEMs see this secured demand, they are incentivised to ramp up production of LNG models, thereby increasing vehicle availability and further accelerating adoption—a powerful virtuous cycle. 

Operational Excellence: The Digital Backbone 

A network of cryogenic fuel stations is only as good as its reliability. A trucker on a tight schedule cannot afford downtime. UGEL’s investment isn’t just in steel and concrete; it’s deeply embedded in digital technology. 

The company is weaving a digital nervous system across its network. IoT sensors monitor fuel levels and energy consumption in real-time, while machine learning algorithms are being trained to predict demand and automate reorders. The central command centre, fed by local SCADA systems at each station, provides a God’s-eye view of the entire operation. 

The most telling detail is the “15-minute arrival window” preparedness. Operators, alerted to an approaching truck, can pre-emptively ensure the cryogenic systems are primed for a refuelling event that takes under 15 minutes. This focus on “On Time and In Full” (OTIF) operational discipline is what builds the trust necessary for fleet operators to make the multi-crore rupee switch to a new fuel technology. 

The Policy Imperative and the Long-Term Vision 

While UGEL is charging ahead, Shaikh rightly points out that targeted government intervention could supercharge this transition. The heavy-duty trucking sector, a major energy consumer, represents a disproportionate opportunity for emissions reduction. Policy incentives could include: 

• Capital Subsidies for Infrastructure: Reducing the initial Rs 9-crore per station investment hurdle. 

• Streamlined Regulations: Simplifying the maze of approvals from bodies like PESO. 

• Fleet Modernisation Schemes: Financial incentives or softer loans for operators replacing old diesel trucks with LNG alternatives. 

Looking ahead, UGEL’s vision is pragmatic. While the world is excited about hydrogen, the company recognises that “green, blue, or black hydrogen is currently too expensive to replace Diesel at scale.” Instead, their strategy is to build a bridge. LNG provides the immediate, tangible emissions cuts. The infrastructure, particularly the dual-tank system, is then future-proofed for the eventual integration of Bio-LNG—a renewable gas that can transform the network from low-carbon to carbon-neutral, and eventually, carbon-negative. 

In conclusion, UGEL’s story is more than a corporate expansion plan. It is a case study in how to navigate a complex energy transition. By marrying strategic location planning with a flexible, multi-fuel model and a deep focus on digital operational excellence, the company is not just waiting for the future of clean mobility to arrive—it is actively laying the pavement for it, one station at a time. Their journey offers a crucial lesson: the path to a greener India won’t be built on a single technology, but on the intelligent, synergistic integration of many.