4. Potential of Alternative Technology for Urban Freight—A Case of Dehradun

Urban freight is an essential component of modern cities’ economic and social fabric, but its environmental impact has increasingly become a significant concern. To address this challenge, research has been conducted to explore the feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and environmental benefits of alternative fuels and technologies for urban freight. Dehradun city in Uttarakhand, a “Counter Magnet” of the National Capital Region undergoing significant development, was chosen for the case study to examine the impact of urban freight and explore feasible solutions to mitigate emissions by Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs). Having undertaken a meticulous review of the literature on alternative fuels, it was concluded that electric vehicles represent the most suitable option for LCVs to mitigate emissions and promote environmental sustainability. The current features of urban freight were analyzed by scrutinizing key transport routes and major logistics hubs to identify the main freight corridors and freight generation areas. Demand for LCV was assessed in urban areas based on the commodities such as perishable goods and tonnage carriefd by the vehicle which are generated mostly for intracity freight trips. The findings indicated a considerable decline in emissions within the city as a result of replacing conventional fuel-driven light commercial vehicles with battery-electric vehicles. For instance, the study reported a 33.3% reduction in Carbon emissions from the use of EVs for intracity freight trips.