Army concludes 1,663-km EV expedition from Kasauli to Leh across world’s highest passes

LEH: The Indian Army on Monday flagged in the Surya Green: Himalayan Odyssey at the Hall of Fame in Leh, bringing to a close a 1,663-kilometre electric vehicle expedition that traversed some of the world’s highest motorable roads and challenging high-altitude terrain.

Organised by the Golden Key Division of the Central Command in collaboration with Tata EV, the expedition commenced from Kasauli and culminated in Leh after navigating demanding Himalayan routes, including Umling La, situated at over 19,000 feet, Chang La, and the remote sectors of Hanle and Tangtse.

The flag-in ceremony was attended by senior military dignitaries who hailed the successful completion of the journey as a demonstration of the growing viability of electric mobility in extreme operational environments. The expedition tested the endurance, reliability and performance of electric vehicles under harsh climatic and geographical conditions prevalent in the high Himalayas.

According to the Army, the journey established the capability of electric vehicles to operate effectively across rugged mountain terrain, steep gradients and oxygen-deficient high-altitude regions, where conventional mobility solutions are often put to severe tests.

The expedition was undertaken as part of broader efforts to promote environmentally responsible transportation and align military initiatives with national sustainability objectives. Officials stated that the mission reflects support for the Prime Minister’s vision on green mobility, alongside programmes such as FAME and PM E-DRIVE, while contributing to India’s commitment of achieving Net Zero emissions by 2070.

Army authorities emphasised that the adoption and evaluation of emerging mobility technologies would continue alongside the force’s operational preparedness requirements in frontier regions. They noted that the successful completion of the expedition demonstrates that sustainability initiatives can be pursued without compromising readiness in strategically sensitive areas.

The Hall of Fame ceremony marked the culmination of weeks of travel through some of the country’s most demanding mountain corridors, highlighting both technological resilience and the Army’s continuing focus on innovation-driven mobility solutions in challenging terrain.