Mumbai, Sept. 28 -- Montra Electric and Wonder Cement have begun commercial operation of a 250-vehicle deployment of Rhino 5538 EV 4x2 tractor-trailers on an electric freight corridor linking Rajasthan with ports in Gujarat. The companies said the fleet is being used for regular cement logistics rather than a limited pilot, making it one of the largest heavy-duty electric truck deployments by an Indian industrial company.

An initial 30 trucks were introduced from Wonder Cement's plant in Nimbahera, Rajasthan, in July 2026. They are hauling full payloads on daily routes between Nimbahera and Dahej Port and between Nimbahera and Tuna Port, covering approximately 1,450 km across Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat. The vehicles operate to schedules comparable with those of the company's conventional diesel fleet.

The corridor is supported by 13 dedicated charging stations positioned to enable long-distance duty cycles within industrial turnaround times. The Rhino 5538 EV is available with a 55 t Gross Combination Weight option and is designed for cement, coal and clinker transport. Its specifications include a 282 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery, a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor producing 280 kW and 2,000 Nm of torque, 18 per cent continuous gradeability and a 6-speed Automated Manual Transmission.

The vehicle has a stated range of 198 km under specified test conditions, with one side loaded and the other empty. It can charge from 20 to 100 per cent State of Charge in 60 minutes and is supported by more than 95 per cent assured uptime. Montra Electric and Wonder Cement said the deployment would assess electrification through payload capacity, turnaround performance and daily availability in live freight operations.

Montra Electric said the same operating model could support steel, mining, infrastructure and port haulage, where fixed routes and predictable turnaround windows are common. The company has more than 750 heavy-duty electric vehicles on Indian roads and has covered over 30 mn km across its deployments. Montra Electric operates as the clean mobility arm of the Murugappa Group, with businesses spanning heavy commercial vehicles, smaller commercial vehicles, three-wheelers and electric tractors.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Indian Cement Review.