Montra Launches 55-Tonne EV Truck With Battery Swapping
ECONOMY & POLICY

Montra Launches 55-Tonne EV Truck With Battery Swapping

Montra Electric, the clean mobility arm of the Murugappa Group’s TI Clean Mobility, has launched the Rhino 5538 EV 4×2 TT, expanding its heavy-duty electric truck portfolio. The company also introduced a battery swapping solution and inaugurated India’s first all-women monitored Automated Battery Plant at its Manesar facility in Haryana.
The Rhino 5538 EV 4×2 TT is a 55-tonne gross combination weight truck designed for long-haul freight. It is powered by a 282 kWh LFP battery delivering 380 HP and 2000 Nm torque, with a range of up to 198 km under standard conditions. Equipped with a 6-speed AMT transmission and robust chassis, it is compatible with multiple trailer types.
A major highlight is the battery swapping technology for the Rhino series, enabling a complete swap in under six minutes compared with over an hour using fast charging. The automated facility, designed with a 7+1 configuration, can handle up to 160 swaps daily. Its drive-through layout allows trucks with trailers to pass through seamlessly, while controlled charging extends battery life.
The fixed-battery version of the Rhino 5538 EV 4×2 TT is priced at Rs 11.5 million (ex-factory). Customers will benefit from Montra Electric’s 10-year/900,000 km annual maintenance contract, which guarantees 95 per cent uptime.
Alongside the truck launch, Montra inaugurated India’s first all-women monitored Automated Battery Plant, supported by a new conveyor line with Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs). These initiatives aim to enhance production efficiency, reduce manual processes, and strengthen local EV manufacturing capabilities.
Arun Murugappan, Chairman of Montra Electric, said: “With innovations like battery swapping for heavy-duty trucks and purpose-built platforms across segments, we are making clean mobility seamless, reliable and economically viable for fleet operators. Each step accelerates India’s shift towards cleaner logistics and a sustainable mobility ecosystem.” 

Montra Electric, the clean mobility arm of the Murugappa Group’s TI Clean Mobility, has launched the Rhino 5538 EV 4×2 TT, expanding its heavy-duty electric truck portfolio. The company also introduced a battery swapping solution and inaugurated India’s first all-women monitored Automated Battery Plant at its Manesar facility in Haryana.The Rhino 5538 EV 4×2 TT is a 55-tonne gross combination weight truck designed for long-haul freight. It is powered by a 282 kWh LFP battery delivering 380 HP and 2000 Nm torque, with a range of up to 198 km under standard conditions. Equipped with a 6-speed AMT transmission and robust chassis, it is compatible with multiple trailer types.A major highlight is the battery swapping technology for the Rhino series, enabling a complete swap in under six minutes compared with over an hour using fast charging. The automated facility, designed with a 7+1 configuration, can handle up to 160 swaps daily. Its drive-through layout allows trucks with trailers to pass through seamlessly, while controlled charging extends battery life.The fixed-battery version of the Rhino 5538 EV 4×2 TT is priced at Rs 11.5 million (ex-factory). Customers will benefit from Montra Electric’s 10-year/900,000 km annual maintenance contract, which guarantees 95 per cent uptime.Alongside the truck launch, Montra inaugurated India’s first all-women monitored Automated Battery Plant, supported by a new conveyor line with Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs). These initiatives aim to enhance production efficiency, reduce manual processes, and strengthen local EV manufacturing capabilities.Arun Murugappan, Chairman of Montra Electric, said: “With innovations like battery swapping for heavy-duty trucks and purpose-built platforms across segments, we are making clean mobility seamless, reliable and economically viable for fleet operators. Each step accelerates India’s shift towards cleaner logistics and a sustainable mobility ecosystem.” 

Related Stories

Gold Stories

Next Story
Resources

Schindler named among Forbes’ World’s Best Employers 2026

Schindler has been named among Forbes’ World’s Best Employers 2026, a global ranking recognising companies for their workplace environments.Compiled by Forbes in partnership with Statista, the ranking is based on independent employee feedback, including whether employees would recommend their organisation to friends and family.The company said the recognition reflected its focus on creating a workplace where employees can develop their expertise and build careers. ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

India needs an export-execution mindset: Vishesh Jain

Interview with Vishesh Jain, Founder & CEO, EximpleWhat gaps in India’s global trade ecosystem led you to build Eximple, and what problem did you see businesses struggling with most?Eximple came out of a problem that all three founders had seen from different choke points in the trade ecosystem. India has millions of MSMEs and manufacturers, and many of them can make products that are genuinely competitive on quality. Yet only a small fraction is able to build meaningful international businesses. In our experience, the gap is usually not manufacturing capability; it is the ability to exe..

Next Story
Building Material

Nuvoco reports 13.5% revenue growth in Q2 FY27

Nuvoco Vistas Corp. Ltd. reported consolidated revenue of Rs 27.9 billion for Q2 FY27, up 13.5% year on year. Cement sales volume rose 9% to 4.7 million tonnes (MMT), while EBITDA increased 11% to Rs 4.11 billion.The company said it began its cement operations in 2014 with a 2.3 MMT per annum (MMTPA) operation at Nimbol. It now aims to reach 35 MMTPA of cement capacity by FY28, nearly 15 times its initial capacity. Its portfolio spans cement, ready-mix concrete and modern building materials.On sustainability and cost efficiency, Nuvoco partnered with CleanMax for a 46.4 MW wind-solar hybrid re..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

SPECIAL OFFER
QR Code