Montra Launches 55-Tonne EV Truck With Battery Swapping

03 Oct 2025 CW Team

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.”

Infrastructure Energy

23 Oct 2025

GAIL to Set Up Bengaluru CBG Plant Under New Concession Pact

GAIL (India) Limited has signed a 20-year concession agreement with the Bengaluru City Municipal Corporation (BBMP) to set up a compressed biogas (CBG) plant in the city. The project, expected to produce around 10 tonnes of CBG daily, will utilise municipal solid waste as feedstock, contributing to clean energy generation and efficient waste management. The CBG produced will be used in GAIL’s City Gas Distribution network to promote cleaner fuel usage. The initiative aligns with the government’s Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) scheme and GAIL’s broader ..

Uttarakhand HC Lifts 31-Year Ban on ONGC’s Contractual Hiring

The Uttarakhand High Court has lifted a 31-year-old ban on the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) from hiring contractual workers, a restriction imposed in 1993. The decision enables ONGC’s Dehradun establishment to employ personnel on a contractual basis to meet operational requirements. The long-standing prohibition had limited ONGC’s ability to fill vacancies in its technical and administrative departments, often leading to project delays and higher dependence on outsourcing. With the court’s directive, the public sector enterprise can now proceed with temporary recruitments whil..

JSW Energy’s Utkal Unit Bags 400 MW, 25-Year Power Supply Deal

JSW Energy Limited announced that its subsidiary, JSW Energy (Utkal) Limited, has secured a Letter of Award (LoA) from Karnataka’s Power Company of Karnataka Limited (PCKL) for the supply of 400 MW of electricity for 25 years. The agreement is part of a competitive bidding process for long-term procurement of power to meet the state’s growing energy demand. The 400 MW capacity will be supplied from JSW Energy’s upcoming thermal power project in Odisha. This development strengthens JSW Energy’s presence in the southern market and aligns with its strategy to enhance long-term contracte..