Nimbahera, Rajasthan: Wonder Cement and Montra Electric have begun deploying around 250 heavy-duty electric trucks on a 1,450-km industrial freight corridor spanning four states, in what the companies describe as one of India’s largest long-haul electric commercial vehicle operations.
The Montra Electric Rhino 5538 EV 4×2 TT trucks will transport cargo along the Nimbahera–Dahej Port and Nimbahera–Tuna Port routes, crossing Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat.
According to the companies, the network represents India’s longest commercial electric freight corridor. The vehicles will operate fully loaded and follow daily duty cycles comparable with those of conventional diesel-powered cement fleets.
That makes the deployment more than a short demonstration run. A 1,450-km industrial route, after all, leaves little room for range anxiety—or leisurely tea breaks.
Dedicated charging network along corridor
The freight operation will be supported by 13 charging stations equipped with a total of 39 chargers. The infrastructure has been planned to allow the fleet to complete long-distance daily operations within the turnaround times required by industrial logistics businesses.
The corridor is intended to test the commercial and operational viability of electric heavy trucks under demanding conditions, including sustained high utilisation, heavy payloads and tight delivery schedules.
At full deployment, the fleet of 250 Rhino 5538 EV 4×2 TT trucks is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 39,500 tonnes annually, according to the companies.
Montra Rhino electric truck specifications
The Rhino 5538 EV 4×2 TT is a heavy-duty electric tractor-trailer with a Gross Combination Weight of 55 tonnes. It has been developed for industrial applications such as cement and steel transportation.
The truck is powered by a 282 kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate battery paired with a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor. The powertrain produces a peak output of 280 kW and maximum torque of 2,000 Nm.
It also offers 18% gradeability and is equipped with a six-speed Automated Manual Transmission to manage sustained operations with heavy loads.
Montra Electric said the truck has a tested range of up to 198 km per charge when operated on a one-way-loaded and one-way-empty duty cycle, reflecting the conditions commonly encountered in industrial logistics.
The vehicle is offered in two configurations. The fixed-battery version can be fast-charged from 20% to 100% State of Health in about 60 minutes, while the battery-swap version allows the battery to be replaced in under six minutes.
The faster turnaround offered by battery swapping is aimed at reducing vehicle downtime on high-utilisation routes.
Deployment targets range and payload concerns
Electric truck adoption in India’s long-haul freight sector has historically been constrained by concerns over driving range, payload capacity and battery performance under sustained heavy loads.
By operating the vehicles on major cement transportation routes, Montra Electric and Wonder Cement aim to demonstrate a model that could be replicated across other bulk-cargo industries.
Kiran Patil, Managing Director, Wonder Cement, said, “Sustainability is at the core of Wonder Cement’s growth strategy, driving innovation across our entire value chain. The deployment of around 250 electric trucks on a 1,450-km industrial corridor is a significant step toward decarbonizing logistics and reducing our environmental footprint beyond manufacturing. In partnership with Montra Electric, we are demonstrating that long-haul freight electrification is both operationally reliable and commercially viable. This initiative reinforces our commitment to responsible growth and supports India’s transition to a cleaner, low-carbon future while setting new sustainability benchmarks for the cement industry.”
Jalaj Gupta, Managing Director, Montra Electric (TI Clean Mobility Pvt. Ltd.), said: “India’s freight emissions are concentrated on its long-haul industrial corridors, and that is where electrification has to prove itself. With Wonder Cement, we are putting electric heavy trucks into daily, fully loaded, long duty cycles on one of the country’s busiest freight routes. This deployment moves the question from ‘whether electric trucks can handle long-haul freight?’ to ‘how quickly fleets can scale them?’ It underpins our commitment to deploy around 250 electric heavy commercial vehicles across India’s key industrial corridors.”
Navneet Sethi, CEO (eM&HCV division), Montra Electric (IPLTech Electric Pvt. Ltd.), added: “We are grateful to Wonder Cement for its partnership and confidence in this deployment. Demonstrating commercial and operational viability on an intensive 1,450-km industrial corridor establishes that sustainable long-haul logistics is ready to scale today. Our vehicles have been engineered for precisely these conditions at high utilisation, heavy payloads and demanding turnaround times. We are proud to work with Wonder Cement in setting this precedent for the industry.”
The Wonder Cement partnership is part of Montra Electric’s broader commitment to deploy more than 250 electric heavy commercial vehicles across major industrial corridors in India.
The success of the project will depend not merely on the number of trucks delivered, but on whether the fleet can consistently match diesel vehicles on utilisation, payload and turnaround time. If it does, the corridor could provide an important reference point for the wider electrification of India’s carbon-intensive freight and bulk-logistics sector.
