Dalmia Cement Deploys 24 Electric Trucks with SwitchLabs and EIM in Tamil Nadu

Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Limited, in collaboration with SwitchLabs Automobiles Pvt. Ltd. and Energy In Motion Ltd. (EIM), has deployed 24 heavy-duty electric trucks for transporting bulk raw materials from Karaikal Port to its manufacturing units in Dalmiapuram and Ariyalur, Tamil Nadu.

The electric trucks will transport petcoke, slag and gypsum, replacing diesel trucks operating on the routes. Each truck is expected to travel approximately 12,000 km per month, taking the estimated combined fleet utilisation to around 2.9 million km annually.

As part of the project, Dalmia Cement and SwitchLabs have developed a trailer-swap operating model, supported by separate registration of the tractor and trailer. Under the model, an electric tractor can be connected to another trailer instead of waiting for its existing trailer to complete loading or unloading. The companies expect this arrangement to reduce vehicle idle time and improve fleet utilisation and turnaround time. According to the companies, the separate tractor and trailer registration implemented for the project enables this operating model in Tamil Nadu.

Commenting on the deployment Dalmia Cement Spokesperson said, “Electrifying high-utilisation freight is one of the more complex challenges in the transition to cleaner mobility. That is why the trailer-swap model we have developed with SwitchLabs is significant. It addresses a key utilisation challenge in electric heavy trucking while enabling greater operational efficiency. The separate tractor and trailer registration enabled for this project is an important first for Tamil Nadu and demonstrates how operational innovation can help unlock new models for electric freight. This is a practical step forward in our RE100 and EV100 commitments and reflects our broader belief that clean and green can be both profitable and sustainable.” 

SwitchLabs said “We believe the future of heavy freight in India will be electric, connected and increasingly infrastructure-led. This project with Dalmia Cement brings together three critical elements of that transition—high-utilisation electric trucks, dedicated charging infrastructure and an operating model designed around real industrial logistics requirements. For SwitchLabs, this is more than a fleet deployment; it is a demonstration of how electric freight can be integrated into the core supply chain of a large industrial customer and scaled across corridors. A significant innovation in this project is the separate registration of the tractor and trailer for the first time, enabling a trailer-swap operating model that can fundamentally improve the utilisation of electric heavy-duty trucks, reduce idle time and enhance fleet productivity.” 

Based on the expected operating profile and an assumed electricity mix of 70% renewable and 30% grid power, the companies estimate that the fleet could avoid around 3,735 tonnes of CO₂e annually on a life-cycle basis. The estimate is informed by the methodology of a 2024 ICCT study but has not been independently calculated, certified or endorsed by ICCT.

The collaboration between Dalmia Cement and SwitchLabs also includes the deployment of electric tipper trucks at Dalmia Cement’s Dalmiapuram and Ariyalur operations. The companies are working on additional electric mobility projects for Dalmia Cement’s logistics operations. Dedicated charging infrastructure has also been deployed to support the daily operating requirements of the electric truck fleet.

Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Limited (DCBL), a subsidiary of Dalmia Bharat Limited, operates 19 manufacturing units across 12 states, with an installed capacity of 54.7 million tonnes. A member of RE100, EP100 and EV100. The company manufactures Portland Slag Cement (PSC) and specialised cement for applications including oil wells, railway sleepers and airstrips.

Also read: Dalmia Cement Bharat Commissions IPL Tech Electric to Provide 22 Electric Trucks