Wonder Cement Orders 250 Montra Electric Rhino E-Trucks; Deployment Begins

Wonder Cement has deployed around 250 Montra Electric Rhino 5538 EV 4×2 TT heavy-duty electric trucks for freight operations on the Nimbahera–Dahej Port and Nimbahera–Tuna Port routes. The deployment is part of the company’s efforts to electrify long-haul cement transportation.

The trucks will operate on a freight corridor spanning approximately 1,450 km across Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. According to the companies, the vehicles will carry full payloads on daily duty cycles similar to those of conventional diesel trucks. To support operations, the corridor has been equipped with 13 charging stations comprising 39 chargers.

The Montra Electric Rhino 5538 EV 4×2 TT is a 55-tonne Gross Combination Weight (GCW) electric tractor-trailer designed for applications such as cement and steel transportation. It is powered by a 282 kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery and a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM), producing a peak power output of 280 kW and 2,000 Nm of torque. The vehicle has an 18% gradeability and is equipped with a 6-speed Automated Manual Transmission (AMT).

According to Montra Electric, the truck offers a claimed range of up to 198 km per charge under a duty cycle involving one loaded trip and one empty return trip. It is available in two variants: a fixed-battery version capable of charging from 20% to 100% in around 60 minutes, and a battery-swap version that enables battery replacement in under six minutes.

The companies stated that the deployment is intended to demonstrate the operational feasibility of electric trucks for long-haul freight transport. They added that the fleet is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 39,500 tonnes annually once fully deployed.

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.), said “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.”

Also read: Montra Electric hands over PM E-DRIVE-certified Rhino 5538 EV to UltraTech