Zero emission trucks provide the answer to pollution in transport segment

June 20, 2024 electric trucks 5 min read

IPLTech Electric is the first company in India to launch 55-ton electric trucks. In this interaction with Mr Sunil Bhatnagar, CXO Lithium Project at IPLTech Electric Private Limited, we discover more about IPLTech’s focus areas and operations.

What is the current scale of IPLTech Rhino 5536e e-truck deployment?

IPLTech is a Murugappa Group company with a 123-year legacy in India. It is the first company in India to launch 55T e-trucks as early as 2022. As the country takes steps to control carbon emissions, ZET (Zero Emission Trucks) is the answer to pollution in the transport segment.

IPLTech has a strong order book. Nearly 125 e-trucks are already deployed in various industries, and another 100 are on the move. ICAT has approved these trucks per the AIS-038 standard.

What kind of applications are the trucks designed for?

The trucks are primarily used in the construction industry, cement plants, ports, mines, etc., where heavy loads and demanding operations are common.

Can you please share the latest specifications for the trucks?

In RHINO5536, “55” indicates a Gross Combination Weight (GCW) capacity of 55 tons, and “36” denotes the truck’s maximum power of 360HP.

Peak Torque is 2400 Nm. The e-truck uses a PMSM motor and has a 12-speed Automated Manual Transmission.

The battery (LFP) capacity is 258 kWh, and the range on a single charge is between 185 km and 228 km, depending on the truck model.

Please help us understand how the requirements of heavy vehicles’ traction batteries differ from those of other vehicle segments.

Heavy-duty battery packs differ in many aspects from small battery packs. The battery voltage is very high; in our case, it’s 614.4V. Therefore, handling an HV battery pack is quite different from a safety aspect. Our batteries are AIS 038, approved by ICAT.

Similarly, the charge and discharge occur at a very high rate, so battery cooling plays an important role. The battery cooling system is crucial to avoid any thermal issues and ensure a proper battery life cycle.

Another important aspect is insulation within the battery module and the battery bank to avoid short circuits, etc. EMC/EMI is another critical aspect while designing the battery.

The traction battery’s wiring harness needs to be IS 19642 compliant, as it’s an important part of charging and discharging. A few more important parameters must be considered while designing high-voltage lithium batteries.

What cost savings can one derive from opting for an e-truck compared to an ICE truck with the same payload?

The deployment of e-trucks offers significant cost savings during operations, benefiting the buyer/operator with its economical operations. Savings can amount to 60-70% compared to ICE vehicles, as our e-trucks are highly efficient in their operations.

Using e-trucks also increases operational efficiency, allowing more work to be carried out in a similar period compared to ICE vehicles. Moreover, our trucks are heavy-duty, providing a high payload carrying capacity and better gradient manoeuvring capabilities.

E-trucks have a smooth powertrain, which helps control noise pollution on roads. Additionally, they produce zero carbon emissions.

Please tell us about IPLTech’s current manufacturing capacity.

Our manufacturing unit is situated in Manesar, Gurgaon, with a current production capacity of over 6000 e-trucks per year. IPLTech also operates its own in-house lithium-ion battery assembly plant with a capacity of 2.2GWh.

As the e-truck market is gaining momentum in India, we have the capability to increase production capacity to even higher levels using our existing infrastructure.

What is the current focus of R&D at IPLTech?

IPLTech has a dedicated R&D division with a large team. Our R&D team is deeply involved in designing new models and variants according to market demand. The team also focuses on lithium – ionbatteries, as they are the consumable part in e-trucks. Reducing energy usage per kilometer is an important focus area. The R&D division is also working on weight dynamics, new models, swap stations, and much more.