Montra Electric, an Indian electric commercial vehicle manufacturer, has officially commenced the delivery of a major fleet order for heavy-duty electric trucks. On July 8, the company flagged off the first batch of 65 units from its manufacturing facility in Manesar, Haryana. This delivery represents the initial phase of a larger 260-unit agreement, with the remaining 195 trucks scheduled for delivery in the coming months.
Technical Specifications and Performance
The units supplied are the Rhino 5538 EV, a 55-tonne model designed for demanding industrial sectors such as mining, construction, steel, and port operations. The tractor-trailer version delivered in this batch is powered by a 280 kW permanent magnet synchronous motor paired with a 6-speed automated manual transmission. Customers can choose between 4x2 and 6x4 drivetrain configurations, offering gradeability of 18% and 20% respectively.
Battery and Charging Infrastructure
Equipped with a 282 kWh LFP battery pack, the Rhino 5538 EV offers a range of approximately 198 kilometers for the 4x2 variant and 169 kilometers for the 6x4 variant. The vehicle supports 240 kW dual-gun fast-charging, capable of recharging from 20% to 100% in one hour. Notably, Montra Electric also offers an optional battery-swapping system that reduces downtime to just seven minutes.
Market Pricing and Incentives
The Rhino 5538 EV tractor-trailer starts at 11.5 million rupees (approx. 105,500 euros) for the 4x2 model and 11.8 million rupees (approx. 108,300 euros) for the 6x4 version. The tipper variant is priced higher at 13.3 million rupees. These vehicles are eligible for subsidies of up to 960,000 rupees under India's PM E-Drive scheme, aimed at accelerating the adoption of electric commercial vehicles.
