Montra Electric Unveils Rhino 5538 EV 4x2 TT and Pioneers Battery Swap in India’s CV Market

Montra Electric, the clean-mobility arm of the Murugappa Group, has launched the Rhino 5538 EV 4×2 TT, a 55-ton electric prime mover, at its Manesar facility in Gurugram, marking a watershed moment for India’s commercial-vehicle electrification drive. Alongside the new model, the company inaugurated India’s first all-women-monitored automated battery-swap plant and integrated Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) into its eM&HCV assembly line.

Powered by a 282 kWh LFP battery, the Rhino 5538 EV delivers 380 HP and 2,000 Nm of torque through a six-speed AMT transmission, offering a range of nearly 198 km under standard test conditions. Operators may choose between a fixed-battery pack or a rapid battery-swap option, the latter completed in under six minutes—dramatically reducing downtime compared with conventional fast-charging of over an hour. Priced at ₹1.15 crore (ex-factory), the truck is backed by a ten-year/900,000 km AMC contract, a 95 per cent uptime guarantee, advanced telematics and tailored financing solutions.

The heavy-commercial-vehicle sector moves over 70 per cent of India’s 4.6 billion tonnes of annual freight. Electrifying long-haul segments could cut particulate and nitrous-oxide pollution by 40 per cent by 2050 and avoid 838 billion litres of diesel consumption, saving trillions in oil imports. With government schemes such as PM E-DRIVE stimulating EV adoption and production-linked incentives boosting local battery manufacturing, the entry of high-capacity e-trucks is crucial to decarbonising logistics. 

Competitive Landscape

Tata Motors, India’s largest CV manufacturer, unveiled six electric commercial vehicles at Auto Expo 2025, including the Prima E.55S prime mover rated at 55 tonnes GVW with 470 kW power and 300–450 kWh battery options, delivering 200–350 km range and dual-gun fast charging. Ashok Leyland has supplied its AVTR 55T Electric 4×2 tractor to fleet operators, offering IP67-rated battery protection and dual-gun CCS2 charging. 

Montra Electric’s battery-swap infrastructure and all-women-monitored plant distinguish it in a rapidly evolving sector. By enabling sub-six-minute battery exchanges at over 160 swaps per day, the company addresses charging-time and total-cost-of-ownership hurdles, positioning India as a global leader in sustainable freight.