Montra Rhino 5538 EV: New Battery-Swappable Heavy Truck Hits Roads at Rs 1.15 Crore
Hey folks, if you’re in the trucking game or just geeking out over green hauls, Montra Electric just made waves with the launch of its Rhino 5538 EV 4×2 TT—a 55-tonne beast that’s set to shake up heavy-duty freight. Dropped at their Manesar plant in Haryana on September 28, this tractor-trailer builds on the original Rhino’s success, which has already racked up over 1.2 crore km in two years across steel mills and ports. Priced at Rs 1.15 crore ex-factory for the fixed-battery version, it’s aimed at fleets ready to cut emissions without the downtime drama.
What sets this apart? Battery swapping tech, a first for heavy trucks in India. Picture pulling into a station like a toll plaza—swap a drained 282 kWh LFP pack for a full one in minutes, no trailer unhitch needed. That means back on the road fast, tackling India’s logistics crunch where charging can eat hours. On a single charge, expect 198 km range under normal loads, powered by a 380 HP motor with 2,000 Nm torque and a smooth 6-speed AMT. It’s got the grunt for 55-tonne GCW, with a tough chassis, Meritor axles, and Wabco brakes to handle rough routes.
Montra sweetens the pot with a 10-year/9 lakh km maintenance deal, promising 95% uptime and telematics to track every mile. Jalaj Gupta, the MD, called it a “milestone” for sustainable hauls, tying into their push for localized EV tech. They even unveiled an all-women-run automated battery plant and AGV conveyor line to crank up production efficiency.
This slots into Montra’s growing lineup—from three-wheelers to tractors—under the Murugappa Group’s TI Clean Mobility wing. With PM E-DRIVE subsidies in play, it could slash running costs by 30-40% over diesel rigs. Early adopters like Hindalco are already eyeing fleets for fly ash runs, projecting big CO2 cuts and savings. If you’re a fleet boss, this might be the nudge toward electric without the range anxiety. Seen any Rhinos on your routes yet? Drop your thoughts below—we’re all about that EV shift.