Montra Electric launches 55-ton Rhino 5538 EV truck with battery swapping technology

Montra Electric, the clean mobility arm of the Murugappa Group, has introduced the Rhino 5538 EV 4×2 TT, a 55-tonne electric truck, at its manufacturing facility in Manesar, Haryana. The company also rolled out battery swapping technology for the Rhino truck series and inaugurated what it described as India’s first all-women monitored automated battery plant.

The Rhino 5538 EV is equipped with a 282 kWh LFP battery that delivers 380 HP and 2000 Nm torque, with a range of 198 km per charge. The truck is priced at ₹1.15 crore (ex-factory) for the fixed-battery model and is backed by a 10-year or 9 lakh km AMC package, offering a 95 percent uptime guarantee.

The newly introduced battery swapping solution enables replacement in under six minutes, compared with over an hour using conventional fast charging. Each automated swap station, featuring a 7+1 configuration, can manage over 160 swaps daily at peak capacity, potentially serving hundreds of vehicles depending on fleet demand.

India’s electric commercial vehicle sector is expanding with policy backing such as the PM E-DRIVE scheme. Heavy-duty trucks are considered a significant opportunity for electrification as logistics operators seek cost-efficient and sustainable freight solutions. Montra Electric’s earlier model, the Rhino 6×4 TT, has logged more than 1.2 crore kilometres since its launch two years ago.

The Manesar event was attended by M A M Arunachalam (Arun Murugappan), Chairman of Montra Electric, and Vice-Chairman Vellayan Subbiah. The company also commissioned a new conveyor line with Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) at the facility.

“At Montra Electric, we are building products and services that directly address the biggest hurdles in commercial EV adoption. With innovations like battery swapping for heavy-duty trucks and purpose-built platforms across segments, we are making clean mobility seamless, reliable, and economically viable for fleet operators,” said Arun Murugappan, Chairman, Montra Electric.

Jalaj Gupta, Managing Director of Montra Electric, added: “It is a milestone in Montra Electric’s journey of putting India firmly on the global map of sustainable mobility with the introduction of battery swapping technology. Launch of the Rhino 5538 EV 4×2 TT, in one of the largest industry segments, demonstrates our commitment to innovation, localization, and sustainability.”

The Rhino 5538 EV features a 6-speed AMT transmission, a reinforced chassis frame, and compatibility with multiple trailer formats. With a Gross Combination Weight of 55 tonnes, the truck is intended for long-haul freight operations in Indian conditions. Two configurations will be offered, one with battery swapping capability and another with a fixed battery pack. The swap stations are designed for drive-through use, allowing trucks with trailers to move through in a manner similar to toll plazas.

Montra Electric operates across four business areas: heavy commercial vehicles, mid and small commercial vehicles, last-mile three-wheelers, and electric tractors. Its portfolio includes the Rhino series of trucks, the Eviator light commercial vehicle, the Super Auto passenger model, the Super Cargo delivery solution, and the E-27 electric tractor.