Montra Electric Rhino 5538 EV

The Montra Electric Rhino 5538 EV is the 4x2 tractor-trailer from Montra Electric eM&HCV (IPLTech Electric Pvt Ltd, a Murugappa Group / TI Clean Mobility venture), India's first heavy-duty electric truck and the first PM E-DRIVE certified e-truck in the country. Built on a two-layer heavy-duty ladder chassis with a 4000 mm wheelbase, it pairs a 282 kWh LFP battery with a 280 kW (380 hp) PMSM motor and 2000 Nm of torque, carrying a 55-tonne gross combination weight and a claimed range of about 198 km on a single charge.

Price & Variants

Priced at Rs 1.15 crore (ex-showroom) for the standard 4000/Electric variant and Rs 1.18 crore for the 4000/With Battery Swapping variant, in line with the pricing of diesel rivals like the Tata Signa 5530.S and Mahindra Blazo X 55 in the 55-tonne class.

Battery, Range & Charging

A 282 kWh LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery drives the 198 km claimed range under standard test conditions. DC fast charging fills 20-100% SOC in about 60 minutes using a 240 kW CCS 2 dual-gun charger; a battery-swap variant exchanges the pack in under 6-7 minutes via a 7+1 automated station handling over 160 swaps a day at peak use.

Performance

A permanent magnet synchronous motor produces 380 hp and 2000 Nm, mated to a 6-speed AMT gearbox with a 430 mm dry friction clutch for clutchless driving. It manages an 18% gradeability and a 230 mm laden ground clearance, with front parabolic leaf springs and a rear semi-elliptical two-stage hybrid leaf arrangement.

Braking & Cabin

Full air dual-line S-cam brakes with ABS handle stopping duties. The walk-through tiltable sleeper cabin seats a driver and co-driver, with power tilt-and-telescopic steering, a 4-way adjustable driver seat, HVAC, glove box and a music infotainment system, backed by a 10-year / 9-lakh-km AMC and a 95% uptime guarantee.