Top News

New Delhi: Montra Electric has introduced India’s first heavy-duty electric truck to receive certification under the Government of India’s PM E-DRIVE scheme. The certification has been granted to the Rhino 5538 EV, making it the first electric truck in the N3 category to qualify for incentives under this policy.

The Rhino 5538 EV has been developed keeping Indian operating conditions in mind. It is designed for commercial use on regular routes where trucks operate for long hours every day. Since heavy trucks contribute a large share of transport-related emissions in India, electric alternatives like this are expected to help reduce pollution from freight movement.

A significant step forward for India’s electric trucking ecosystem.

We are proud to be the first heavy-duty truck manufacturer to receive PM E-DRIVE certification in the N3 category, marking a key milestone in translating national policy intent into real, on-ground impact for… pic.twitter.com/uXteTIifVT

— Montra Electric (@MontraElectric)

Montra Electric has not shared the ex-showroom price of the Rhino 5538 EV yet. However, under the PM E-DRIVE scheme, buyers can get customer incentives of up to Rs 9.6 lakh per vehicle. The government has allocated a total budget of Rs 10,900 crore for the scheme, out of which Rs 500 crore is reserved only for electric trucks. These incentives are expected to lower the overall ownership cost and make electric trucks more practical for fleet operators in the long run.

The Rhino 5538 EV is available in both 6×4 and 4×2 tractor-trailer versions. Some variants support battery swapping, which allows the battery to be replaced in about six minutes. It allows reduced downtime and is useful for commercial operations where vehicles need to stay on the road for longer hours. The truck has been built for demanding uses such as cement transportation, port-based logistics and long-distance freight routes.

The electric truck uses a 282 kWh LFP battery pack. It offers a certified driving range of up to 198 km under standard test conditions. The powertrain produces 380 HP and 2000 Nm of torque, which is aimed at handling heavy loads while maintaining steady performance during operations.