UltraTech Cement plans to deploy 100 additional electric trucks for transporting clinker, following its pilot program.
18 Nov 2024 | 7792 Views | By Sarthak Mahajan
UltraTech Cement Limited, India’s largest cement and ready-mix concrete manufacturer, has announced plans to increase the use of electric vehicles (EV trucks) in its logistics operations. The company has signed a transport service contract for the deployment of approximately 100 EV trucks.
These vehicles will transport 75,000 MT of ...
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UltraTech Cement Limited, India’s largest cement and ready-mix concrete manufacturer, has announced plans to increase the use of electric vehicles (EV trucks) in its logistics operations. The company has signed a transport service contract for the deployment of approximately 100 EV trucks.
These vehicles will transport 75,000 MT of clinker monthly from UltraTech’s integrated cement manufacturing unit at Dhar Cement Works in Madhya Pradesh to its grinding unit at Dhule Cement Works in Maharashtra, covering a roundtrip distance of about 400 kilometers.
This initiative follows the successful pilot launched in January 2024, which involved five EV trucks on the same route. The pilot also included setting up charging infrastructure and providing specialised training to truck drivers. Based on the outcomes of the pilot, UltraTech has decided to expand the use of EV trucks in its operations. The company is also evaluating additional routes for further deployment and plans to conduct another pilot for transporting clinker between two of its other manufacturing units.
Replacing fossil-fuel-based trucks with EV trucks on this route is estimated to reduce transport-related carbon emissions by approximately 17,000 MT of CO2 annually. UltraTech is the first cement company in India to deploy EV trucks at this scale for long-distance transportation.
Commenting on the initiative, K C Jhanwar, Managing Director of UltraTech Cement Limited, stated that the expansion of EV trucks aligns with the company’s sustainability goals and commitment to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050. UltraTech has adopted sustainable logistics practices, including the use of CNG vehicles since 2021, LNG vehicles since 2022, and EV trucks starting in 2024.
Looking ahead, UltraTech plans to deploy 500 EV trucks by June 2025 as part of the Government of India’s eFAST initiative. The company currently operates a fleet of 468 CNG trucks and 67 LNG trucks, which are used for transporting products and materials across various manufacturing units.
UltraTech Cement Limited, India’s largest cement and ready-mix concrete producer, is steadily expanding its use of electric trucks to improve the sustainability of its logistics operations. Following the successful pilot program initiated in January 2024, the company has announced plans to deploy 100 additional electric trucks for the transportation of clinker. These trucks will operate between UltraTech's integrated cement manufacturing unit at Dhar Cement Works in Madhya Pradesh and the grinding unit at Dhule Cement Works in Maharashtra, covering a roundtrip distance of 400 kilometers.
The pilot project demonstrated the feasibility of EV trucks for long-distance logistics. It included installing charging infrastructure along the route and providing specialized training to drivers. The planned scale-up aims to reduce UltraTech’s transport-related carbon emissions, with estimates suggesting a reduction of approximately 17,000 MT of CO2 annually by replacing fossil-fuel-powered trucks with electric ones. This initiative reflects the company’s broader commitment to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050.
In addition to the current expansion, UltraTech is exploring other routes for integrating electric vehicles into its operations. The company has also announced plans to deploy 500 EV trucks by June 2025 under the Government of India’s eFAST initiative, strengthening its focus on green logistics solutions.