Archive · 29 Jan 2026
Montra Electric on e-truck adoption challenges
Montra Electric's Jalaj Gupta talks about the slow adoption of battery swap electric trucks due to higher costs and time for setting up infrastructure.
He mentions that while battery swap works well in certain applications like ports, fixed batteries are more suitable for other uses.
The company has sold 170 electric trucks in 2025, all with fixed batteries, and is exploring battery swap for long-haul transport.
Montra Electric is also in talks with airport cargo operators for electric tractors and has a budget wish list including a toll fee waiver for electric trucks on highways.
Adoption of battery swap electric trucks may take longer due to higher time and cost involved in setting up infrastructure.
Montra Electric sold 170 electric trucks in 2025, all with fixed batteries.
Battery swap is suitable for applications like ports where trucks cannot be charged inside the terminal.
The company is exploring battery swap for long-haul transport and is in talks with airport cargo operators for electric tractors.
Montra Electric has a budget wish list including a toll fee waiver for electric trucks on highways.
- Who
- Jalaj Gupta, Managing Director of Montra Electric
- What
- Challenges in adopting battery swap electric trucks and company's strategy
- When
- 2025 (sales data), Q1 FY27 (e-tractor deployment in airports)
- Where
- India (ports, airports, compressed biogas plants)
- Why
- Higher time and cost involved in setting up battery swapping infrastructure, specific use cases for battery swap
- Company
- Montra Electric
- Managing Director
- Jalaj Gupta
- PM E-DRIVE Scheme Outlay
- Rs 500 crore for e-trucks
- Customer Benefit per Vehicle
- Up to ₹9.6 lakh
- Electric Trucks Sold in 2025
- 170 (all with fixed batteries)
- Revenue Breakdown
- 50% heavy trucks, 20% each three-wheeler and small commercial vehicles, 10% electric tractors
- Investment Outlay
- Rs 3,000 crore
- Budget Wish List
- Toll fee waiver for electric trucks on highways
