UltraTech Cement expands EV truck fleet for sustainable logistics

With its commitment to sustainable practices, India's leading cement and ready mix concrete company, UltraTech Cement Limited, is expected to greatly increase its use of electric vehicles (EV trucks) in its logistics operations. The company has also inked a new transport service contract which entails deployment of 100 EV trucks to transport 75,000 metric tonnes of clinker per month. The trucks will run a round trip of around 400 kilometers between UltraTech’s Dhar (Indore) Cement Works in Madhya Pradesh and Dhule (Nashik) Cement Works in Maharashtra.

This represents a significant achievement for UltraTech, becoming the first Indian cement company to introduce EV trucks at such a scale, and for such a long lead distance. According to UltraTech, its transport related CO2 emissions are projected to fall by 17,000 metric tonnes annually with the transition from conventional fossil-fuel trucks to EVs.

The pilot program, which started in January 2024, was successful as UltraTech deployed five electric trucks to the same route. Included among these were training of truck drivers and the establishment of charging infrastructure. These successful piloting efforts have therefore encouraged UltraTech to investigate further routes for EV truck deployment and also to pursue another pilot programme for carrying clinker between two of its other manufacturing units.

Speaking on the initiative, **K C Jhanwar**, Managing Director, UltraTech Cement said, “UltraTech is fully committed to Net Zero by 2050. All aspects of our operation are geared towards sustainability. 'Scaling up the use of EV trucks in our logistics is key to becoming a more sustainable part of the industry.'

As part of the **eFAST initiative** by the Indian government, UltraTech plans to deploy 500 EV trucks by June 2025. Since introducing CNG vehicles in 2021 and LNG vehicles in 2022, the company has been at the forefront of green logistics. Currently, UltraTech operates over 468 CNG trucks and 67 LNG trucks across various manufacturing units.

This latest step reinforces UltraTech’s leadership in sustainable logistics and its commitment to reducing its environmental footprint while driving innovation in the cement industry.