UltraTech Expands Electric Truck Fleet for Sustainable Logistics

UltraTech Cement Limited, which is the largest manufacturer of cement and ready-mix concrete in India, is making concrete efforts towards sustainable logistics in terms of its operations today by increasing its electric vehicle fleet. The Company has recently entered into a transport service agreement to include around 100 EV trucks in the operation of its fleet which demonstrates its dedication towards the environment. These trucks will be used for moving around 75,000 metric tons of clinker every month from the cement manufacturing integrated unit located at Dhar Cement Works in Madhya Pradesh to the grinding unit which is based at Dhule Cement Works in the state of Maharashtra. The route covers a total distance of around 400 kilometers for a round trip.

Building on the positive impact of the first pilot program of January 2024, which comprised five EV trucks operating on the same route, this bold objective seeks to address the limitations highlighted by the prior EV trucking trial. In addition to testing the performance of the electric trucks, the pilot also included the construction of a necessary charging station en route, as well as training of drivers. In light of the promising results of this pilot program, UltraTech has chosen to increase the usage of EV trucks in its logistics functions. The company is also investigating further routes for the successful introduction of electric vehicles and is planning a new pilot project to facilitate the transportation of clinker between two of its other plants.

The shift from conventional internal combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles is projected to considerably compensate for the adverse impact on carbon transportation emissions. UltraTech projects that this transition would cause a reduction of around 17,000 metric tons of Carbon Dioxide every year. UltraTech aspires to become the pioneering cement manufacturer in India to incorporate trucks for long-distance transportation on electric power, thus charting a new course for the adoption of the right business practices in the industry.

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Uh K C Jhanwar, Managing Director of UltraTech Cement Limited noted that it further encourages the targets that the company has set for itself of becoming fully operationally sustainable and Net Zero by 2050. The company has already made strategic investments in a green supply chain by first using CNG vehicles in 2011 and LNG vehicles in 2022, with plans to also roll out electric trucks in 2024.

Looking ahead, UltraTech has ambitious plans to deploy a total of 500 EV trucks by June 2025, as part of the Indian government’s eFAST initiative aimed at promoting electric mobility. Currently, the company operates a fleet of 468 CNG trucks and 67 LNG trucks, utilized for transporting various products and materials across its manufacturing units.

The initiative undertaken by UltraTech Cement Limited to incorporate electric trucks into its logistics system much earlier than the expected timeline showcases the company’s commitment to achieving greener operations. This does not only usher in a new paradigm shift in the cement industry and beyond, but the initiative also signifies the upliftment of midway trends towards environmental logistics in India.

Source By:- https://www.autocarpro.in/