Billion Electric Mobility has partnered with JK Cement to deploy more than 150 heavy-duty electric trucks during the current financial year as the cement manufacturer expands the use of electric vehicles in its logistics operations.
The deployment began with a pilot involving 20 electric trucks with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 55 tonnes at JK Cement's Muddapur plant in Karnataka. The trucks will transport cement to stockyards across Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa.
The companies said the rollout is intended to support the gradual transition of JK Cement's freight operations to electric mobility. Billion Electric will provide an integrated electric freight solution, including the trucks, charging infrastructure, fleet operations and route management.
To support the fleet, Billion Electric will use ChargeZone's charging network along key freight corridors in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa. Charging infrastructure is being expanded at locations including Nipani, Satara, Pune, Karad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Goa, Hubli and Davanagere.
Pushparaj Singh, Group President – Marketing at JK Cement, said the partnership is part of the company's efforts to reduce emissions from its logistics operations.
Sanjeev Kulkarni, Chief Executive Officer of Billion Electric Mobility, said the collaboration reflects growing adoption of electric trucks for commercial freight and that the company's platform, supported by ChargeZone's charging network, is aimed at enabling businesses to transition to electric freight operations.
The companies said the partnership is expected to serve as a model for the use of electric trucks in industrial logistics by combining vehicle deployment with charging infrastructure across major freight routes.
Billion Electric Mobility operates an electric mobility-as-a-service (eMaaS) platform focused on commercial transport. Its group company, ChargeZone, operates an EV charging network in India. JK Cement, part of the JK Organisation, manufactures grey and white cement and began operations in 1975 with its first grey cement plant at Nimbahera in Rajasthan.