SUN Mobility, the leading provider of energy infrastructure and services for electric vehicles (EVs), created history today by introducing the world’s first modular battery-swapping technology for Heavy Electric Vehicles (HEVs). The Company in partnership with Bangalore-based, Veera Vahana, a leading bus manufacturer, launched India’s first 10.5 meters battery swappable buses for intercity and mofussil routes at Prawaas 4.0, an international conference organized by Bus & Car Operators Confederation of India (BOCI). Same technology will work with all the vehicles of Veera Vahana.
“SUN Mobility has revitalized HEVs by overcoming major obstacles for bus operators such as high entry cost of ownership, exacerbated by inadequate HEV financing, extended downtime from lengthy charging periods, and significant strain of rolling out charging infrastructure. Our partnership with Veera Vahana marks a significant milestone as we introduce India’s first modular swapping technology that will provide a practical and cost-effective solution for operators, enhancing efficiency, and reducing operational costs,” said Ashok Agarwal, CEO- HEV, SUN Mobility.
“As one of the fastest-growing bus manufacturers in India, Veera Vahana has been setting new benchmarks in quality and innovation of transportation. We are proud to partner with world pioneers in battery swapping and leverage indigenous innovation and engineering potential to develop truly world-class electric mobility solutions,” said K Srinivas Reddy, Managing Director, Veera Vahana.
“Over the past 7 years, SUN Mobility has been leading the charge in revolutionizing the electric mobility sector, particularly with our solutions for the 2W and 3W segments. Our latest innovation for HEVs will disrupt the commercial vehicle sector and accelerate the electrification of this crucial segment, vital to the cargo and passenger transportation industry,” said Chetan Maini, Co-Founder and Chairman of SUN Mobility. “We are thrilled to pioneer this alongside Veera Vahana and confident that it will unlock a multi-billion dollar opportunity for OEMs, fleet operators, and financiers, and position India as a global pioneer and leader in transportation electrification models,” he added.
Electrifying commercial fleets, especially heavy vehicles, is crucial for cutting emissions, improving air quality, and boosting the overall efficiency of the transportation sector. SUN Mobility’s tried and tested Smart BatteryTM solution is suitable for light, medium and heavy trucks and buses, ranging from 3-tonne to 55-tonne Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW).
Battery swapping will bring down the upfront cost of the buses by 40%, matching the upfront cost of traditional ICE buses and this coupled with easy access to financing will break the entry barrier for adoption of EVs by fleet owners. Further, it reduces operational costs of fleet operators by up to 20%, while increasing uptime and higher utilization of buses owing to the swift swapping process of under three minutes. The compact and light form factor of the battery ensures higher payload-carrying capacities.
Today, buses and trucks form about 5% of the total vehicle population but contribute about 50% of the tailpipe emissions. 90% of the commercial vehicles segment is privately owned and given this sector is not subsidized, battery swapping can drive an additional 30% increase in EV adoption and play a vital role in achieving India’s goal of zero carbon emissions in heavy commercial vehicles.
SUN Mobility, since its inception in 2017, has onboarded over 26,000 vehicles across two, three and small four-wheeler fleet segments. With more than 630 battery swapping stations across the country, the company clocks around 1.6 million kilometers and 60,000 battery swaps each day, marking an impressive 84% increase from last year’s utilization. With its recent strategic joint venture with IndianOil, SUN Mobility brings together the might of IndianOil’s network of over 37,000 fuel stations across the country clubbed with SUN Mobility’s unparalleled battery-swapping technology making it as accessible as conventional fuel stations. It will thus streamline the customer’s EV experience by conveniently offering Battery as a Service (BaaS) nationwide and alleviate worries about battery cost, battery obsolescence, maintenance, replacement, and charging time.
Veera Vahana is a world-class bus coach builder, and a commercial vehicle OEM based in Bangalore. Established in 2004, Veera Vahana has a record of many Industry-firsts, thanks to its focus on R&D. It believes in a holistic make-in-India approach making it a leader in the business, and now plans to go international.