SUN Mobility, a leader in energy infrastructure and EV services, revealed its cutting-edge modular battery-swapping technology for heavy electric vehicles (HEVs) at a workshop in Chennai. Over 100 private bus operators and operator associations from Tamil Nadu attended the event, which was a key step towards boosting EV adoption in the heavy vehicle category.
During the event, SUN Mobility signed multiple memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with regional bus operators to help them migrate from diesel-powered buses to battery-powered electric alternatives. The event included conversations about the company's battery-swapping solutions, their cost benefits, and the feasibility of continuing traditional refuelling experiences while adopting electrification.
SUN Mobility's partnership with Veera Vahana, a well-known bus maker, was also emphasised. They presented a fully integrated mobility solution for electrifying bus and truck fleets at Prawaas 4.0, an international conference hosted by the Bus & Car Operators Confederation of India (BOCI). This effort drew a lot of attention, generating over 10,000 requests for electric buses and emphasising the critical need to electrify commercial fleets to reduce emissions, improve air quality, and increase operational efficiency.
SUN Mobility's modular battery-swapping technology is intended to overcome various difficulties that fleet operators face, including high upfront prices, restricted financing choices, long charging periods, and the need for significant charging infrastructure. According to Ashok Agarwal, CEO-HEV at SUN Mobility, the approach can cut the initial cost of electric buses by up to 40%, putting them on level with standard internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Operational costs are lowered by about 20%, and downtime is eliminated thanks to a swapping process that takes less than three minutes.
This technology is especially useful for high-frequency operations, such as mofussil bus services in Tamil Nadu, where vehicles run up to 16 hours per day with short breaks in between trips. Unlike permanent battery systems, which require longer charging, the modular switching solution's compact form enables smooth operation while increasing payload capacity.
Heavy commercial vehicles, despite accounting for only 5% of the overall vehicle population, account for roughly half of tailpipe emissions. With private ownership accounting for 90% of the commercial vehicle category, SUN Mobility's battery-swapping technology provides fleet operators with a low-cost, scalable alternative. By cutting prices and operating constraints, the company hopes to drive EV adoption in this industry, resulting in a considerable reduction in emissions.
Since its inception in 2017, SUN Mobility has installed its battery-swapping technology in over 26,000 vehicles, including two-, three-, and compact four-wheelers. The company has over 650 battery-swapping stations around the country, allowing for over 60,000 swaps per day and traversing 1.6 million kilometres—a testament to its 84% year-on-year rise in utilisation.
The company's joint venture with IndianOil is expected to broaden its reach by leveraging IndianOil's network of over 37,000 fuel stations. Through this collaboration, SUN Mobility provides a "Battery as a Service" (BaaS) model, which addresses issues about battery pricing, obsolescence, maintenance, and charging time. This strategy makes the EV transition easier for users, improving accessibility and convenience.
SUN Mobility's accomplishments represent a potential transition for India's commercial vehicle sector, combining innovation and environmental stewardship to bring the country closer to its sustainable transportation ambitions.
