SUN Mobility Showcases Modular Battery-Swapping Technology for Heavy Electric Vehicles

Key Highlights:

• SUN Mobility showed its modular battery-swapping technology for heavy electric vehicles (HEVs) at an event in Chennai, which was attended by over 100 bus operators. 
• The company signed agreements with bus operators to help them switch to electric buses. 
• At Prawaas 4.0, SUN Mobility and Veera Vahana presented a solution for electric buses and trucks, receiving 10,000+ inquiries. 
• The battery-swapping technology reduces electric bus costs by 40% and reduces downtime with a quick 3-minute swapping process. 
• SUN Mobility runs 650+ battery-swapping stations in India, doing 60,000 swaps daily, and is expanding with IndianOil's help.

SUN Mobility, a leader in energy infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs), presented its modular battery-swapping technology for heavy electric vehicles (HEVs) at a workshop in Chennai. The event was attended by over 100 private bus operators and associations from Tamil Nadu. 

During the workshop, the company signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with various regional bus operators, encouraging EV adoption in the heavy vehicle segment. Discussions included a cost-benefit analysis of switching from diesel buses to battery-swapped electric buses while retaining similar operating costs and refueling convenience. 

Benefits of Modular Battery-Swapping Technology 

SUN Mobility’s innovative battery-swapping technology tackles key challenges faced by bus operators, including: 

• Reduced Costs: Cuts upfront electric bus costs by 40% and operational costs by up to 20%. 
• Quick Swaps: Enables battery replacement in under three minutes, reducing downtime. 
• Higher Utilization: Ideal for high-frequency operations with minimal intervals between trips. 

The modular batteries enhance payload capacity and eliminate long charging times, making them suitable for Tamil Nadu's busy mofussil routes, where buses run up to 16 hours daily. 

Partnership with Veera Vahana at Prawaas 4.0 

SUN Mobility, in collaboration with bus manufacturer Veera Vahana, showcased a complete solution for electrifying bus and truck fleets at Prawaas 4.0, an international conference hosted by the Bus & Car Operators Confederation of India (BOCI). 

The partnership attracted over 10,000 inquiries for electric buses, emphasizing the growing interest in fleet electrification to cut emissions and improve efficiency. 

Impact on Emissions and Fleet Operations 

Although buses and trucks represent only 5% of vehicles, they contribute 50% of tailpipe emissions. SUN Mobility’s solution supports cost-sensitive fleet operators in reducing emissions and transitioning to cleaner alternatives. 

Expanding Accessibility Through IndianOil Partnership 

A joint venture with IndianOil leverages its network of 37,000+ fuel stations to make battery-swapping widely available. The partnership offers “Battery as a Service” (BaaS), addressing concerns over battery cost, obsolescence, and maintenance while providing a seamless EV experience. 

Growing Network and Nationwide Reach 

SUN Mobility introduced its battery-swapping technology in 2017. Since then, it has been deployed in over 26,000 vehicles, including two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and small four-wheelers. The company operates 650+ swapping stations across India, enabling 60,000 daily swaps and covering 1.6 million kilometres—an 84% year-on-year utilisation growth. 

Also Read: SUN Mobility Launches World's First Modular Battery-Swapping Tech for HEVs

CMV360 Says

SUN Mobility’s focus on modular battery-swapping technology addresses critical barriers in EV adoption for heavy vehicles. Its collaborations and strategic initiatives can play a role in accelerating the transition to cleaner and more efficient transportation systems in India.