Exclusive: Anand Group opens new tech centre in Gurugram under Anevolve-Headspring JV

New Delhi-headquartered Tier-I automotive major Anand Group has commissioned a new technology centre in Gurugram, Haryana. The facility – Anevolve Headspring Engineering Centre (ANHS) – is part of the JV signed between Anand Group's clean-technology platform Anevolve (majority stakeholder), and Japan's Headspring, in January this year. 

Under the partnership, the duo has envisioned to conceptualise, design, and develop advanced power electronics solutions for clean-mobility applications in areas such as EV powertrains, converters, and chargers.

ANHS will develop e-mobility products such as on-board chargers and invertors for electric four-wheelers, chargers for electric two- and three-wheelers, as well as BLDC controllers for consumer electronics. The tech centre will employ skilled professionals and leverage in-house expertise in hardware, software, mechanics, and supply chain management, and integrate it with sophisticated tools to innovate new products.

While Anevolve was launched at the Auto Expo 2023 in January and will house all of Anand Group’s future clean-technology companies, Headspring is a Japanese sustainable energy solutions provider, which boasts cutting-edge power electronics technologies based on Silicon Carbide (SiC) and Gallium Nitride (GaN) semiconductor materials.

Headspring also has expertise in bi-directional charging in the four-wheeler automotive domain in Japan, and as per Anevolve, this complements its strength in power electronics manufacturing for mobility and other sectors.

Anand Group Chairperson Anjali Singh (right) and Jaisal Singh, Executive Chairman, Anevolve. 
Diverse product roadmap

“At ANHS, we have an exciting roadmap, aimed at offering a comprehensive range of chargers designed specifically for two- and three-wheeler EV applications to cater to their unique power requirements. Our forthcoming product lineup will encompass a diverse selection, ranging from 250W to 3kW chargers, ensuring seamless and efficient charging experiences for various electric two- and three-wheeled vehicles,” said Sunil Kaul, Managing Director, Anevolve, and CTO, Anand Group.

“In addition to our focus on two- and three-wheelers, we are diligently developing infrastructure AC chargers available in three power options: 7kW, 11kW, and 22kW. These chargers will be instrumental in enhancing the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles by providing faster and more accessible charging solutions in urban and public settings,” he added.

As per Anevolve, the demand for EV chargers in India looks promising with the growing penetration of electric vehicles in the country. The company expects government incentivisation, policy push, and infrastructure development to be the key drivers for EV adoption in the country, and it is the latter it is targeting to support the EV ecosystem. As a result, ANHS is developing DC fast chargers for EVs in India, and aims to be the pioneer in this category.

“Looking towards the future, ANHS is dedicated to expanding its offerings and furthering our commitment to sustainable transportation. Our team is actively engaged in the development of infrastructure DC chargers, boasting a powerful 60kW capacity for four-wheelers. These high- capacity DC chargers will significantly contribute to reducing charging times and promote widespread EV adoption in various sectors. ANHS will be at the forefront of supporting India’s EV transition,” Kaul said.

During the launch of Anevolve in January 2023, Anand Group Chairperson Anjali Singh, and Jaisal Singh, Executive Chairman, Anevolve, had outlined plans to invest around Rs 1,000 crore in Anevolve to develop solutions for greener products and systems across a broad business landscape. Anevolve, which will operate out of the national capital region, will eventually house an innovation hub, a design centre for advanced technologies (ANHS), as well as manufacturing facilities in several parts of India. The company is targeting revenues of Rs 3,500 crore by FY2028, with an estimated employment generation of 2,500 associates.