Sona Comstar opens new research and innovation centre for EVs in Chennai

Sona Comstar, which is making speedy moves on the vehicle electification front, has opened a new state-of-the-art research and innovation centre in Chennai. This facility aims to foster development of advanced products for next-generation electrified vehicles.

Being located in Chennai, it is logistically close to a number of EV manufacturers as well as suppliers.  

Sona Comstar, as part of a strategy to ride the EV megatrend, has chalked out an aggressive roadmap including electrified products for two- and three-wheelers, passenger cars, commercial and off-road vehicles. The company says investments have been made in advanced simulation tools and dedicated prototyping facilities for motors, inverters and electrified drive units (EDUs). The innovation centre in Chennai will also house functional, durability and environmental test facilities for in-house product qualification.

This facility will complement the two technical centres in Chennai and one in Gurugram in taking Sona Comstar towards leadership position in sustainable mobility solutions for the global market.

Eyeing global market
In early October, Sona Comstar inked a collaboration agreement with Israel's IRP Nexus Group (IRP), a leading provider of cutting-edge electric powertrain solutions for e-mobility, to develop, manufacture, and supply a magnet-less drive motor and the matching controller (System) for performance two-wheelers and three-wheelers for the global market.

This will see IRP license its technology to Sona Comstar for manufacture of the system exclusively in India for the global market. This envisages an innovative motor-plus-controller combination that does not use rare earth elements like neodymium, besides offering high efficiency and low cost to manufacturers of electric two- and three-wheelers. The project is expected to mitigate the risk stemming from dependency on limited and unreliable sources, apart from ensuring a more environmentally friendly production process.

Commenting on the project, Sunjay Kapur, chairman Sona Comstar, had said: “This can be a game- changer for the EV segment and may bring about a revolutionary change in the automobile industry. The EV industry is likely to benefit from reduced cost of production and will be insulated against supply chain disruptions of rare earth minerals required today for electric motors.”