Cooper-Sinfonia Alliance Plans Off-Grid EV Charging Solutions for Rural India

Satara-based Cooper Corporation, a  leading Indian engine, genset, and tractor manufacturer, has entered into a partnership with Japan's Sinfonia Technology, a global leader in advanced energy solutions and high-tech industrial systems to launch a CPCB IV+ certified 10 kVA LPG genset. The alliance has further plans to develop innovative, cost-effective electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions, specifically targeting India's booming two and three-wheeler segments.

This move signals a concerted effort to address critical infrastructure gaps, especially in rural areas, and accelerating the transition to cleaner transportation.

"We are now testing and analysing the EV charger especially for two-wheelers and three-wheelers. Our genset that we just launched can charge two to three motorcycles at the same time...In rural areas where electricity is not enough, we can use this genset," Makoto Saito, General Manager of Social Infrastructure System Sales Dept., Sinfonia Technology Co. Ltd told Autocar Professional. "We can solve this issue by using the gensets and it's also cheaper" he saod.

Cooper Corporation in a statement noted that the CPCB IV+ certified 10 kVA LPG gensets will be exclusively manufactured by Cooper Corporation. The COOPER SINFONIA genset, model CSG-0010L-IN, will be marketed in India under the brand name ‘DAIMON’, named after the town where Sinfonia Technology is headquartered. The product will carry the brand name ‘SATARA’ in the Japanese market, a tribute to the historic town that has been home to Cooper Corporation for over a century.

According to the company, the genset is powered by Cooper’s indigenously developed lean-burn gas engine, designed in collaboration with Ricardo, UK. Equipped with an Electronic Engine Management System, Isochronous Governing and a compact V-Twin 2-Cylinder engine, the genset is positioned to be ideal for diverse applications across urban and rural areas, including microgrids, educational institutions, retail and industrial setups. 

Both partners will jointly market and distribute the Daimon Genset across India and international markets, with a strategic emphasis on Asia, Africa and the Middle East. In India, they have also collaborated with oil and gas major HPCL for selling it through their outlets. 

Farrokh N. Cooper, Chairman & Managing Director of Cooper Corporation Pvt. Ltd. stated that the launched 10 kVA LPG genset "is just step one". The partnership plans to cover a wider range of products and explore different fuels like hydrogen and ammonia, utilizing the latest technologies. He mentioned that these products would be made in India for both the Indian and global markets. “This partnership with Sinfonia Technology marks a purposeful step towards reshaping the energy landscape with cleaner, smarter solutions"  Cooper explained. 

Beyond its immediate contributions to green energy and EV charging, Sinfonia Technology has a substantial and expanding presence in India spread across various sectors including in railway components, airports supporting vehicles,
and engagements in the aerospace field. 

Crucially for the broader technology ecosystem that underpins the automotive industry, Sinfonia anticipates significant business related to the semiconductor industry in India within the next few years. Sinfonia is a major global player in this critical sector, producing "load port" machines – essential components for wafer transportation systems in semiconductor manufacturing. 

In layman's language, semiconductor wafers are carried in a cartridge called a "hoop". The load port machine is responsible for moving these hoops into each process during semiconductor manufacturing. A load port picks up the hoop and then slides the wafer one by one to the next process. The company holds a commanding position, with more than 50% of the global market share for these load port machines.

"Initially we  plan to import (from Japan) but we don't know about the future" added  Saito, indicating that future plans may involve their production in India as the country's semiconductor manufacturing capabilities develop.