SUN Mobility, a provider of energy infrastructure and services for electric vehicles (EVs), announced the introduction of what they claim to be the world's first modular battery-swapping technology for Heavy Electric Vehicles (HEVs).
In partnership with Veera Vahana, a Bangalore-based bus manufacturer, the company launched 10.5-meter battery swappable buses for intercity and mofussil routes at Prawaas 4.0, an international conference organised by Bus & Car Operators Confederation of India (BOCI).
SUN Mobility states that their Smart Battery solution is suitable for light, medium, and heavy trucks and buses, ranging from 3-tonne to 55-tonne Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). According to the company, battery swapping could potentially reduce the upfront cost of buses by 40%, making it comparable to traditional ICE buses. They suggest this, coupled with easier access to financing, could lower barriers to EV adoption by fleet owners.
The company claims that their solution could reduce operational costs for fleet operators by up to 20%, while increasing uptime due to a swapping process that reportedly takes under three minutes. SUN Mobility also states that the compact and light form factor of the battery allows for higher payload-carrying capacities.