SUN Mobility has called on the government to extend the same policy support to battery swapping as other green mobility solutions, arguing that broader inclusion in schemes could accelerate electric commercial vehicle adoption. The company has begun commercial rollout of its modular battery-swapping platform.
Certification and Integration Completed
Speaking to ANI at Prawaas 5.0 in Gandhinagar, Ashok Agarwal, CEO of SUN Mobility's Heavy Electric Vehicles business, confirmed that the company has completed battery certification and integration with the Tata Starbus EV platform. Fleet operator engagement has started, and deployment is expected within three months of receiving orders.
"We have already completed the certification of our batteries. We have also completed the integration with Tata Starbus. Through this event, we will start our engagement with the fleet operators. As soon as the order is booked, the deployment will start in three months," Agarwal said.
Battery Swapping Versus Fast Charging
Agarwal noted that battery swapping and fast charging serve different commercial vehicle applications, with swapping ideal for high-utilisation operations such as intercity buses. Swapping multiple batteries in under three minutes can enable nearly 24-hour bus operation, improving uptime by 20 to 30 per cent in worst-case scenarios.
"If we swap the multi-batteries in less than three minutes, we can practically use the bus for 24 hours. In the worst-case scenario, the uptime can be 20 to 30 per cent better," he explained.
Call for Level Playing Field
Agarwal urged the government to include battery swapping in all clean mobility initiatives, including PM E-Drive and proposed commercial vehicle financing schemes. "We want the government to give all green technologies a level playing field... We want the government to include swapping in all schemes," he said.
Modular Platform for Diverse Vehicles
SUN Mobility Co-Founder and Chairman Chetan Maini stated that the modular multi-battery swapping solution can unlock large-scale electrification across the commercial vehicle ecosystem. The platform supports vehicles from 3 tonnes to 55 tonnes and operates on a Battery-as-a-Service model, allowing fleet operators to buy vehicles without batteries and pay separately for energy usage.
"We believe the modular multi-battery swapping solution has the potential to unlock large-scale electrification across the commercial vehicle ecosystem by delivering a cost-effective and operationally efficient energy solution for diverse applications," Maini said.
The company claims the common platform improves fleet utilisation, lowers upfront ownership costs, and supports wider adoption of electric commercial vehicles.
