SUN Mobility, a leader in energy solutions for electric vehicles (EVs), unveiled its modular battery-swapping technology for heavy electric vehicles (HEVs) during a workshop in Chennai. The event, attended by over 100 private bus operators and associations from Tamil Nadu, highlighted the company’s efforts to support EV adoption in the heavy vehicle segment.
During the session, SUN Mobility signed key agreements with regional bus operators to facilitate the transition from diesel to electric buses, showcasing cost analysis and the operational feasibility of battery-swapped electric buses. The technology offers a cost structure and refueling experience comparable to traditional diesel buses.
Recently, SUN Mobility partnered with Veera Vahana, a bus manufacturer, to present a fully integrated solution for electrifying bus and truck fleets at Prawaas 4.0, an international mobility conference. The collaboration drew over 10,000 inquiries for electric buses and emphasized the need for heavy vehicle electrification to cut emissions, improve air quality, and boost efficiency.
The company’s modular battery-swapping system addresses key challenges faced by bus operators, including high upfront costs, limited financing, long charging times, and the need for extensive infrastructure. SUN Mobility CEO Ashok Agarwal noted that the solution cuts upfront costs by 40%, lowers operational expenses by 20%, and enhances fleet utilization with quick battery swaps in under three minutes.
Battery swapping is particularly suitable for Tamil Nadu’s high-frequency mofussil bus operations, where buses run for up to 16 hours daily with short intervals. The compact battery design improves payload capacity and eliminates downtime caused by lengthy charging periods.
Although buses and trucks represent just 5% of vehicles, they account for 50% of tailpipe emissions. SUN Mobility’s battery-swapping technology offers cost-sensitive fleet operators an effective path to electrification, addressing upfront costs and operational concerns.
Since its establishment in 2017, SUN Mobility has deployed its technology in over 26,000 vehicles across two-, three-, and small four-wheeler segments. The company manages a network of 650+ battery-swapping stations nationwide, enabling 60,000 daily swaps and covering 1.6 million kilometers—a growth of 84% year-on-year.
Through a joint venture with IndianOil, SUN Mobility aims to expand accessibility by leveraging IndianOil’s 37,000+ fuel stations. Their “Battery as a Service” (BaaS) model simplifies the EV experience, addressing concerns about battery cost, maintenance, obsolescence, and charging.
