Bengaluru-based SUN Mobility, known for its modular battery-swapping technology, is set to expand its offerings across various commercial vehicle segments within the next 18 to 24 months. The company, which recently showcased its innovation for Heavy Electric Vehicles (HEVs) at Prawaas 4.0, plans to introduce battery-swapping solutions for light commercial vehicles (LCVs), medium commercial vehicles (MCVs), and heavy commercial vehicles (HCVs), including fixed trucks, trailers, mining vehicles, port vehicles, city buses, and intercity buses.
Ashok Agarwal, CEO of HEV at SUN Mobility, emphasized the company’s focus on proving the versatility of its technology across these different applications. “Our goal over the next two years is to demonstrate the effectiveness of our battery-swapping technology in various use cases, which will pave the way for transitioning to rental models and scaling up operations,” Agarwal said. This phased approach aims to build stakeholder confidence and validate the technology’s performance on a smaller scale before wider implementation.
On August 29, SUN Mobility announced a partnership with Bangalore-based bus manufacturer Veera Vahana to launch India’s first 10.5-meter battery-swappable buses for intercity and rural routes. The same technology will be compatible with all Veera Vahana vehicles, enhancing their electric vehicle (EV) offerings.
Agarwal highlighted the importance of electrifying commercial fleets, particularly heavy vehicles, in reducing emissions, improving air quality, and increasing transportation efficiency. SUN Mobility’s Smart Battery™ solution is designed for vehicles ranging from 3-tonne to 55-tonne Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), offering a significant reduction in upfront costs—up to 40%—when compared to traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) buses. This cost efficiency, along with easy financing options, could lower the barriers for fleet owners to adopt EVs.
The battery-swapping process, which takes under three minutes, also reduces operational costs for fleet operators by up to 20% and increases vehicle uptime. Agarwal noted that while buses and trucks make up only 5% of the total vehicle population, they account for about 50% of tailpipe emissions. With 90% of commercial vehicles privately owned and unsubsidized, battery swapping could boost EV adoption in this sector by an additional 30%, playing a crucial role in India’s goal of achieving zero carbon emissions in heavy commercial vehicles.
Since its inception in 2017, SUN Mobility has integrated over 26,000 vehicles across two-, three-, and small four-wheeler fleet segments into its system. With more than 630 battery-swapping stations nationwide, the company facilitates around 1.6 million kilometers of travel and 60,000 battery swaps daily—an 84% increase from last year.
Additionally, SUN Mobility’s recent joint venture with IndianOil aims to leverage IndianOil’s extensive network of over 37,000 fuel stations across the country, combining it with SUN Mobility’s battery-swapping technology to make EV charging as accessible as traditional fueling.
