SWITCH Mobility Ltd part of the Hinduja Group and a manufacturer of electric buses and light commercial vehicles, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Adhiyamaan College of Engineering (Autonomous), Hosur, to establish a dedicated Skill Development Centre for electric vehicle (EV) technology. The proposed centre will focus on developing technical skills for the growing electric mobility industry and will bring together industry experience and academic learning. It will provide practical training in areas including electric commercial vehicles, battery technologies, charging infrastructure, power electronics and other EV systems.
The initiative is intended to address the growing requirement for skilled manpower as electric mobility expands across India. SWITCH Mobility will provide technical expertise and support for the programme, while the college will provide the academic and institutional environment for training.
RG Venkataraman, Chief Commercial Officer, SWITCH Mobility, said, “As part of the MoU, SWITCH Mobility will extend its technical expertise and support towards this initiative. This program will entail practical industrial exposure, learning and skill development.”
The Skill Development Centre will provide hands-on exposure to EV technologies and enable participants to understand the operation and application of electric vehicle systems. The facility will also support training on charging infrastructure, battery systems, power electronics and emerging mobility technologies.
Prof Dr Radhakrishnan, Principal, Adhiyamaan College of Engineering, Hosur, said, “We are proud to be associated with an industry leader like SWITCH Mobility. We believe that this collaboration will provide our students with valuable hands-on exposure to EV technologies and strengthen the industry–academia partnership in the field of electric mobility.”
The centre will be designed to support training for different stakeholders in the electric mobility ecosystem. The partnership is also expected to provide students with greater exposure to industry practices and help improve their preparedness for employment in the EV sector.
SWITCH Mobility said the initiative forms part of its efforts to work with educational institutions and strengthen the EV talent pipeline in India. The company has been expanding its electric bus and light commercial vehicle operations as demand for zero-emission mobility increases.
SWITCH Mobility, a Hinduja Group company, was formed using the engineering capabilities of Ashok Leyland. The company has more than 3,000 electric buses operating globally, which have covered more than 200 million kilometres. Its SWITCH IeV electric light commercial vehicle range has more than 3,000 vehicles on the road.
The partnership with Adhiyamaan College of Engineering is expected to create a training base in Hosur for electric mobility technologies and provide students and other participants with practical exposure to systems used in commercial electric vehicles. The initiative comes at a time when manufacturers, suppliers and mobility companies are increasing investments in EV production, charging infrastructure, battery technology and related services, creating demand for technicians, engineers and other trained professionals.
