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SUN Mobility

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SUN Mobility
Company typePrivate
IndustryAutomotive
Founded2017; 7 years ago (2017)
FoundersChetan Maini, Uday Khemka, Ajay Goel
Headquarters
Bengaluru
,
India
Key people
Chetan Maini (Chairperson).[1]
ProductsElectric Vehicle Infrastructure
ServicesEV Battery Swapping & Energy Infrastructure
Number of employees
500[2]
ParentSUN Mobility PTE, Singapore
Websitewww.sunmobility.com

SUN Mobility is an electric vehicle energy services company founded in 2017[3][4][5][6] that develops, manufactures and operates battery swapping infrastructure [7] for electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and larger commercial vehicles.[8][9] Battery swapping technology helps accelerate the faster adoption of electric vehicles due to the lower upfront purchase price of electric vehicles, and the lower running costs - particularly in the case of commercial applications.[10]

The company is a joint venture[11] between the SUN Group and the Maini Group,[12] both companies in the areas of electric mobility and clean energy. The company is co-founded by Chetan Maini, the founder of the Reva Electric Car Company[13] (now known as Mahindra Last Mile Mobility Limited), Uday Khemka, Vice Chairman of SUN Group, and Ajay Goel, Co-Founder & Executive Director.[14] Anant Badjatya is the current CEO of the India business, since March 2022.[15]

History

[edit]

In 2019, Bosch (company) invested $25 million SUN Mobility[16][17][18] and has since been a technology partner. Vitol, the Dutch oil trading organization, is also an investor in the company having made an investment of $50 million in 2021.[19]

In 2023, SUN Mobility began international operations with Shell being a partner in the Philippines.[20]

Operations

[edit]
A lady swapping passenger auto-rickshaw batteries at a SUN Mobility Swap Point

Battery swapping as a technology addresses common roadblocks to electric vehicle adoption such as high up-front costs, range anxiety, battery management concerns, and battery pack obsolescence.[21] SUN Mobility's battery swapping technology enables users to purchase their electric vehicles without a fixed battery pack, and subscribe to a battery swapping service that allows them to simply swap a depleted battery for a fully charged, temperature-controlled battery pack.[22][23]

SUN Mobility offers Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS)[24] and Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS)[25] as two solutions to its customers.

SUN Mobility operates over 600 battery swapping points [26][27] across India, and has the leading market share in e-auto and e-loader (three-wheeler cargo vehicle) categories, the highest market share in swappable e-bikes, and about 50% market share in e-rickshaws in northern India.

Products and services

[edit]
The second-gen Battery Pack 'S2.1', launched in January 2023

SUN Mobility provides modular Smart Batteries that are smaller and lighter than conventional fixed EV batteries, and are swappable in a few minutes. The second-generation Smart battery S2.1 was launched at the Delhi Auto Expo[28] in January 2023. This new model of battery offers a higher capacity compared to earlier generations and comes with enhanced safety features.

The 3-dock Swap Station 'SwapX' launched in January 2023

The SwapX is a battery swapping station that was developed by SUN Mobility to improve the density of the battery swapping network. SwapX was launched in January 2023 at the Delhi Auto Expo.[29] It comes with 3 docks and can be installed within an area of 4.5 to 6 sq. feet, requiring a 15A power supply to operate.

Partners and network

[edit]
A Swiggy delivery rider swapping a battery at a Swap Point

SUN Mobility has partnered with fleet operators (such as Amazon,[30] Zomato,[31] Swiggy[32]), shared mobility service providers, and automotive OEMs(such as Omega Seiki Mobility,[33] Hero Electric,[34] Piaggio Vehicles Pvt. Ltd.,[35] and a few others) across vehicle platforms including two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and four-wheelers to bring battery swapping to a wider user base across India.

In collaboration with prominent energy infrastructure players, electricity distribution companies, and city transport corporations such as Indian Oil Corporation,[36] Delhi Metro Rail Corporation,[37] Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited,[38] etc., the company has been working on expanding their network across urban India.

References

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  1. ^ "Chetan Maini: The Mobility Transformer". Entrepreneur.com. April 2023.
  2. ^ "SUN Mobility company profile". Tracxn.
  3. ^ "After exiting India's first e-car venture, will Chetan Maini make a breakthrough in e-mobility services?". Economic Times.
  4. ^ "Chetan Maini: Back in the electric mobility business". Forbes.
  5. ^ "Sun Mobility: start-up that's gunning to be an EVangelist". Autocar Professional.
  6. ^ "Chetan Maini plans new venture". The Hindu. 12 April 2017.
  7. ^ "Sun Mobility introduces mobility as a service solution". India Today.
  8. ^ "Delhi drives push for electric vehicles in India". Financial Times.
  9. ^ "The long road ahead for electric vehicles". Forbes India.
  10. ^ Chugh, M. S. "Battery swapping: Advantages, setbacks and its future". The Times of India.
  11. ^ "Aiming for a green (and electric) future". Autocar Professional.
  12. ^ "SUN Mobility Expands its Battery Swapping Operations to Maharashtra in Collaboration with Amazon India" (Press release). PR News Wire.
  13. ^ "Mahindra & Mahindra buys 55% in Reva to power electric car biz". The Economic Times. ET Auto. 27 May 2010.
  14. ^ "Pilipinas Shell signs pact with SUN Mobility for battery swapping tech". The Hindu Businessline. 20 January 2023.
  15. ^ "Anant Badjatya to head Sun Mobility as CEO of India business". Autocar Professional.
  16. ^ "Bosch acquires 26% stake in Sun Mobility". ETAuto.
  17. ^ "LetsTransport Raises $25 Mn In Latest Funding Round". Mobility Outlook.
  18. ^ Team, I. S. N. "Battery tech startup Battery Smart raises $45M led by Acacia Inclusion, others". indianstartupnews.com.
  19. ^ "Sun Mobility raises $50 million from Vitol". Economic Times. 20 October 2021.
  20. ^ "Pilipinas Shell signs pact with SUN Mobility for battery swapping tech". The Hindu Businessline. 20 January 2023.
  21. ^ "Battery Swapping: Views of experts on opportunities and challenges". RenewableWatch. 22 June 2022.
  22. ^ "This swappable battery tech is keeping India's electric tuk-tuk drivers on the road". World Economic Forum.
  23. ^ "SUN Mobility Will Introduce Battery Swap Station Franchises In India". Mobility Outlook.
  24. ^ "What is battery swapping or battery-as-a-service?". Business Standard.
  25. ^ "SUN Mobility under MaaS model partners with Zypp Electric to power EV fleets". ET Auto.
  26. ^ "Sun Mobility's swapping points: A compelling choice". Business India.
  27. ^ "SUN Mobility sets sights on the heavy-duty vehicle market". The Hindu Businessline. 22 October 2023.
  28. ^ "SUN Mobility launches new SwapX station and S2.1 battery pack: Aims to power 1 million EVs by 2025". Times of India. 13 January 2023.
  29. ^ "SUN Mobility launches new SwapX station and S2.1 battery pack: Aims to power 1 million EVs by 2025". Times of India. 13 January 2023.
  30. ^ "SUN Mobility Expands its Battery Swapping Operations to Maharashtra in Collaboration with Amazon India" (Press release). PR Newswire.
  31. ^ "SUN Mobility Expands its Battery Swapping Operations to Maharashtra in Collaboration with Amazon India". Economic Times. 27 March 2023.
  32. ^ "SUN Mobility to power 15K e-bikes in Swiggy's last-mile delivery fleet". ET Auto.
  33. ^ "OSM & SUN Mobility partner to deploy 10,000 C-EVs with swappable batteries". Financial Express. 21 January 2022.
  34. ^ "Hero Electric, SUN Mobility to deploy 10k e-two wheelers with swappable battery". Economic Times. 7 March 2022.
  35. ^ "Piaggio and SUN Mobility join hands for swappable battery technology". Economic Times.
  36. ^ "Sun Mobility partners Indian Oil for battery swapping station in Chandigarh". Autocar Professional.
  37. ^ "DMRC, Sun Mobility flag off electric 3Ws with swappable batteries in Delhi". Financial Express. 19 October 2022.
  38. ^ "Tata Power-DDL Partners With SUN Mobility To Set Up A Network Of Swap Points™ In New Delhi". EMobility Plus. 26 March 2021.
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