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 as a 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) made an investment in SUN Mobility to the tune of $25 million[16] 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.[17]

In 2023, SUN Mobility began international operations with Shell being a partner in the Philippines.[18]

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.[19] 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.[20][21]

SUN Mobility offers Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS)[22] and Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS)[23] as two solutions to its customers.

SUN Mobility operates over 600 battery swapping points [24][25] 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 parts of 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, lighter than conventional fixed EV batteries, and swappable in a few minutes. The second-generation Smart battery S2.1 was launched at the Delhi Auto Expo[26] in January 2023. This new model of the battery offers a higher capacity compared to the earlier generation battery, 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.[27] It comes with 3 docks and can be installed within an area of 4.5 to 6 sq. feet, and requires 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,[28] Zomato,[29] Swiggy[30]), shared mobility service providers, and automotive OEMs(such as Omega Seiki Mobility,[31] Hero Electric,[32] Piaggio Vehicles Pvt. Ltd.[33], 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,[34] Delhi Metro Rail Corporation,[35] Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited,[36] etc., the company has been working on expanding their network across urban India.

References[edit]

  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. ^ "Sun Mobility raises $50 million from Vitol". Economic Times. 20 October 2021.
  18. ^ "Pilipinas Shell signs pact with SUN Mobility for battery swapping tech". The Hindu Businessline. 20 January 2023.
  19. ^ "Battery Swapping: Views of experts on opportunities and challenges". RenewableWatch. 22 June 2022.
  20. ^ "This swappable battery tech is keeping India's electric tuk-tuk drivers on the road". World Economic Forum.
  21. ^ "SUN Mobility Will Introduce Battery Swap Station Franchises In India". Mobility Outlook.
  22. ^ "What is battery swapping or battery-as-a-service?". Business Standard.
  23. ^ "SUN Mobility under MaaS model partners with Zypp Electric to power EV fleets". ET Auto.
  24. ^ "Sun Mobility's swapping points: A compelling choice". Business India.
  25. ^ "SUN Mobility sets sights on the heavy-duty vehicle market". The Hindu Businessline. 22 October 2023.
  26. ^ "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.
  27. ^ "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.
  28. ^ "SUN Mobility Expands its Battery Swapping Operations to Maharashtra in Collaboration with Amazon India" (Press release). PR Newswire.
  29. ^ "SUN Mobility Expands its Battery Swapping Operations to Maharashtra in Collaboration with Amazon India". Economic Times. 27 March 2023.
  30. ^ "SUN Mobility to power 15K e-bikes in Swiggy's last-mile delivery fleet". ET Auto.
  31. ^ "OSM & SUN Mobility partner to deploy 10,000 C-EVs with swappable batteries". Financial Express. 21 January 2022.
  32. ^ "Hero Electric, SUN Mobility to deploy 10k e-two wheelers with swappable battery". Economic Times. 7 March 2022.
  33. ^ "Piaggio and SUN Mobility join hands for swappable battery technology". Economic Times.
  34. ^ "Sun Mobility partners Indian Oil for battery swapping station in Chandigarh". Autocar Professional.
  35. ^ "DMRC, Sun Mobility flag off electric 3Ws with swappable batteries in Delhi". Financial Express. 19 October 2022.
  36. ^ "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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