Ashok Leyland & Sun Mobility
Ashok Leyland and Sun Mobility announced a partnership to create smart mobility solutions. These would be in the domain of electric mobility. Showcasing the 9 m Circuit-S electric bus with a travel range of 120 kms on a single charge under standard test condition, Ashok Leyland highlighted Sun Mobility’s swappable smart battery solution. The smart battery pack as part of the solution is claimed to weigh one fourth the weight of a regular lithium-ion battery, and can be swapped through a ‘Quick Interchange Station’ in under four minutes.
Monitored by a smart network, the swap aids fast refueling, on-demand charging, and leads to occupation of less space. The process is claimed to be faster than conventional refueling. With emphasis on addressing charging bottlenecks for electric vehicles, Ashok Leyland, it is clear, is looking at a complete electro-mobility ecosystem, and right down to a stage where the bus spends least time in the depot getting a driver change and replenishment of fuel. Compatible across bus platforms, the business model that Ashok Leyland is looking at offering works on a pay per battery consumption basis. Mentioned Chetan Maini, Co-Founder and Vice Chairman, Sun Mobility, that by separating the battery from the bus helped realise immense potential to bring down the upfront cost of an electric bus. He indicated that the upfront cost could be brought on par with that of a conventional diesel bus. The Circuit-S electric bus that Ashok Leyland displayed can seat up to 35 people and is aimed at intra-city transport applications.