IGL, Kinetic Green Energy partners, unveils Energy Café, battery-swapping station in Delhi
Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) has announced that along with Kinetic Green has launched the first "Energy Café"- a battery-swapping station designed under a strategic collaboration aimed at revolutionizing the electric vehicle industry in India.
Under the partnership, IGL and Kinetic will roll out a deep network of battery swapping stations, starting with the Delhi region, where a range of electric three-wheelers and electric two-wheelers can avail battery swapping facility.
Battery swapping as a concept is designed to address some of the critical concerns and deterrents faced by the drivers towards owning and operating electric vehicles. Under the battery swapping concept, EVs can be sold to customers without the lithium-ion battery and drivers can avail batteries on a "pay per use" concept by paying a small amount for "battery as a fuel".
The user can effortlessly install Energy Café Mobile App on their phones, locate the nearest battery-swapping station, book batteries from available charged batteries, pay through digital payment gateway, and swap it with the discharged battery at any of the IGL gas stations, paying for only the amount of charge they consume.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. A.K. Jana, Managing Director, IGL said, "In line with our vision to become India's leading clean energy solution provider we are happy to be part of another green revolution after CNG- by venturing into the E-mobility segment by setting up battery swapping facilities in collaboration with Kinetic Green. The battery swapping solution that we unveil today will greatly spur e-mobility adoption."
Sulajja Firodia Motwani, founder and CEO, Kinetic Green Energy and Power Solutions Ltd stated, "This solution reduces the upfront cost of EV by 50 percent, and customers never have to worry about battery charging and replacement".
"We are confident this solution will revolutionize the EV industry in India, especially for intra-city and last-mile transport," she said.
"Today, we have unveiled the first two stations, and intend to expand to set up initially 50 stations during 2022 with a focus on the New Delhi region, one of the leading states for EVs in India, with a favorable policy framework from the State Government towards battery swapping."
