The popularity of EVs keeps rising with each passing day. But potential EV buyers are riddled with the challenges of “long battery charging hours”, “expensive charging facilities”, and “hassles with battery maintenance”, among others. But imagine a situation where charging your EV battery was as hassle-free and quick as filling petrol. Even better, imagine if it could be quicker and even help you beat the long queues at petrol pumps! Sounds impossible? Well, it isn’t! NITI Aayog released its battery swapping policy draft on April 21st to establish a safe, reliable and cost-effective battery swapping ecosystem across the country.
With the rising fuel prices and increasing awareness around environmental protection, more and more people are turning to electric vehicles. Despite the initial bumpy start, this latest draft of the EV battery swapping policy aims to ride high on the popularity of EVs. But what exactly is this battery swapping policy, and how will it make a difference? Let’s find out!
What is battery swapping?
EVs are traditionally designed with “fixed batteries” which can only be charged through the power supply that is housed within. But this poses a problem as it is unreliable and time-consuming. An effective alternative to this is battery swapping, which involves exchanging discharged batteries for charged ones. It de-links the vehicle and the battery and offers three major advantages of being time-saving, space-efficient, and cost-effective.
Battery swapping is increasingly popular in smaller vehicles like 2 or 3-wheelers given their smaller batteries that are easier to swap compared to other vehicles. Some other benefits of battery swapping include increased riding range and lesser user anxiety when it comes to battery life. It is, in fact, a common sight in industrial areas that regularly use batteries in vehicles like the electric forklift. Thus, battery swapping has transformed the face of EV battery technology worldwide.
Introduction to the policy
Niti Ayog is all set to bring a revolution to the Indian streets through its battery swapping policy draft. This policy encourages the adoption of battery swapping technology that’s implemented via BaaS (Battery as a Service) business models. It ensures lower upfront costs of the vehicles, negligible downtime, and reduced space requirements. It has been designed to address certain key challenges, including technological, regulatory, institutional and financial hassles involved in EVs.
How will it make a difference?
This policy aims to transform the EV sector in India through the following key objectives:
- Decouple battery costs from upfront costs of EVs by promoting the use of Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) batteries during swapping.
- Granting more flexibility to EV users by developing battery swapping as an alternative to regular charging facilities.
- Set technical standards that would enable the interoperability of components within a battery swapping ecosystem.
- Unlock access to competitive financing by leveraging policy and regulatory levers to de-risk the battery swapping ecosystem.
- Encourage partnerships among battery providers, battery OEMs and other relevant partners to enhance the delivery of integrated services to end-users.
- Promote better lifecycle management of batteries through recycling.
What is the scope of the policy?
The policy has an extensive scope that’s as follows:
- It stipulates the minimum technical and operational requirements for battery swapping to enable its most effective implementation.
- Highlights the possible ways in which various national and regional government agencies and PSEs may provide financial support to battery providers and EV users.
- Emphasizes enabling innovation in the adoption of possible business models and de-risking the investment in the required infrastructure.
- Underlines the importance of re-use of end-of-first-life swappable batteries and recycling of end-of-life batteries.
- It also lays the groundwork to create unique battery codes for ACC batteries falling under this policy.
- Establishes an institutional framework to facilitate on-ground implementation of the required battery-swapping infrastructure.
A step beyond battery swapping
This policy goes that extra mile by covering the following aspects beyond just battery swapping:
- Technical, operational, and other general requirements in adopting a battery swapping infrastructure.
- Battery and swapping station Unique Identification Number (UIN).
- Testing & certification for battery swapping components.
- Battery charging and swapping infrastructure.
- Data sharing and communication.
- Various business models.
- Fiscal support.
- Grievance, redressal and compensation.
- Tariff for the supply of electricity to public battery charging stations.
- Battery re-use and recycling ecosystem.
- Registration of vehicles with swappable batteries.
- Land allocation for battery swapping services.
- Power supply connections for battery charging stations.
Hence, the rollout of this policy will definitely boost EV adoption and accelerate India’s EV vision for the future. In order to take advantage of this policy, you need to have an EV with a battery swapping feature. And we’ve got you covered with iVOOMi’s fast charging electric scooter, S1, which comes with the swappable battery feature. This feature enables you to drive on without worrying about extra charging time or vehicle downtime.
Apart from that, it’s also packed with other exciting features like a long riding range, adjustable shock-absorbers, high ground clearance, anti-theft feature, higher torque, solid pick-up with 0-40 in 4 secs and larger seating space. Are you ready for a supercharged riding experience? Get in touch with us or book a test drive today!
