Motovolt and Swobbee to set up 200 battery-swap stations in India by 2025
Motovolt Mobility, which makes electric things, and Swobbee, a climate-tech company from Germany, are working together. They want to make batteries for electric things better in India. They plan to put 200 places where you can swap batteries all around the country in the next two years.
They’re spending a lot of money, more than 7 million dollars, to make this happen. They’ve started by opening two places in Delhi and Kolkata where you can swap and charge batteries. In the future, they want to make more than 10 million dollars in money and start making a profit within 5 years.
The partners claim that although the Indian market for electric two-wheelers is expanding rapidly, there are still significant safety concerns, high upfront battery costs, a short-range that necessitates frequent recharging, problems with battery performance and longevity, and end-of-life battery use.
“Swobbee’s battery swapping services offer a unique proposition wherein our customers can subscribe to a swapping solutions provider. This offers freedom from the necessity to purchase batteries upfront with the vehicle, ensuring optimal battery performance, safe and efficient charging, and proper disposal of end-of-life batteries. Additionally, Swobbee will gain access to our product portfolio and customer base, empowering them to establish a nationwide intelligent and multi-manufacturer battery swapping network,”
Tushar Choudhary, Founder & CEO, Motovolt Mobility said
With Swobbee stations being progressively made available to private customers, the partnership will initially focus on business customers, including delivery and transport services. These stations are intended as a universal infrastructure solution that can integrate different light electric vehicle battery types from different manufacturers, accommodating diverse technologies and cell chemistries.
“Removing access barriers to clean mobility solutions is imperative not only to cushion the impacts of climate change, but to also ensure social equity in the ongoing green transformation. Nowhere is this more important than in the most populous country and the fifth-largest economy on the planet. Small businesses, delivery services, cabs – they all rely on two- and three-wheelers, which are on the roads by the millions. That is why we are very excited to partner with Motovolt to roll out an infrastructure solution that will democratise access to zero emissions LEVs for businesses and private consumers.”
Thomas Duscha, CEO & Co-Founder, Swobbee said
The Motovolt-Swobbee partnership is poised to become a significant milestone in the Indian LEV ecosystem, prioritizing affordability and accessibility for all. To date, the collaboration has made the Swobbee stations available to Motovolt’s commercial customers in Delhi and Kolkata. Looking ahead, the partnership aims to onboard other EV makers and establish a comprehensive battery swapping network for various vehicle makes and types across India.
As of right now, Swobbee has swapping stations from Berlin to several German cities and even farther into ten European countries. It boasts partnerships with Volkswagen, Total Energies, Galp, BP, and NIU 2 Wheelers. Additionally, it has a pilot project in Indonesia and is a member of the SBMC (Swappable Batteries Motorcycle Consortium), which includes companies like Honda, Piaggio, and Yamaha, as well as LEVA-EU (Light Electric Vehicle Association – EU), which includes notable organizations like Mahle, Dott, Van Moof, and Segway 9 Bot.