Battery-swapping solutions start-up VoltUp in a joint venture with oil and gas major Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) will develop battery-swapping solutions centres across India. In an effort to set up smart electric mobility stations for electric vehicles (EV), the partnership plans to set up 50 such battery swapping solutions centres across the country in the next six months. Swapping batteries obviates spending long hours charging batteries.

Lack of charging infrastructure, high cost of adoption and lengthy charging time for electric vehicles have been among the hurdles and challenges towards the adoption of electric mobility in India. To overcome these challenges, VoltUp and HPCL have initiated this partnership for setting and scaling up infrastructure. With this tie-up, VoltUp aims to provide infrastructure for:

• Instant swapping to end consumers
• Last-mile delivery
• Shared mobility providers
• Original Equipment Manufacturer's (OEM) and logistic players with smart lithium-ion batteries in a connected environment-friendly manner

The partnership also aims to leverage the countrywide network of HPCL with VoltUp's expertise in the field of battery swapping technologies.

For the Indian EV market that is expected to be dominated and driven by the 2-3 wheeler commercial segment, battery swapping will offer the best alternative to slow charging and help drivers make optimum use of their operational hours.