With a focus to accelerate the adoption of clean energy in daily transport, India’s leading Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) start-up VoltUp, is the first BaaS startup to introduce an advanced cell chemistry in its swappable batteries catering to wide spectrum of EV powertrains, with their in-house designed PowerCore 2.0.
The battery is designed for all vehicle segments right from slow-speed e-2Wheelers to heavy-duty e-LCV’s. PowerCore 2.0 was approved by ARAI in adherence to the new AIS-156 guidelines in March 2023 and it will provide consumers with longer battery life cycle along with better safety.
Commenting on VoltUp introducing PowerCore 2.0, Siddharth Kabra, Co-Founder & CEO – VoltUp, said, “Advancements in battery technology are crucial for their widespread adoption. Introduction of new chemistry in swappable batteries is an innovation that will help every consumers including last-mile connectivity agents. Our new battery packs have an extended life with improved safety and thermal stability, we expect the consumer to focus on their driving needs instead of optimising their battery life. The battery is designed in-house on a new platform which will further expand interest among B2C consumers who demand improved torque.”
Persistent range anxiety is an area of concern for most last-mile connectivity agents. While swapping stations at intermittent distance helps e-2 wheelers and e-3 wheelers to swap batteries with almost no downtime, the new battery will also enhance the drivers ride experience with improved torque. VoltUp’s PowerCore 2.0 was approved by ARAI approved in March 2023 and ensures that users receive top-quality, regulatory-compliant products. While VoltUp swapping stations are being updated to ensure a seamless transition to the new batteries, the infrastructure changes will continue to support existing battery packs.
The PowerCore 2.0 is being tested with multiple OEM products for being offered as a comprehensive vehicle and energy solution. With the battery cycle life crossing over 10 years for the average Indian rider, consumers would not want to get bundled to a battery and miss out on the advancement being made in battery technology. Through VoltUp platform, consumers will be able to choose a vehicle and subscribe to the battery as per their running needs and continue to enjoy the benefits of new advancements with every new release of VoltUp products.
According to VoltUp spokesperson, the existing battery packs will continue to be serviced and maintained until end-of-life cycle. VoltUp has a responsible recycling program in place for these packs, as required by AIS 156 guidelines for battery lifecycle management. The new batteries are designed for flexibility and can be used in both e-2 wheelers and e-3 wheelers. The modular architecture enables VoltUp to power e-2wheelers and e-3wheelers with multiple batteries in parallel, which can also power Small Commercial Vehicle (SCV) & Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV). Aligning with AIS 156 guidelines, VoltUp new battery packs are type approved for all in-vehicle category.
As India’s leading Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) startup, VoltUp has over 150 stations with 1,800+ charging docks across 12 cities and 8 states. By end of calendar year 2024, VoltUp aims to increase its number of stations to around 2,000.