First battery swapping “Energy Cafe” launched in Delhi

In Delhi, the first Battery Swapping station called “Energy Café” launched. Battery swapping as a concept is gaining popularity and momentum in India’s transition to Electric vehicles. “Energy Café”- a battery swapping station designed under a strategic collaboration aimed at revolutionizing electric vehicle industry in India.  This station has been started by the IGI ltd in collaboration with a Pune based leading electric vehicle manufacturer  Kinetic Green. Under the alliance, IGL and Kinetic will roll out a deep network of Battery swapping stations, where a range of electric three wheelers and electric two wheelers can avail battery swapping facility. A.K. Jana, Managing Director IGL launched the initiative in the presence of  Pawan Kumar, Director (Commercial), IGL, Ms. Sulajja Firodia Motwani, Founder and CEO, Kinetic Green Energy and Power Solutions Ltd., and senior officials of IGL and Kinetic.

At “Energy Café”, where energy or battery as a fuel will be available as a pay per use service. The Cafe will offer a comprehensive IoT (internet of things) based system, including a smart battery with a protocol for charging and host of swapping operation. The system monitors the battery and station, which are IoT enabled and linked to an app. The Smart Network provides real-time feedback of battery location and charging status to users. The user can effortlessly install Energy Café Mobile App on their phones, locate nearest battery swapping station, book batteries from available charged batteries, pay through digital payment gateway and swap it with discharged battery at any of the IGL gas stations, paying for only the amount of charge they consume. The stations are modular, intelligent and connected. Its multi-platform is compatible for E-bike, E-auto and an E- rickshaw. Battery box module of the system uses special lithium-ion batteries have been developed; each battery weighs just about 12-13 kgs and thus, can be easily removed and replaced. Cost of one battery swap will also be less that cost of equivalent fuel, say petrol or diesel, and thus, customers not only get convenience but also their transport cost will be reduced.