The Indian economy drives on two-wheelers and three-wheelers. These vehicles not only mobilize passengers and cargo but also the economy.
The EV economy has so far focused on fast charging solutions for 4-wheelers and above, ignoring 2- and 3-wheelers. But the actual need and application exist for 2- and 3-wheelers.
Revenue Generation and E-Commerce Penetration
Because these are not only personal vehicles but also automobiles that generate revenue/income, with the exponential increase and penetration of e-commerce into remote parts of the country, the need for last-mile deliveries is at an all-time high. Hence, many youths are turning to delivery agents for companies such as Swiggy, Zomato, Amazon, and Big Basket.
Most of these youth earn money based on the number of deliveries they make, and hence, it is imperative that the longer the vehicle runs, the more money one makes. The #ChaiPeCHarge, the other word for fast charging, does the same.
Innovation in Fast Charging by ThunderPlus
At ThunderPlus, we focused on this particular problem and realized that a delivery person needs to wait at least 3-4 hours for his vehicle to be charged again before he can continue his operations.
This is where we innovated and brought in India’s first electric two-wheeler and three-wheeler fast EV charger, which can charge an electric two-wheeler up to 80% in 10 minutes and an electric three-wheeler in 30 minutes.
This way, in the delivery agent’s timeframe, taking a tea break, he charges his vehicle completely and is ready to deliver extended items, thus increasing his chance of earning significantly.
When focusing on electric vehicles (EVs) in India, we should concentrate more on electric two-wheelers (e-2Ws) and three-wheelers (e-3Ws), which will pave the way for changing the scenario of electric mobility in the country.
The advantages of e-2Ws and e-3Ws are that they are market-ready, cost-effective, and charging them is much easier. Therefore, the potential for emission reduction is higher, according to Niti Aayog, the Indian government’s think-tank that drives its programs and policies.
Opportunities exist for these vehicle segments in three areas: vehicle-making, charging, and mobility services.
Manufacturing and fleet services of e-2Ws and e-3Ws have already created much buzz in India. Proper planning and establishing public charging facilities are crucial for enabling the quick, large-scale commercial acceptance of these Light Electric Vehicles (LEVs).
Charging for e-2Ws in grocery stores
In a few cities and towns in India, renting e-2Ws is popular. Renowned ridesharing car companies, including Uber, Rapido, and Ola, as well as bike rental companies, like Vogo, Bounce, and Rentrip, have gained traction.
Electric vehicles have been a blessing in disguise for online grocery and food outlets. The options to charge these EVs depend on the operators’ preferences.
Most e-2W batteries are removable, allowing them to be exchanged. They are also compact and portable, making battery charging at the grocery store in about two hours easier. Their owners benefit from the swapping service by earning additional income. Certain e-2W makers have partnered with grocery shop owners to establish vehicle charging points.
Facilities for battery swapping of e-rickshaws
Meanwhile, e-3Ws will play a key role in promoting shared and connected mobility in India. Reportedly, e-rickshaws are more popular with riders than e-autos. Certain service providers in the EV segment, like Ola Electric, are using e-rickshaws to provide first-mile and last-mile connectivity from bus stops or metro stations. Most of these e-rickshaw providers using lead-acid batteries are now shifting to lithium-ion batteries. These operators benefit from reduced downtime owing to a decreased charging time while earning additional income.
Though battery swapping is the best option for fleet operators, the heavy battery weight most suited for operating these fleets makes the swapping process difficult.
Grocery delivery operators were the first to shift to electric vehicles for transporting goods. Most online grocery operators use e-3Ws to deliver their goods in India. Unlike e-3W vehicles for passengers, the batteries of e-3W goods vehicles are bigger and bulkier. Owing to their heavy weight, the swapping process is tough for e-3W goods vehicles, discouraging operators from opting for them.
Conclusion
Setting up battery swapping or separate EV charging facilities in grocery stores is easy. Parking spaces in shopping centers, hospitals, metro stations, etc., can house multiple charging facilities for EVs. On the other hand, it is easy to set up exclusive battery swap facilities in any location, even places without an electricity connection.