Veera Vahana and Exponent Energy Unveil 'Veera Mahasamrat EV' with 15-Minute Charging

Key Highlights:

• Veera Vahana and Exponent Energy unveiled a 15-minute charging intercity bus.
• The bus has a 320 kWh battery with a 6 Lakh km warranty.
• It will operate on the Bengaluru-Hyderabad route with four charging stations.
• The bus may cut operating costs by 30% compared to ICE buses.
• It aims to offer quick charging stops every 300 km.

Veera Vahana and Exponent Energy have unveiled the 'Veera Mahasamrat EV', which they claim is the world's first 15-minute charging intercity bus. The electric bus is planned to charge quickly in 15 minutes utilizing Exponent's 1 MW charging technology.

The companies say they're targeting on long-haul intercity travel, with initial service scheduled for the Bengaluru-Hyderabad route. 

To facilitate operations on the Bengaluru-Hyderabad route, Exponent Energy intends to install four 1 MW charging stations, two at each terminal and two along the highway.

According to the announcement, the Veera Mahasamrat EV has the potential to cut fleet owners' operational expenses by 30% when compared to an ICE bus. 

According to the firms, this is the world's first 13.5-meter EV bus on 2-axles, powered by Exponent's 320-kWh battery pack. The bus is believed to have a battery warranty of 6 lakh kilometers, or 3000 life cycles.

The firms believe that with 15-minute rapid charging and the Exponent charging network along roads, bus operators will be able to employ electric vehicles on long-haul intercity routes without worrying about range or charging periods.

According to the firms, the goal of this system is to allow bus operators to move from ICE to electric vehicles while keeping a consistent experience in terms of number of stops and downtime each stop.

According to K. Srinivas Reddy, Managing Director of Veera Vahan, electric buses are now restricted to short-haul or intracity operations due to their low range and long charging times. He suggests that their collaboration with Exponent intends to replicate the experience of diesel buses, which normally stop every 300 kilometres for 15-20 minutes.

Exponent Energy's co-founder and CEO, Arun Vinayak, was excited about the relationship with Veera Vahana. He claims that they have built the world's third 1 MW charging technology, after Tesla and Siemens, in India for India.

According to the announcement, Exponent's technological stack manages each cell's characteristics utilizing its BMS, charging algorithms, and a proprietary off-board thermal management system.

This method is stated to actively pump coolant into the battery while charging in order to maintain optimal temperature, with the goal of delivering consistent performance even at ambient temperatures as high as 50 degrees Celsius.

Also Read: Tata Motors Unveils Ultra EV 7M Electric Bus at Prawaas 4.0

CMV360 Says

The introduction of the Veera Mahasamrat EV marks a significant step towards the adoption of electric buses in India for long-distance travel. With its rapid charging technology and potential for cost savings, this innovation could pave the way for a broader shift from diesel to electric buses in India. 

However, the success of this transition will depend on the reliability of the charging infrastructure and the real-world performance of the bus on Indian highways.