RACEnergy Partners With HPCL To Launch Its First Battery Swapping Station In Hyderabad

Hyderabad-based electric vehicle infrastructure start-up, RACEnery, has announced partnering with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) to launch its first battery-swapping station in the city. The company primarily manufactures battery swapping stations and swappable batteries, and under this pilot project with HPCL, RACEnergy will set up three battery swapping stations at various HPCL outlets across Hyderabad's prime locations, in January 2022. The company says this is the first step in its vision to set up a network of battery swapping infrastructure for electric two and three-wheelers.

RACEnergy will set up three battery swapping stations at various HPCL outlets across Hyderabad's prime locations, in January 2022

Speaking on the occasion, Gautham Maheswaran, CTO and Co-Founder, RACEnergy, said "We are excited to be associated with HPCL, as they continue to make bold strides in the field of e-mobility. We would also like to thank them for giving us the opportunity to pilot our battery swap stations at their retail outlets." Arun Sreyas, CEO and Co-Founder, RACEnergy added, "A robust swapping infrastructure is essential to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles, and HPCL's network of retail outlets will allow us to reach every corner of the state with ease."

Also Read: EV Infrastructure Company RACEnergy Raises $1.3 Million Funding In A Seed+ Round

RACEnergy aims to provide an integrated solution by taking the cost of the battery out of the vehicle and offering energy as a service through a network of swapping stations. Drivers can simply swap their discharged batteries with charged ones within 2 minutes, enabling them to operate on-road for longer durations.

Gautam Maheswaran (CTO) and Arun Sreyas (CEO) - Co-Founders of RACEnergy aim to offer energy as a service through a network of swapping stations

To bring vehicles on-board its platform, it is providing retrofit kits that convert existing ICE auto-rickshaws into electric vehicles that will be compatible with its swapping network. The company says that by clubbing these two technologies, it can provide a similar experience of re-fueling ICE vehicles, but at 50 per cent of the operating cost, and with minimal upfront costs.