Blue Energy Motors to achieve 95 per cent localisation for its EVs

Blue Energy Motors, the alternate-fuel commercial vehicle maker backed by Essar, Iveco, Nitin Kamath and Omnitex Industries, is pushing toward 95% localisation in its heavy trucks as it prepares to launch its own battery pack manufacturing line. The Maharashtra-based company currently rolls out 55-tonne LNG and electric trucks from its Chakan plant near Pune.

Although about 50% of the parts used in its electric trucks are domestic, about 70% of its LNG models are localised. Over the next 12 to 14 months, the company’s goal is to increase localisation to over 95%. Anand Mimani, CEO of Blue Energy Motors' EV and new energy division, stated, "We are establishing a battery pack line in India, and only the cells may still need to be imported."

The update came as the company’s initiative to expand its presence. 

To assist fleet operators making the switch to electric powertrains, Blue Energy intends to install battery-swapping and charging facilities along important logistics corridors. As of now, the company claims that its EV trucks have a range of 150–200 kilometres, depending on operating conditions

The company recently secured $50 million to expand operations and launch a "energy-as-a-service" model in which it will own the batteries and operate swap stations nationwide. Blue Energy plans to put about 2,000 LNG and electric trucks on the road in the following year.