EV charging infrastructure boost: Tata Motors join hands with Thunderplus and Delta

Tata Motors, on Wednesday, announced cooperation with Delta Electronics India and Thunderplus Solutions Pvt Ltd to improve electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across the nation. This collaboration intends to speed the adoption of electric vehicles, notably in the commercial sector, by increasing the number of charging stations along high-traffic routes.

According to the memorandum of agreement (MoU) under the new partnership, Tata Motors will be responsible for identifying and proposing dealerships for new charging stations. On the other hand, Delta Electronics will provide the required charging gear and Thunderplus Solutions will be in charge of installing and operating the stations.

Vinay Pathak, vice-president and business head, SCV & PU, Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles, stated that the availability of these charging sites will encourage consumers to choose electric commercial vehicles.

"Our goal is to make emissions-free cargo transportation more accessible. Expanding charging infrastructure on high-traffic routes would encourage more customers to choose electric commercial vehicles and enhance vehicle uptime, resulting in improved revenues and profitability, all while contributing to a cleaner, greener environment," Pathak explained.

Citing Pathak, a report by Business Standard stated, “Installing fast chargers at our dealerships makes it convenient for them to gain access at a familiar location with a reliable charging facility”.

Speaking on the partnership, Niranjan Nayak, managing director of Delta Electronics India Pvt Ltd, stated that Delta aims to create creative, clean, and energy-efficient solutions for a brighter tomorrow. He further emphasized that their relationship with Tata Motors and Thunderplus will enable the firm to contribute substantially to India's electric freight ecosystem. Delta's innovative charging system will play a critical role in improving the electric commercial vehicle experience for customers across the country.

The agreement is expected to improve the charging infrastructure needed to serve Tata Motors' Ace EV, a small commercial vehicle (SCV) built for last-mile delivery. Based on Tata's EVOGEN platform, the Ace EV has innovative technologies such as a battery management system, Fleet Edge telematics, and durable components to assure peak performance. It has a certified range of 154 kilometres on a single charge and is driven by a single electric motor producing 36 horsepower and 130 Newton-meters of torque. The vehicle also incorporates a lightweight container with a cargo space of 208 cubic feet, which can handle slopes of up to 22% when fully loaded.