Fresh Bus and Exponent Energy to Launch India’s First 15-Minute Rapid Charging Sleeper Electric Bus Fleet

The landscape of intercity travel in India is set for a massive transformation. Fresh Bus, a leading electric intercity bus operator, has announced a strategic partnership with energy tech pioneer Exponent Energy to deploy a fleet of all sleeper electric buses.

This collaboration introduces India’s first 15 minute rapid charging sleeper electric bus, a move aimed at solving the long standing "range anxiety" associated with long haul EV travel.

High Speed Charging Meets Long Distance Travel

The core of this partnership is the integration of Exponent Energy’s 1.5 MW rapid charging technology. While traditional electric buses often require hours to recharge, this new fleet can reach a full charge in just 15 minutes.

Fresh Bus plans to deploy 250 electric buses in the initial phase. By utilizing the 1.5 MW charging infrastructure at highway pitstops every 300 km, these buses can efficiently cover routes of 1,000 km or more matching the operational efficiency of traditional diesel buses without the carbon footprint.

Bengaluru-Hyderabad: The First Corridor

The rollout will begin on the high demand Hyderabad Bengaluru route. This corridor serves as a testing ground for Fresh Bus’s ambitious goal: reaching a fleet of 10,000 electric buses and capturing 10% of India’s intercity bus market share.

Indigenous Tech Powering the Future

This partnership is a win for the "Make in India" initiative. Both the rapid charging battery packs and the 1.5 MW charging stations were developed indigenously by Exponent Energy.

Sudhakar Chirra, Founder & CEO of Fresh Bus, noted that this systems level solution was two years in the making. "We are proving that electric intercity travel is not just a dream, but a commercially viable reality that prioritizes passenger comfort and operational speed," he said.

Arun Vinayak, Co founder & CEO of Exponent Energy, added that rapid charging is the "missing link" to replacing diesel. By ensuring buses spend more time on the road and less time at the plug, the partnership aims to revolutionize fleet utilization for operators across the country.

Why This Matters for the Indian EV Market

For years, the intercity segment remained hesitant to adopt electric power due to the weight of large batteries and the downtime required for charging. By opting for smaller, rapid charging batteries, Fresh Bus reduces vehicle weight and increases efficiency, providing a blueprint for the future of sustainable heavy duty transport in India.