Pune: ARAI Successfully Develops Indigenous Chargers For Electric Vehicles
Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 21st September 2021: The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) has indigenously developed charger for electric vehicles considering the need to boost up the charging mechanism of electric vehicles in the country announced Dr Reji Mathai, Director, ARAI during a press conference today.
The press conference at the ARAI campus located off-Paud Road in Kothrud was organized to announce the details of the upcoming Symposium on International Automotive Technology (SIAT 2021) having the theme ‘Redefining Mobility for the Future’.
Dr Sukrut Thipse, Convenor, SIAT 2021, Nitin Dhande, Senior Deputy Director ARAI, Anand Deshpande, Senior Deputy Director ARAI, Vijay Pankhawala, Deputy Director, ARAI and Dr B V. Shamsundara, Deputy Director, ARAI were present on the occasion.
Dr Reji Mathai, Director, ARAI said that to promote EV, infrastructure for charging is important and since the mobility chargers are imported, the focus of ARAI is to develop chargers indigenously, which will be cost-effective and boost the local economy. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has already set a common standard specification for EV chargers.
“Many components of EV like motors and controllers are imported and even Chargers are being brought from abroad. ARAI has developed indigenous technology for EV charger AC001, which has been taken up for manufacturing and promotion by Bharat Electronics. The charging points will be set up by Bharat Electronics and parts for EV charger systems- Type 1, Type 2, CCS and CHAdeMO will be manufactured locally,” said Mathai.
He informed that the charger has been designed considering the safety aspects and power surge in India with other aspects like environmental conditions and it will also be cost-competitive. ARAI has recently signed MoU with Bharat Electronics Limited where ARAI will provide the complete know-how of the Charges and Bharat Electronics will manufacture the chargers. The cost of the charger is expected to be in the range of Rupees fifty to sixty thousand.
In addition, as ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistant System) vehicles and cylinder testing centres need dedicated space, ARAI is setting up a new centre in Takwe, about 45 km from Pune, in Maval taluka. Investments to the tune of Rs 500 Cr shall be made in a phased manner in the next 3-4 years in setting up this centre spread over 110 acres.
“One of the areas would be ‘Testing Tracks’ which could be useful for carrying out the development of ADAS vehicles. Also, additional facilities related to the cylinder testing and Transmission Gearbox Testing Center (TGTC) have been planned along with a Hydro-fuel cell and Rapid Prototyping centre at Takwe,” said Mathai.
He further informed that ARAI has worked with a defence equipment manufacturer to replace Russian engines from tanks with made in India engines.
ARAI’s Senior Deputy Director Anand Deshpande informed that the cost price of the EV is coming down due to various incentives offered by the central and state governments. There has been an over 10% increase in testing for EV at ARAI.
Nitin Dhande, Senior Deputy Director ARAI, said that the organization is planning to set up dedicated skill development centres that will impart necessary knowledge and shall undertake skilling for engineering students in the electric vehicles segment. The course content is ready and some part of it could be available in the form of e-content. These centres would also have research and test labs, which could also be utilized to nurture start-ups in the e-mobility sector. ARAI is currently in talks with Telangana and Kerala Government to set up such centres.
