Australian e-mobility industry leader Tritium is supplying its DC fast-charging solutions to Indian conglomerate TATA Group.
Brisbane-based Tritium is a technology company specialising in the design and manufacture of direct current (DC) fast-charging solutions for electric vehicles (EV). Established in 2001, Tritium is one of Australia's fastest-growing technology companies, with significant operations and commercial success in leading international EV markets.
In a sign of India's growing attention to sustainable transport infrastructure, one of the country's leading automotive and mobility component suppliers, Tata AutoComp Systems, has entered into a partnership with Tritium to supply DC chargers for electric vehicles. Tritium's Veefil-RT DC fast chargers are capable of charging a range of EVs including two-wheelers and passenger and commercial vehicles.
Promoting clean and sustainable mobility in India
According to a recent WHO study, India is home to 14 of the world's 20 most polluted cities. Rapid urbanisation is creating pressure on an already fragile environment.
India has committed to reducing its use of fossil fuels, and has set a target that will see 2030 greenhouse gas emissions reduced by a third from 2005 levels. The country is also keen to reduce its dependency on oil as it currently imports 80 per cent of its transportation fuel.
Against this backdrop, the Indian Government has launched initiatives to promote a more sustainable and cleaner environment. In March 2019, the Government introduced the FAME II scheme to promote the "faster adoption and manufacture of (hybrid and) electric" vehicles."
It includes Rs10 billion (approximately A$20 million) to set up charging stations for electric vehicles in large metropolitan areas, smart cities and remote locations.
Australian leadership in the EV charging sector
Tritium is focused on helping create cleaner, healthier and more convenient cities. It does this by providing intelligent charging products for electric vehicles to speed up the transition to e-mobility.
Tritium holds a dominant share in many significant EV markets and has installed its Veefil fast chargers in 24 countries. It has an estimated 25 per cent market share in the US, 50 per cent in Norway, 20 per cent in the UK and 90 per cent in Australia.
Although EVs accounted for only 2 million of the 86 million passenger cars sold worldwide in 2018, experts are almost unanimous in their assertion that the shift to e-mobility is both imminent and inevitable.
In India, it is the two- and three-wheeler market that has been the first to see significant changes.
E-rickshaws (which are lower in cost to purchase and operate than passenger cars) offering last-mile connectivity racked up sales of more than 600,000 units in 2019.
However, the current lack of charging infrastructure is putting the brakes on EV sales. A recent Bloomberg report forecasts that EV passenger cars will capture only 6 per cent of the Indian market by 2030.
The Indian Government's support for EVs is expected to drive growth, with the market forecast to expand to 28 per cent by 2040. This will make India the fourth largest EV market in the world in the next 20 years.
Tritium's entry into the nascent but potentially enormous market of India will put the company in a leading position when sales of electric vehicles accelerate. The partnership with Tata AutoComp will strengthen Tritium's market standing.
Tata AutoComp has established a significant presence in the Indian automotive component market with a range of strategic partnerships in products and services for Indian (and international) original equipment manufacturers. It has 7,000 employees and is active across multiple vehicle segments.
Commenting on the decision to partner with Tritium for the supply of EV fast chargers, the MD and CEO of Tata AutoComp, Arvind Goel, indicated that with the arrival of EVs, the need for chargers capable of powering them is significant. He confirmed the company is striving to bring the latest technology and solutions to its customers.
Austrade support
To smooth Tritium's entry into India, Austrade introduced the company to key stakeholders in the EV infrastructure space, including TATA Group. In a market where the badge of government can often be helpful, Austrade also introduced Tritium to relevant government ministries in India and helped bring the MD of TATA AutoComp to Tritium's cutting-edge Brisbane facility.
Austrade is currently working with a number of companies developing opportunities in India's sustainable infrastructure and built environment sectors, where Australia's leading expertise and innovation is increasingly in demand in the world's fastest-growing large economy.
