Pune: Electric Vehicle (EV) charging network Charge Zone announced a significant expansion of its supercharging infrastructure to cater to electric buses, trucks, and personal mobility vehicles nationwide.
In the current fiscal year, Charge Zone plans to establish 25 new supercharging stations with the target of 500 such stations of capacity ranging from 360KW to 1.2MW, marking a substantial increase from the current stations and boosting the company's charging capacity by a ratio of 6:1 compared to previous fast charging models.
"Our new supercharging network marks a significant step towards a sustainable and electrified future integrated with micro-grids comprising of Solar PV and energy storage," affirmed Kartikey Hariyani, Founder and CEO of Charge Zone.
The selected routes for the expansion were meticulously chosen based on geographical location, traffic volume, land availability, and grid connectivity. These routes include highways across Southern and Western zones in India including Bangalore-Chennai, Bangalore-Hyderabad, Bangalore-Pune-Mumbai, Mumbai-Ahmedabad amongst others.
Kartikey Hariyani stated, "Our six-months pilot roll out of the supercharging network yielded remarkable results with the strong utilization by inter-city electric cars and electric buses as the prime customers.
During the first pilot of commercial rollout, we covered nearly 1500 kilometers, showcasing the network's efficiency. The average charging time at the new supercharging stations is between 15 to 20 minutes, significantly shorter than the 45 minutes required at fast DC charging stations, which enhances user convenience and process efficiency."
Continuing, Kartikey Hariyani emphasized, "By expanding our supercharging network, we not only meet current EV user needs but also pave the way for a cleaner, greener future."
To support sustainable energy use, Charge Zone’s supercharging stations will utilize renewable sources. The company anticipates this network will significantly influence the adoption of electric buses, trucks, and personal mobility vehicles, enhancing range, reliability, efficiency, and cost savings.
Integrated solar rooftops and battery storage ensure a green power supply, extending sustainability efforts to transforming national highways into renewable corridors. Utilizing signage, PlugShare, Google Maps, and the Charge Zone app will ensure widespread awareness and utilization.
Over the next six months, Charge Zone is dedicated to expanding its reach by increasing the number of stations and deploying superchargers to boost charging speed for all types of 4W EVs.
The company's intercity charging strategy includes strategically placing stations, meticulous route planning, and offering high-speed capabilities, ensuring a seamless experience with mobile app integration and multiple payment options.
Charge Zone continues to pursue its ambitious goal to electrify 150,000 kilometers of highways, targeting key routes, installing 1000 stations, and optimizing based on user feedback.