Gurugram/Mumbai, April 19, 2024: MG Motor India has announced its partnership with the Epsilon Group, reinforcing its commitment to the EV charging infrastructure and ecosystem in India. As part of the strategic collaboration, carmaker signed an MoU with two Epsilon Group subsidiaries - Power EV, for charging solutions and LICO, for battery recycling and second-life expertise. The unified framework of this alliance underscores the commitment to developing an efficient charging infrastructure and battery lifecycle management that will underpin MG Motor India's EV stance.
Power EV offers a diverse array of AC and DC Chargers,
which accommodates charging speeds from 22kW to 120kW with Power Panel
Management Software, that empowers usage of charging stations with
unprecedented ease and efficiency. As per the
agreement, Power EV will provide Custom Charging technology to develop AC and
DC charging solutions for charging solutions for MG’s EVs, thereby
enhancing the end-user experience. Through active involvement in the MG Charge
initiative – deploying 1000 charging points in 1000 days within residential
communities and apartments across India – Power EV aims to bolster the existing
public charging network by expanding the availability of AC chargers and
introducing high-capacity DC charging options. Additionally, this partnership
will capitalise on Power EV's expertise to innovate efficient, smart, robust
and state-of-art charging technologies tailored for MG Motor India's
forthcoming EV models.
LICO contributes to battery circularity through end-of-life battery
recycling and refurbishing, to recover critical materials like lithium, cobalt,
manganese, and nickel for reuse, fostering sustainability. LICO and MG Motor India will together implement strategies
for battery repurposing in line with circular economy, focusing on renewable
energy storage and ensuring compliance with end-of-life battery recycling
regulations. LICO will assist MG Motor India in its Extended Producer
Responsibility (EPR) obligations by providing comprehensive battery recycling
and certification services. Through R&D collaboration, they shall develop a
sustainable package to optimise recycling efficiency and repurposing
capabilities to derive maximum potential from EV battery recycling. The
partnership emphasises the implementation of essential safety standards and
traceability in Reverse Logistics for end-of-life battery packs.
Commenting on the partnership, Gaurav Gupta, Chief
Growth Officer, MG Motor India, said, “MG Motor India has consistently
advocated sustainability ever since it started operations in India, and has
driven the development of a robust EV ecosystem in India. Our collaboration
with the Epsilon Group signifies a strategic alliance aimed at realizing this
vision through an efficient charging infrastructure which aids and complements a
circular economy by way of second-life and end-of-life solutions for batteries.
By combining our expertise and resources, we are helping pave the way for an
efficient, accelerated adoption of EVs and aiming for a greener tomorrow.
Vikram Handa, Managing Director, Epsilon Group, said, “The MoU with MG Motor India marks a significant
milestone in our journey towards promoting faster adoption for green mobility energy
and circular economy principles. By providing custom charging technology and
implementing innovative battery repurposing strategies, we are contributing
towards building a greener, more sustainable tomorrow.
“This
synergy will revolutionize the EV charging landscape, making electric mobility
a viable and a truly sustainable option for all,” said Benny Parihar, CEO,
Power EV. He further added that “Our innovation expertise driven by the
opportunity of impacting India’s e-mobility in future will define the green
story & shall support MG Motor to achieve their ambitious goals for enriching
ease of Home Charging & Public Charging solutions for EV users in future.
Highlighting the significant impact of this partnership, Gaurav
Dolwani, CEO, LICO Materials Pvt. Ltd. said, “Through our partnership with
MG Motor India, we aim to set new standards for circular economy principles in
the automotive sector; by providing comprehensive battery recycling and
repurposing solutions to take lead in this sector. Technical experts from both
sides will collaborate in working towards second life applications from used lithium-ion
batteries from MGs EVs.
As an early mover in the EV space, MG Motor India has focused on developing both the EV ecosystem and the product offering. The carmaker has installed over 15,000 charging touchpoints nationwide, including public and home chargers. Under MG Charge, the company has already installed 500 charging points in 500 days and aims to install 1000 charging points soon. MG Motor India has been unlocking multiple possibilities with its partnerships with industrial players to increase accessibility and provide a seamless customer experience