Veera Vahana and Exponent Energy launch fast charging intercity bus: Veera Mahasamrat EV

Veera Vahana, a bus manufacturer, and Exponent Energy, an energy-tech company, have announced the launch of the ‘Veera Mahasamrat EV,’ an intercity electric bus capable of 15-minute rapid charging. The bus, powered by Exponent, is a 13.5m electric vehicle equipped with a 320 kWh battery pack. It offers rapid charging using Exponent’s 1MW charging network, along with a battery warranty of 6,00,000 km or 3,000 life cycles.

The Veera Mahasamrat EV is intended to reduce operating expenses for fleet owners by 30% compared to an internal combustion engine (ICE) bus. The 15-minute rapid charging and the Exponent charging network along highways are designed to support the shift to electric vehicles for long-haul intercity routes without concerns about range or extended charging times.

The initial focus for the companies is on electrifying the Bengaluru-Hyderabad route. Exponent Energy will deploy four 1 MW charging stations—two at each endpoint and two along the highway—to facilitate a seamless transition from ICE to electric buses, maintaining similar stop times and downtimes.

Celebrating the announcement, K. Srinivas Reddy, Managing Director, Veera Vahan said, “Today, electric buses are restricted to short-haul or intracity operations due to limited range and long charging time. It’s difficult to package a single battery to deliver 600km of range and with long charging time – customers are not willing to wait for an hour along the highway. Typically, diesel buses stop every 300 km for 15-20 minutes and our unique partnership with Exponent mimics the same experience. Now, bus operators can seamlessly switch to electric with the Veera Mahasamrat EV and save more in their operations!”

The technology stack used by the Veera Mahasamrat EV manages each battery cell’s characteristics through its battery management system (BMS), charging algorithms, and an off-board thermal management system that pumps coolant during charging to maintain temperature, ensuring performance even at temperatures up to 50°C.

Commenting on the announcement, Arun Vinayak, Co-founder & CEO of Exponent Energy stated, “We’re excited to partner with Veera Vahana, a seasoned player in the bus industry, to truly electrify the long-haul intercity bus segment. We’re thrilled to have built the world’s third 1 MW charging technology – after Tesla & Siemens – in India, for India. With freedom & accessibility delivered by 15-minute rapid charging and the Exponent network, we’re committed to enabling all of India to go electric.”

Also read: Montra Electric and Exponent Energy partner for 15-minute rapid charging e-3W