APRIL 20258DISRUPTING EV MARKET WITH REVOLUTIONARY 15-MINUTE CHARGINGINDIA LEADS GLOBAL LOCOMOTIVE PRODUCTION WITH 1,681 UNITSBengaluru-based startup Exponent Energy is making waves in India's electric vehicle space by revolutionizing battery economics and charging infrastructure. The startup, established by Arun Vinayak and Sanjay Byalal Jagannath in 2020, is solving key hurdles facing EV adoption, including battery recharging times, poor infrastructure, and limited battery life. Arun Vinayak, CEO was earlier a key driver of Ather 450X development as a founding partner and Chief Product Officer, Ather Energy. With his experience augmented by COO Sanjay Byalal India has secured its leading position in the railway locomotive production, achieving a new milestone by manufacturing 1,681 locomotives during the financial year 2024-25, as per a statement released by the Railway Ministry on Wednesday.TOP STORIESThis accomplishment positions India above the areas like Europe, the United States, South America, Africa, and Australia in overall locomotive output, enhancing the country's increasing significance in the railway industry."The continuous rise in locomotive production is a direct result of strategic decisions taken to strengthen the Make in India initiative. Between 2004 and 2014, India produced a total of 4,695 locomotives, with a national annual average of 470. In contrast, from 2014 to 2024, locomotive manufacturing witnessed a significant surge, with 9,168 locomotives produced, raising the annual average to approximately 917," the statement highlighted.In 2024-25, manufacturing units of Indian Railways produced 1,681 locomotives across various categories, marking an increase of 209 units or 19 percent from the 1,472 locomotives made in the prior financial year.Analyzing the figures, Chittaranjan Locomotive Works topped the list with 700 locomotives, while Banaras Locomotive Works followed with 477, Patiala Locomotive Works provided 304, and the Bihar units in Madhepura and Marhowrah each supplied 100 locomotives.A substantial number of these locomotives were constructed for cargo transport. Out of the 1,681 locomotives produced, 1,047 were WAG-9/9H types--heavy-duty, three-phase AC electric locomotives renowned for their strength and speed. Jagannath's operational strategy and OEM partnership focus, Exponent has been positioned as a game-changer in the business.At the heart of Exponent Energy's innovation is its revolutionary Battery Management System (BMS) 2.0, which minimizes lithium plating by 87% by monitoring cells in real-time, ten times more precise than traditional systems. The company has also created a predictive thermal control system that employs water-based cooling to keep the battery at an optimal temperature of 25-40°C during high-speed charging. Its own e^pump charging stations, which can provide 1MW power, allow commercial EVs to charge completely in 15 minutes.In Bengaluru trials, the stations delivered a whopping 41 daily charging sessions per station and cut charging costs by 33% using smart load balancing. To go with these innovations, Exponent's battery packs use standard LFP cells instead of custom chemistry, making them 30% smaller than the competition. With 85% grid uptime enabled by adaptive charging rates and the potential to save fleet operators up to 45,000 per month compared to diesel alternatives, Exponent Energy is proving that emerging markets can lead to EV innovation. By addressing both technological and financial barriers, the company is laying the foundation for scalable EV infrastructure, not just in India but in similar global markets where cost and efficiency are key considerations. TOP STORIES
< Page 7 | Page 9 >