India advances battery swapping policy for two and three-wheeler commercial EVs
By Eve
Battery swapping stations allow electric two and three-wheeler operators to replace depleted batteries with charged units in minutes, cutting downtime for high utilisation commercial fleets. The model supports Battery-as-a-Service, separating battery ownership from vehicle purchase to lower upfront costs. India's government announced a Battery Swapping Policy in the 2022 to 2023 Union Budget, followed by NITI Aayog's Draft Battery Swapping Policy in April 2022, which sets out interoperability, safety standards and frameworks for private investment.
Why it matters: Swapping infrastructure offers an alternative to fixed charging for fleet operators needing rapid turnaround, potentially reshaping procurement specifications and site requirements for two and three-wheeler depots. The policy framework signals new tender opportunities and standardisation requirements for charge point operators expanding into the swapping segment.