MG Motor India has reaffirmed its commitment to the EV charging infrastructure and ecosystem in India by announcing its partnership with the Epsilon Group. The automaker and two Epsilon Group businesses, Power EV for charging solutions and LICO for battery recycling and second-life expertise, inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as part of the strategic partnership. The alliance’s cohesive structure emphasises the dedication to creating an effective battery lifecycle management system and charging infrastructure that would support MG Motor India’s electric vehicle (EV) policy.
With its wide range of AC and DC chargers and Power Panel Management Software, Power EV enables users to access charging stations with never-before-seen simplicity and efficiency. Charging speeds range from 22kW to 120kW. According to the terms of the agreement, Power EV will offer Custom Charging technology to create AC and DC charging solutions for MG’s electric vehicles, improving the end-user experience.
Power EV intends to support the current public charging network by developing high-capacity DC charging options and increasing the availability of AC chargers through active participation in the MG Charge initiative, which is deploying 1000 charging points in 1000 days within residential communities and apartments throughout India. Furthermore, by using Power EV’s experience, this collaboration will provide cutting-edge, reliable, intelligent, and efficient charging solutions specifically designed for MG Motor India’s next electric vehicle 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 that 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.