Bengaluru-based startup Exponent Energy has revealed its proprietary fast-charging technology and claims that any vehicle using its battery management system and charger can be fully charged in just 15 minutes.
The startup doesn't make the cells in-house. Instead of specialised cells, it uses its own unique battery pack design as well as a bespoke battery management system. The big talking point, though, is the incorporation of an HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) system to keep the cells from overheating. The company claims that over 3,000 rapid charging cycles, its battery pack deteriorated by just 13 percent, which is half the industry average.
The HVAC system is a part of the stationary charger and not an on-board element of the battery. As of today, this technology only works with fixed chargers and portable chargers are not an option.
The company says that its technology stops the battery pack from degrading despite frequent rapid charging, by balancing the supply of voltage through its proprietary software as well as circulation of cold water (10 degrees Celsius in temperature) inside the (specially designed) battery pack to cool the cells down.
Currently, it has 30 charging stations established in Bengaluru and of those, 20 of them are privately owned. Exponent has plans to expand to Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Delhi-NCR, and Chennai in this calendar year.
There are two sizes of chargers – intracity and intercity. Today we got to see the intracity charger in action as it topped up an 8kWh battery in an electric three-wheeler in just under 15 minutes. The company states that the intercity charger is under development and will be revealed soon.
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