The pilot project of flash-charging technology developed by Hitachi Energy India in collaboration with Ashok Leyland and IIT Madras is nearing completion. During the inauguration of Hitachi Energy's Global Technology and Innovation Center in Chennai on October 5, 2023, N Venu, Managing Director and CEO of Hitachi Energy for India and South Asia, announced that flash charging technology will soon be implemented at IIT Madras . A bus provided by Ashok Leyland. This pilot project is expected to be completed in a few months.

In November 2020, Hitachi Energy India (formerly Hitachi ABB Power Grid), Ashok Leyland and IITM signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for an e-mobility pilot. Under the agreement, Hitachi Energy India will supply flash charging technology, Ashok Leyland will provide a bus, and IITM will host the necessary infrastructure. They have been working on this pilot project for the last few years.

Flash-charging technology enables rapid charging during brief stops, optimizing operational efficiency and cost savings for fleet operators. This innovative solution allows the bus to be charged in just 20 seconds while passengers are boarding and deboarding.

Hitachi has developed and refined flash-charging technology and onboard traction equipment to suit high-capacity, high-frequency bus routes. By selecting the right technologies and efficiently managing energy use, the system could reduce 1,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions on a bus route covering approximately 600,000 kilometers each year. Moreover, the energy cost of these electric buses is 30% lower than diesel buses.

Claudio Facchin, CEO of Hitachi Energy, said the solution was initially presented in Geneva ten years ago. The rapid expansion of this technology is important in an important market like India, as it not only enables faster battery charging but also reduces the battery load on the vehicle.