MG Motor India partners with Epsilon Group to enhance EV ecosystem in India

Hyderabad, April 2024: MG Motor India has partnered with Epsilon Group, reinforcing its commitment to the EV charging infrastructure and ecosystem in India. As part of the strategic collaboration, the carmaker signed an MoU with two Epsilon Group subsidiaries - Power EV, for charging solutions and LICO, for battery recycling and second-life expertise. The unified framework of this alliance underscores the commitment to developing an efficient charging infrastructure and battery lifecycle management that will underpin MG Motor India's EV stance.

Power EV offers a diverse array of AC and DC Chargers, which accommodates charging speeds from 22kW to 120kW with Power Panel Management Software, that empowers usage of charging stations with unprecedented ease and efficiency. As per the agreement, Power EV will provide custom charging technology to develop AC and DC charging solutions for charging solutions for MG’s EVs, thereby enhancing the end-user experience. Through active involvement in the MG Charge initiative – deploying 1000 charging points in 1,000 days within residential communities and apartments across India – Power EV aims to bolster the existing public charging network by expanding the availability of AC chargers and introducing high-capacity DC charging options.

Additionally, this partnership will capitalise on Power EV's expertise to innovate efficient, smart, robust and state-of-art charging technologies tailored for MG Motor India's forthcoming EV 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 which 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.