Greenfuel Energy Innovations, Inc. stands at the forefront of eco-friendly transportation technologies. With over 15 years of steadfast dedication, Greenfuel has emerged as a pivotal player in the automotive sector’s supply chain, offering cutting-edge solutions that champion the cause of sustainable transport.
In an informal discussion with Aishwarya, Akshay Kashyap, Managing Director, Greenfuel Energy Solutions Pvt. Ltd, delved into the intricacies of the battery management market and its importance within the Indian EV ecosystem.
Could you describe the key offerings of Greenfuel’s portfolio?
Greenfuel Energy comprises two primary divisions: Gas Fuel and Electric Mobility, alongside Energy Storage. We have strategically divided our focus between these two areas—Gas Fuel and Advanced Battery technology. We believe that the future of mobility encompasses a blend of alternative powertrains. For commercial vehicles, our emphasis is on gas options like CNG, LNG, and Hydrogen. Meanwhile, electric power is targeted towards smaller and select larger vehicles. Greenfuel aims to span the entire spectrum of clean mobility through our specialized divisions in Gas and Electric sectors.
Can you elaborate on the specific types of batteries and the electric vehicle (EV) segment Greenfuel Energy caters to?
Our battery portfolio spans from 48 Volts to 72 Volts, encompassing various ampere capacities designed primarily for two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and small commercial vehicles. We’ve also entered the high-voltage systems market, catering to small trucks and buses, thereby targeting the entire range of electric mobility, excluding passenger vehicles due to the distinct supply chain model required.
What about your Battery Pack patents and the innovative approaches you’re adopting?
We hold four patents on our battery packs, distinguishing us as the sole company with patented battery pack designs. Unlike the common perception of battery packs as mere cell assemblies, we focus on design elements that ensure safety and reliability. Our primary innovation was in heat management, recognizing its critical impact on battery performance. We experimented for almost a year, and a half to come out with the right heat management technology. Once we did that, we realized that a lot of effort had gone into creating a longer-lasting battery pack, a safer battery pack, especially with thermal management so we patented a thermal management solution. We have two patents related to the manufacturing process and two patents related to the design process.
After extensive research, we patented a thermal management solution and innovated in manufacturing and design processes, including the introduction of fins on our battery packs—a feature now widely recognized and adopted in the industry.
Does GreenFuel offer customization for its clients?
Absolutely. We thrive on creating customized solutions from the ground up, which are often more challenging but allow for purpose-built designs. Our customization process spans from cell selection to performance criteria and thermal management design, ensuring that our products meet specific client needs. A lot of our products are customized fully.
What type of after-sales service does Greenfuel Energy provide?
After-sales service is crucial for us. As a company with a 17-year history and a strong OEM partnership record, we prioritize rapid response, with a target of four hours for initial customer contact. Our services include comprehensive remote support and spare parts availability. Thankfully, our products are highly reliable, minimizing the need for frequent service interventions. We also focus on minimizing customer downtime through efficient service management.
How does Greenfuel Energy approach sustainability, and what contributions has it made in this area?
Sustainability, or ESG, is integral to our operations. We’ve taken steps such as eliminating plastic bottles in favor of glass, implementing water recycling, and exploring solar energy adoption, especially in light of favorable solar policies. We are evaluating to incorporate solar energy in our new plant, and we’re launching initiatives to encourage our employees to adopt electric vehicles. We are just going to launch a plan where our employees will get special benefits on certain electric vehicles where they can you know exchange their current ICE engines for electric ones.
We are aiming to reduce our carbon footprint comprehensively, including evaluating clean mobility options for freight forwarding.
Can you share any expansion plans or projects GreenFuel is focusing on this year?
We’re significantly expanding our battery production capacity, with plans to invest up to 100 crores in capex over the next four to five years. A new facility in Jhajjar will serve as a cornerstone for this expansion, expected to quadruple our current capacity across three plants. This expansion underscores our bullish outlook on the Indian market’s growth potential in alternate fuels.