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Electrification of vehicles is now a common transition in the world of automobiles, and Switch has introduced two new additions to its electric range – the IeV 3 and IeV 4. These fall into the category of light commercial vehicles and are designed to address medium and last-mile connectivity for goods.
Starting with the key specifications, the battery capacity of the IeV4 is 32.2kWh, while the IeV 3 has a capacity of 25.6kWh. Being goods carriers, the range will entirely depend on the amount of load they are carrying at any given time. However, according to Switch, under load, the IeV 4 has a range of approximately 130km, and the IeV 3's range stands at about 140km. Although, the lead engineers at Switch were quick to point out that some of their customers have reported achieving ranges between 150-160km as well. These LCVs come with a 16A AC charger from the factory, but can also be charged using fast and higher-powered chargers. This is possible due to their approximately 300V EV architecture, similar to what is found in high-end passenger EVs. This also means that the charging time on a 32A AC charger is between 3.5 to 4 hours for both vehicles, with 10%-80% charging achievable in just under an hour.
Regarding their payload capacity, the IeV 4 can carry up to 1.7 tonnes, and the IeV 3 can carry up to 1.25 tonnes. Switch was keen to highlight the flexibility available in its applications. Either of these LCVs can be used for parcels and couriers, e-commerce, FMCG goods, industrial goods, beverages, LPG, organised retail, and more. Switch will offer different types of decks for various applications, such as high side decks, containers, tippers, and even a garbage carrier. A silent garbage carrier going about its job at night would certainly be a boon.
IeV stands for Intelligent electric Vehicle, and there are some features in these LCVs that you generally do not associate with commercial vehicles. For a start, they have hill start assist, front disc brakes, regenerative braking, electric power steering, dual-tone interiors, and a button-based transmission selector. Having no prior experience of driving a commercial vehicle, I found it easy to understand and operate, which is crucial for a smooth transition for drivers who will be operating these vehicles. The company even provides training to the drivers to help them enhance their driving style to maximise range. The IeV 4 also has something called a foldable handbrake, which allows for the handbrake to be engaged and yet put it down, so the driver can sleep in the cabin, while keeping the vehicle secure at one place.
However, the primary buyers of these vehicles will mostly be the owners of transport companies, whose main intention would be to save costs and have peace of mind regarding ownership. For peace of mind, Switch offers a 3-year and 150,000 km warranty on the vehicle and a 5-year and 150,000 km warranty on the battery. As for cost savings, I sat down with a Switch engineer to understand the comparison between the IeVs and their ICE counterparts. The base calculation is as follows:
The IeV 3 runs about 5.5km per unit of electricity consumed. Its diesel counterpart, the Ashok Leyland Dost, returns about 14km per litre, giving it a 600km range with a 40-litre tank. 600/5.5 = 109 units needed to cover 600km. At Rs. 12 per unit; 109 x 12 = Rs. 1,308.
Cost for fuelling diesel = Rs. 3,680 (40-litre tank).
Savings in running 600km with IeV 3 = Rs. 2,372
The IeV4 runs about 5km per unit of electricity consumed. Its diesel counterpart, the Bada Dost, returns about 12.5km per litre, giving it a 625km range with a 50-litre tank. 625/5 = 125 units needed to cover 625km. At Rs. 12 per unit; 125 x 12 = Rs. 1,500.
Cost for fuelling diesel = Rs. 4,600 (50-litre tank).
Savings in running 625km with IeV4 = Rs. 3,100
Of course, there are some assumptions in these calculations, such as the diesel price being Rs. 92 per litre and the approximate ranges of both vehicles, but even then, the difference is compelling. Moreover, this calculation does not currently include the service costs, which are significantly higher for diesel vehicles.
Please note that all calculations are approximations and the costs will vary basis driving, load, and road conditions
While the mathematics makes sense, it also has to be practical on the ground. A lower range means the distance capacity is reduced with EVs, requiring them to be charged during longer trips, even if only for a short time. Then there is the challenge of the current charging infrastructure, especially in rural or semi-rural areas where some of these vehicles may need to operate. And what will be considered by the buyers in this equation is the initial purchase cost. IeV 3 starts at a little over ₹12 lakh while IeV 4 starts at a little over ₹15 lakh. Their ICE counterparts start at ₹7.75 lakh and ₹8.72 lakh, respectively. To recover the difference in the cost, the Switch EV vehicles will have to be driven a minimum of ~1.26 lakh kms over its lifecycle. So the sooner this figure is reached, the sooner the savings begin. It will be interesting to see how Indian operators adopt EV LCVs and how Switch provides them with the comfort to transition to them in the coming years. But one thing is certain: sooner or later, this switch will happen.
