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Time of India
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Tesla is finally here. Will India be able to power it?
From the availability of Tesla's Superchargers to the readiness of India's power grid, several million-dollar questions now take centrestage. With the EV giant officially entering the Indian market, marked by the grand opening of its first showroom at Jio World Drive in BKC, Mumbai - attention turns to what EV infrastructure exists in the country, what must be built, and how much strain this will place on an already overburdened power grid. Tesla's India website already lists the Model Y for Indian customers, promising supercharge in 15 minutes - up to 238 kilometres for its rear wheel drive, and up to 267 kilometres for its long-range rear wheel drive. Though it mentions that the said is dependent on factors such as Supercharger type, vehicle configuration, state of charge, battery temperature, speed, weather and elevation change, among others. It also outlines the early Supercharger network under development, including planned locations in Mumbai (BKC, Navi Mumbai, Thane), Gurugram, Delhi Aerocity, and Noida. 'For markets like India where CCS2 (Combined Charging System / IEC 62196-3) dominates, Tesla has developed connector adapters or dual-compatible systems to ensure that even their NACS-based (North American Charging Standard) models can charge from existing infrastructure for the LR RWD model. This strategic flexibility highlights a broader industry shift towards interoperability and charging standard unification, ensuring greater accessibility and convenience for EV users across India,' shares Arun Handa, CTO, Servotech Renewable Power System. This is highly relevant given that Tesla has confirmed the launch of two models in India Model Y RWD, which supports CCS2 charging, and Model Y LR RWD, which uses Tesla's proprietary North American Charging Standard (NACS). Charging Infrastructure Challenge For the Model Y RWD, Tesla can fully leverage India's existing network of CCS2-based fast chargers, available across highways, cities, and commercial zones. This alignment ensures minimal infrastructure investment and a faster market rollout. However, the Model Y LR RWD with NACS presents a unique challenge, as India currently lacks any NACS-based infrastructure. 'To support this, Tesla would either need to develop proprietary superchargers or offer reliable CCS2-to-NACS adapters. This would require additional investment and could affect scalability in the short-term,' says Handa. Currently, Tesla is offering connectors for the LR RWD models to charge from the existing EV charging infrastructure in India and Tesla's wall mount chargers for quicker at home charging. 'The CCS2 charger type is already available in India and used by brands such as Tata Motors, JSW MG Motor, Mahindra & Mahindra, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi,' says Kwan Wongwetsawat , Senior Analyst – Global Powertrain, Automotive at GlobalData. For now, aligning with India's CCS2 standard enables Tesla to accelerate market entry, reduce deployment costs, and ensure a smoother user experience for Indian EV buyers while they build a charging infrastructure for the NACS supported vehicles. Currently, CCS2 standard chargers are commonly used for four-wheelers and hybrid EVs in India, and are capable of fast DC charging up to 360 kW. It's an extension of the IEC 62196 Type 2 connector, with additional DC pins for high-power delivery. 'The CCS2 charger type is already available in India and used by brands such as Tata Motors, MG Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi,' says Kwan Wongwetsawat, Senior Analyst – Global Powertrain, Automotive at GlobalData. Fast Charging Gap 'Over 90 per cent of India's public fast charging network uses CCS2, ensuring compatibility with Tesla's global vehicle architecture. However, a large portion of the current installed base consists of DC chargers in the 30–60 kW range, which offer limited charging speed for a Tesla-sized battery. That said, CPOs (Charging Point Operators) in India are actively expanding into higher-power chargers (120–240 kW), particularly on highways and urban hubs. Tesla will likely address ultra-fast charging needs by installing its own hyper-chargers at high-traffic or premium locations, and partnering with major Indian CPOs to co-develop ultra-fast charging points that can serve its vehicles,' says Anshuman Divyanshu, CEO – EV, Exicom. 'Post initial traction and market validation (in 18–24 months), Tesla may evaluate deeper investment, including a dedicated Supercharger network, depending on demand, policy clarity, and competitive dynamics,' he adds. Tesla's adoption of CCS2 in Europe and ASEAN aligns well with India's direction. 'Tesla typically establishes its own charging stations, known as Tesla Superchargers, when entering new markets, often restricted to Tesla vehicles only,' notes Wongwetsawat. 'Tesla's CCS2 is identical to that used in Europe, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. In contrast, Tesla's proprietary NACS is limited to the US, Canada, and Japan.' According to Krishna K Jasti , CEO & CPO of EVRE, 'The Indian EV space is significantly adaptive. Tesla's entry will positively impact the scalability of the overall industry. With CCS connectors already embedded in India's infrastructure, we are equipped to cater to Tesla cars.' While Tesla can integrate into India's public CCS2 charging network for basic compatibility, optimal performance, especially for vehicles such as Model Y and others such as X and S -demand Tesla's own Supercharger infrastructure. These high-speed chargers, often rated at 250 kW, need significant upgrades in grid connectivity, high-voltage equipment, and real estate partnerships. 'It is a capex-heavy rollout,' explains Velayutham S, Founder and CEO, Tamirabot. He adds that Tesla might eventually advocate for NACS inclusion in India's Bharat EV standards to align future incentives. Smart Charging Integration 'The advantage of Tesla Superchargers lies not just in their charging speeds of up to 250 kW for Model 3 and Y (around 170 kW for LFP batteries), but also in their software integration. These chargers integrate with Tesla's built-in navigation system. When navigation is set to a Tesla Supercharger, the vehicle's battery is warmed up just before arrival, which can facilitate faster charging,' explains Wongwetsawat. 'We can envision that initially; Tesla's infrastructure will be exclusively available to Tesla users. This could provide an advantage to Tesla owners over others, as they would have access to both Tesla chargers and other public charging stations. Consequently, this could help accelerate Tesla sales,' shares Wongwetsawat. In addition to Superchargers, Tesla also offers AC chargers known as Tesla Destination Chargers, which are typically located in public parking areas. 'These Destination Chargers can provide charging speeds of up to 22 kW,' he adds. But all this rests on the question of India's grid readiness. 'India's grid capacity for public EV chargers currently supports 30–60 kW DC chargers. This limits Tesla's ability to fully utilise its fast-charging potential unless there's a grid upgrade,' says Velayutham S. He estimates that a single 250 kW Supercharger stall draws 0.25 MW continuously, with a typical six-stall station consuming up to 1.5 MW, equivalent to the peak power needs of nearly 1,000 Indian homes. This will necessitate dedicated transformers or sub-station taps. 'Tesla will have to partner with majors in power, infrastructure, and energy space such as Jio BP, Tata Power, Adani, and HPCLs to roll out its Supercharger network, starting with pilots in metros and on high-traffic corridors like Delhi–Mumbai and Bengaluru–Chennai,' he adds. Indicating that Tesla's Supercharging technology is primarily designed for high-speed DC charging, Handa says, 'Indian households are more than capable to charge the EV with the output they're equipped with. For home charging, Tesla is offering more compatible charging solutions. The model LR RWD, will support a 7.7 kW wall mounted charger, priced around ₹40,000, which is essentially an AC Level 2 charger capable of charging the EV in 12 hours offering a range of 350-400 KMs, ideal for overnight charging.' Additionally, Tesla is offering its 15A charger for home charging which would fully charge the EV in about 72 hours. Public Charging Crucial The bottom line is, Tesla Superchargers are best suited for commercial hubs and highway networks, while home charging in India will be limited to slower AC chargers unless significant infrastructure upgrades are made. This makes the expansion of public fast-charging stations even more critical for Tesla's success in India. However, charging is still possible with the existing power output offered by the Indian households. Ultimately, while Tesla's arrival will supercharge India's EV ecosystem, it will also test the strength, and flexibility of its power infrastructure. Whether India can rise to meet this challenge could determine how fast the electric revolution truly accelerates. Power Draw for Single Tesla Charge (Typical Scenario) Tesla ModelBattery Size (kWh)Charging Time (from 10–80%)Charging Power Required (kW)Electricity Draw (Units)Model 3/Y~60–75 kWh25–30 min (150 kW DC)120–150 kW (DC fast charging)~45–55 unitsModel S/X~100 kWh30–40 min (250 kW DC)150–250 kW~70–80 unitsUsing AC (Home Charger)Same batteries8–10 hours (7.2 kW)3.3–11 kW (AC)Same energy, slower rate Source: Tamirabot Tesla EV Power Grid Impact – City-Wise Estimation (Top Metro Cities) (Assumption: 1000 Tesla vehicles charged daily at ~75 kWh each.) CityAvg Grid Capacity (MW)*Tesla Charging Demand (Assuming 1000 Cars/Day)% Load from EVsNotesDelhi NCR~6,000 MW75 MWh/day (avg 75 kWh per Tesla)~1.25%Manageable; grid strong, but EV charger clustering neededMumbai~3,500 MW75 MWh/day~2.1%Urban constraints may limit ultra-fast charger sitesBengaluru~2,800 MW75 MWh/day~2.7%Solar + EV infra growing; manageableChennai~2,500 MW75 MWh/day~3.0%Strong industrial grid, but heat impacts grid resilienceHyderabad~2,000 MW75 MWh/day~3.75%Needs local DISCOM readinessAhmedabad~1,800 MW75 MWh/day~4.2%Higher relative impact; good solar integration potentialPune~1,500 MW75 MWh/day~5.0%Higher impact, especially with residential growth Source: Tamirabot
Mint
7 days ago
- General
- Mint
Too premature to draw conclusions on pilots role from AI plane crash initial report: Former AAIB chief
New Delhi, Jul 13 (PTI) It will be too premature to draw conclusions on the role of pilots from the preliminary investigation report into the fatal crash of Air India plane last month and the final report will mention about the most probable cause for the accident, former AAIB chief Aurobindo Handa said on Sunday. A day after the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its preliminary report into the crash that killed 260 people, he said, "We should allow AAIB to complete the investigation in a fair, unbiased and transparent manner." Handa has investigated more than 100 aircraft accidents, including the Air India Express plane crash in Kozhikode in 2020. "AAIB has done a good job. Going forward, they will now focus to find out as to why and how these fuel switches moved and whether there could have been any mechanical and/or electrical failures/malfunction," he told PTI. The report, released on Saturday, said the fuel switches of the crashed Boeing 787-8 plane's engines were cut off within a gap of one second, and later switched on. From the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why he did cut off the switch and the other pilot saying he did not do so. The report did not mention which pilot asked the question and which pilot responded. The co-pilot was Pilot Flying (PF), and the Pilot In Command (PIC) was Pilot Monitoring (PM) for the flight. "It will be too premature to draw any conclusions, including the role of one of the pilots from the AAIB's preliminary investigation report on Air India flight 171... we should allow AAIB to complete the investigation in a fair, unbiased and transparent manner," Handa said. The Pilot In Command (PIC) was 56-year-old Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and the First Officer was 32-year-old Clive Kundar. Sabharwal's flying experience with 787 was more than 8,596 hours, including 8,260 hours as PIC, while Kundar's flying experience with this type of aircraft was 1,128 hours. Kundar was pilot flying while Sabharwal was pilot monitoring for the AI 171 flight operated with the nearly 12-year-old Boeing 787-8 aircraft. According to the preliminary report, both pilots had adequate rest period prior to operating the flight. "In some quarters, especially in foreign media, there are endeavours to indicate that one of the pilots could have been at fault. Yet again, I would like to request our veteran aviators to refrain from any sort of speculation," Handa said. The AI 171, operated with a nearly 12-year-old Boeing 787-8 aircraft, flying from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick crashed into a building soon after takeoff and 260 people died. Out of the 242 people onboard the plane, only one survived. On Saturday, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said one should not jump into any conclusions on the role of pilots in the Air India plane crash and there are multiple things that need to be looked into before preparing the final investigation report.
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Business Standard
7 days ago
- General
- Business Standard
Too early to draw conclusions on Pilots' role in A-I crash: Ex-AAIB chief
It will be too premature to draw conclusions on the role of pilots from the preliminary investigation report into the fatal crash of Air India plane last month and the final report will mention about the most probable cause for the accident, former AAIB chief Aurobindo Handa said on Sunday. A day after the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its preliminary report into the crash that killed 260 people, he said, "We should allow AAIB to complete the investigation in a fair, unbiased and transparent manner." Handa has investigated more than 100 aircraft accidents, including the Air India Express plane crash in Kozhikode in 2020. "AAIB has done a good job. Going forward, they will now focus to find out as to why and how these fuel switches moved and whether there could have been any mechanical and/or electrical failures/malfunction," he told PTI. The report, released on Saturday, said the fuel switches of the crashed Boeing 787-8 plane's engines were cut off within a gap of one second, and later switched on. From the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why he did cut off the switch and the other pilot saying he did not do so. The report did not mention which pilot asked the question and which pilot responded. The co-pilot was Pilot Flying (PF), and the Pilot In Command (PIC) was Pilot Monitoring (PM) for the flight. "It will be too premature to draw any conclusions, including the role of one of the pilots from the AAIB's preliminary investigation report on Air India flight 171... we should allow AAIB to complete the investigation in a fair, unbiased and transparent manner," Handa said. The Pilot In Command (PIC) was 56-year-old Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and the First Officer was 32-year-old Clive Kundar. Sabharwal's flying experience with 787 was more than 8,596 hours, including 8,260 hours as PIC, while Kundar's flying experience with this type of aircraft was 1,128 hours. Kundar was pilot flying while Sabharwal was pilot monitoring for the AI 171 flight operated with the nearly 12-year-old Boeing 787-8 aircraft. According to the preliminary report, both pilots had adequate rest period prior to operating the flight. "In some quarters, especially in foreign media, there are endeavours to indicate that one of the pilots could have been at fault. Yet again, I would like to request our veteran aviators to refrain from any sort of speculation," Handa said. The AI 171, operated with a nearly 12-year-old Boeing 787-8 aircraft, flying from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick crashed into a building soon after takeoff and 260 people died. Out of the 242 people onboard the plane, only one survived. On Saturday, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said one should not jump into any conclusions on the role of pilots in the Air India plane crash and there are multiple things that need to be looked into before preparing the final investigation report.
Time of India
7 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Air India crash: Too early to draw conclusions on pilots' role from initial report, says former AAIB chief
It will be too premature to draw conclusions on the role of pilots from the preliminary investigation report into the fatal crash of Air India plane last month and the final report will mention about the most probable cause for the accident, former AAIB chief Aurobindo Handa said on Sunday. A day after the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its preliminary report into the crash that killed 260 people, he said, "We should allow AAIB to complete the investigation in a fair, unbiased and transparent manner." Handa has investigated more than 100 aircraft accidents, including the Air India Express plane crash in Kozhikode in 2020. "AAIB has done a good job. Going forward, they will now focus to find out as to why and how these fuel switches moved and whether there could have been any mechanical and/or electrical failures/malfunction," he told PTI. The report, released on Saturday, said the fuel switches of the crashed Boeing 787-8 plane's engines were cut off within a gap of one second, and later switched on. Live Events From the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why he did cut off the switch and the other pilot saying he did not do so. The report did not mention which pilot asked the question and which pilot responded. The co-pilot was Pilot Flying (PF), and the Pilot In Command (PIC) was Pilot Monitoring (PM) for the flight. "It will be too premature to draw any conclusions, including the role of one of the pilots from the AAIB's preliminary investigation report on Air India flight 171... we should allow AAIB to complete the investigation in a fair, unbiased and transparent manner," Handa said. The Pilot In Command (PIC) was 56-year-old Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and the First Officer was 32-year-old Clive Kundar. Sabharwal's flying experience with 787 was more than 8,596 hours, including 8,260 hours as PIC, while Kundar's flying experience with this type of aircraft was 1,128 hours. Kundar was pilot flying while Sabharwal was pilot monitoring for the AI 171 flight operated with the nearly 12-year-old Boeing 787-8 aircraft. According to the preliminary report, both pilots had adequate rest period prior to operating the flight. "In some quarters, especially in foreign media, there are endeavours to indicate that one of the pilots could have been at fault. Yet again, I would like to request our veteran aviators to refrain from any sort of speculation," Handa said. The AI 171, operated with a nearly 12-year-old Boeing 787-8 aircraft, flying from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick crashed into a building soon after takeoff and 260 people died. Out of the 242 people onboard the plane, only one survived. On Saturday, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said one should not jump into any conclusions on the role of pilots in the Air India plane crash and there are multiple things that need to be looked into before preparing the final investigation report.
New Indian Express
7 days ago
- General
- New Indian Express
Too premature to draw conclusions on pilots' role from AI plane crash initial report: Former AAIB chief
NEW DELHI: It will be too premature to draw conclusions on the role of pilots from the preliminary investigation report into the fatal crash of Air India plane last month and the final report will mention about the most probable cause for the accident, former AAIB chief Aurobindo Handa said on Sunday. A day after the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its preliminary report into the crash that killed 260 people, he said, "We should allow AAIB to complete the investigation in a fair, unbiased and transparent manner." Handa has investigated more than 100 aircraft accidents, including the Air India Express plane crash in Kozhikode in 2020. "AAIB has done a good job. Going forward, they will now focus to find out as to why and how these fuel switches moved and whether there could have been any mechanical and/or electrical failures/malfunction," he told PTI. The report, released on Saturday, said the fuel switches of the crashed Boeing 787-8 plane's engines were cut off within a gap of one second, and later switched on. From the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why he did cut off the switch and the other pilot saying he did not do so. The report did not mention which pilot asked the question and which pilot responded. The co-pilot was Pilot Flying (PF), and the Pilot In Command (PIC) was Pilot Monitoring (PM) for the flight. "It will be too premature to draw any conclusions, including the role of one of the pilots from the AAIB's preliminary investigation report on Air India flight 171... we should allow AAIB to complete the investigation in a fair, unbiased and transparent manner," Handa said. The Pilot In Command (PIC) was 56-year-old Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and the First Officer was 32-year-old Clive Kundar. Sabharwal's flying experience with 787 was more than 8,596 hours, including 8,260 hours as PIC, while Kundar's flying experience with this type of aircraft was 1,128 hours.
