The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mars Antennas & RF Systems Pvt Ltd to collaborate on the design, development, fabrication, and testing of Smart Electric Vehicle (EV) Chargers and Smart Hybrid Inverters for Energy Storage System (ESS) applications. The partnership will drive innovation in sustainable energy solutions and contribute to the advancement of EV and energy storage technologies in India.

The MoU facilitates knowledge exchange, joint research efforts, and industrial collaboration to develop highly efficient, commercially viable, and production-ready solutions that comply with both Indian and international standards. Under this agreement, Mars Antennas & RF Systems Pvt Ltd will provide the necessary funding, industry insights, and access to its manufacturing and testing facilities. IIT Kanpur, led by Principal Investigator Dr Amarendra Edpuganti from the Department of Sustainable Energy Engineering, will bring in its research expertise, advanced facilities, and technical know-how to execute the project.

Prof Manindra Agrawal, Director, IIT Kanpur, said, “The recent National Manufacturing Mission announced in the Union Budget emphasises the government’s commitment to clean tech manufacturing. It aims to enhance domestic value addition and strengthen the ecosystem for solar PV cells, EV batteries, motors and controllers, electrolysis, wind turbines, high-voltage transmission equipment, and grid-scale batteries. This collaboration aligns with the government’s vision of advancing cutting-edge research and clean technology innovation.” 

Dr Amarendra Edpuganti, Principal Investigator of the project, added, “The collaboration with Mars Antennas & RF Systems will bridge the gap between research and industry applications, enabling the development of next-generation Smart EV Chargers and Hybrid Inverters. Through this partnership, we seek to develop efficient, scalable solutions that will contribute to India’s growing EV and energy storage ecosystem, providing a strong foundation for advancing sustainable energy solutions tailored to India’s requirements.”

Arbind Kumar Pilania, CEO, MARS Energy & Mobility, stated, “We, as an industry are privileged to have one of the most prominent technical institutes in the world in our city Kanpur. Industries in Kanpur have always benefited due to the close proximity of IIT Kanpur. Our government, led by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, has set ambitious goals in the field of green energy storage and EV implementation in India. It is the perfect situation where the industry and academia should collaborate to bring cutting edge solutions to strengthen Indian’s position in technological leadership. We are committed to scale up the solutions jointly developed with IIT Kanpur in our existing and upcoming state-of-the-art facilities in Kanpur to ensure maximum revenue generation and employment opportunities in our region. The project is scheduled for completion within 12 months and is expected to produce significant technological breakthroughs in energy efficiency and EV infrastructure development in India.”