HYDERABAD, India – The first ATUM Charge, 100% Green, Self-Sustaining, Solar-Powered EV Charging Station was launched at SP Road, Secunderabad, Hyderabad, by Dr. G Vivekanand, Chairman, Visaka Industries Limited. ATUM Charge helps customers truly adopt sustainable and eco-friendly ways of commute, as it is an ecosystem that is developed keeping in mind the EV mobility revolution that India is witnessing.
ATUM Charge is a 100% subsidiary of Visaka Industries Limited. With the launch of ATUM Charge, Visaka Industries is building an environment-friendly and sustainable eco-system, which re-enforces the Company’s commitment towards sustainability. With the addition of new business verticals, Visaka Industries is moving towards becoming a truly responsible corporate citizen, offering multiple products that are 100% sustainable and help consumers live life in a sustainable and eco-friendly manner.
Speaking at the inauguration, Dr. G Vivekanand, Chairman, Visaka Industries Limited, said, “Solar and Renewable Energy is the future and Visaka is well positioned with ATUM, the world’s first electricity generating solar roof. With ATUM Charge, we are not only bolstering the EV Charging infrastructure in the country, but also supporting India’s endeavour to cut down on the use of fossil fuels and promote Electric Vehicles.”
ATUM Charge is a unique EV Charging Station which is very different from other EV charging stations, as it uses ATUM, the world’s first Electricity Generating Integrated Solar Roof. ATUM Solar Roof, for which Visaka holds a patent, both in India and South Africa, will enable the entire electric vehicle charging proposition to move to 100% solar; whereas, currently, most EV charging stations use electricity produced by thermal power generation, which is one of the primary sources of pollution, completely defeating the purpose of moving to environment-friendly power. Conventional EV Charging Stations, which use thermal power to generate electricity, also put additional pressure on the electricity grid, further accentuating the power problem plaguing the country.
ATUM Charge, the universal EV Charging Stations for all EVs, will also be the service station for Atumobile’s ATUM 1.0, a café racer styled e-bike, as well as its official test ride centre. To support its customers and encourage the adoption of EVs, Atumobile customers will be allowed to charge their e-bikes for free, whereas other brand EV owners will only be charged a nominal fee at ATUM Charge Stations. ATUM Charge Stations will also have free Wi-Fi and workstations, which can be used by people, as a satellite office, as they charge their electric vehicles.
ATUM Charge EV Charging Stations are powered by ATUM solar roof, which generates 40% more electricity in the same given space as compared to traditional solar panels, is the ideal solution for EV Charging Stations and can be installed anywhere across the urban and rural landscape. ATUM does not need any roof underlay like many conventional solar tiles available in the market, as it is a standalone roof. As a roof it has mechanical properties that are far superior to tiles/shingles/conventional panels. ATUM is Class-A fire rated and designed to take wind speeds of over 250kmph making it hurricane proof. It also uses GreenPro Certified material, which makes it a highly sustainable, reliable, and safe solar roof. ATUM Solar Roof therefore is the ideal solar solution for not only ATUM Charge but also for EV Charging Stations which are being set-up by other enterprises.
Currently, Visaka has installed 4 KW capacity panels which can conveniently charge up to 10-12 vehicles (2/3/4 wheeler) per day given that any EV today takes between 6-8 hours for a full charge. The facility has three charging sockets. The company will be installing an additional capacity of 6 KW, making it possible to charge 25-30 vehicles per day.
The company is launching similar facilities at Chennai, Goa, and Bangalore in this month, and inroads have already been made for rigorous expansion across the nation. To facilitate quick expansion across the nation, Visaka is looking at tying up with interested individuals who own a piece of land in prime areas of any towns or cities and are willing to let it out on a lease basis for a period of ten years and beyond. Besides generating a monthly income, on which Visaka will give a year-on-year increment, this would also contribute to making the planet cleaner and lead to the speedier adoption of EVs.
ATUM Charge stations will be fabricated using Vnext boards – a range of fibre cement boards which are excellent eco-friendly alternatives to gypsum, wood, and plywood. Vnext products produce only 36 kgs of CO2 emissions, compared to 800 kg of CO2 produced by plywood; 1000 kgs of CO2 by cement; and 2000 kgs of CO2 by steel per tonne of production. ATUM Charge, therefore, would be generating green energy and promoting green commute in the real sense of the word.
Speaking at the launch of ATUM Charge EV Charging Stations, Mr. Vamsi Gaddam, Joint Managing Director, Visaka Industries Ltd, said, “ATUM Charge, the first 100% Green EV Charging Station, is the first step in building an EV Charging infrastructure which will, in turn, drive the adoption of EVs. What makes ATUM Charge unique is that it is built using sustainable building material; it charges EVs using solar power which makes the entire charging proposition 100% Green; and EVs of all makes and sizes will be able to use it. Visaka has been at the forefront of driving sustainable solutions and ATUM Charge helps renew our pledge against environmental degradation, pollution and the use of fossil fuels.”
