India’s transition towards sustainable electric mobility, Pointo, a prominent innovator in the nation’s energy solutions sector, has announced a strategic collaboration with Jadavpur University (JU).
This pioneering partnership aims to transform the beloved fossil fuel-powered Hindustan Ambassador cars into fully electric vehicles (EVs), moving beyond mere retrofitting to champion a crucial shift from conventional fuels to emission-free transportation. This project holds particular resonance for cities like Kolkata, where the classic Ambassador continues to be a ubiquitous, albeit polluting, presence on the streets. Pointo, renowned for its expertise in cultivating a circular economy within the battery industry, stands at the forefront of delivering scalable and affordable energy solutions. Their involvement in this collaboration marks a pivotal moment, showcasing batteries not merely as power sources but as catalysts for a profound transformation, converting decades-old diesel vehicles into modern, emission-free electric cars. This initiative directly addresses the urgent need to mitigate urban air pollution, a critical step towards creating healthier and more sustainable cities across India.
The ambitious project is structured around a comprehensive two-part roadmap. Part A focuses on the intricate design and engineering required for the retrofitting process across various Hindustan Ambassador models, including the Classic, Grand, Avigo, and Encore. This phase meticulously covers vehicle diagnostics, the seamless integration of electric motors and powertrains, intelligent battery placement for optimal performance and safety, and necessary adaptations to the chassis and suspension. Furthermore, it involves embedding advanced Battery Management Systems (BMS) and sophisticated telemetry software to ensure efficient operation and real-time monitoring of the electric powertrain. Part B of the roadmap is dedicated to achieving full regulatory compliance, a critical step for pan-India deployment of these retrofitted EVs. The vehicles will undergo rigorous testing protocols to meet the stringent standards outlined in the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR). Successful completion of these tests will lead to emission-free certification and secure essential approvals from authoritative bodies such as the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), ensuring that these transformed Ambassadors are road-ready and adhere to all national safety and environmental norms.
This pioneering endeavour directly tackles a significant societal and environmental challenge. The enduring presence of the iconic yellow Ambassador taxis in cities like Kolkata, powered by ageing diesel engines, contributes substantially to urban air pollution and, consequently, declining public health standards. By converting these vehicles into EVs, the initiative addresses air quality degradation at its source, providing a replicable and scalable solution that could be adopted for thousands of similar legacy vehicles operating across India’s metropolitan centres. This systematic approach aligns with the broader objective of fostering zero-net-carbon urban environments. While the project originates in West Bengal, its potential implications are national. It resonates strongly with India’s ambitious vision of achieving an all-electric vehicle fleet by 2030, a goal passionately advocated by the Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The successful execution of this model in Kolkata could serve as a blueprint for replicating such transformations across other legacy diesel fleets, and even for the replacement of heavy diesel engines and generators in various industrial sectors. This includes applications in energy storage and integration with renewable energy sources, especially in regions with limited grid support. Such widespread adoption would usher in a new era of urban electric mobility and energy storage, powered by indigenous Indian engineering and innovation.
Riki Biswas, CEO and Director of Pointo, articulated the profound significance of this collaboration. “This partnership with Jadavpur University marks a major step towards transforming India’s Clean Energy Storage and Power legacy,” he stated. “With our expertise in battery technology and JU’s engineering excellence, we aim to not just retrofit vehicles but build a platform where the dependency on fossil fuels is reduced and batteries as a source of power and storage are promoted. This project has the potential to reduce emissions at scale, create livelihood opportunities, and preserve automotive heritage while aligning with our national electric mobility goals.” The retrofitted Hindustan Ambassadors will thus symbolise a unique fusion of India’s rich automotive history with the cutting edge of electric transportation, embodying a systems-level change encompassing sustainable engineering and energy policy alignment.
Also Read: Hirakud Station Drives Sustainable Development
