March 18th, 2025
First ultra-fast charging stations already operational along Hyderabad-Vizag corridor with rapid expansion planned.
In a game-changing move for India’s commercial electric vehicle adoption, Turno and ThunderPlus have joined forces to build a network of 1 megawatt ultra-fast charging stations along major highway corridors. The initiative targets the biggest roadblock to electric bus and truck adoption: long-distance charging infrastructure.
The partnership has already deployed operational charging stations in Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Vizag, and Rajahmundry, creating a functional electric corridor along one of South India’s busiest routes. This initial deployment demonstrates the viability of long-distance electric commercial transport in India.
“While these charging stations are primarily designed for electric bus operations, they will also function as semi-public charging hubs,” explained Rajeev YSR, CEO of ThunderPlus. “This partnership eliminates charging anxiety and paves the way for faster EV adoption across India.”
Minutes, Not Hours
The 1 MW charging technology represents a quantum leap over standard charging solutions. These ultra-fast chargers can reduce charging times from hours to minutes for large commercial vehicles, making electric buses and trucks viable for intercity routes.
For commercial fleet operators, this addresses the critical downtime issue that has hindered adoption. When vehicles can recharge during normal driver rest breaks rather than sitting idle for extended periods, the economic equation shifts dramatically in favor of electrification.
Sudhindra Reddy, Founder of Electrigo (Turno’s subsidiary), highlighted the environmental impact: “Through this collaboration, Electrigo aims to replace 10 crore bus kilometers of diesel consumption with electric by the end of 2026, marking a significant step towards a cleaner, more sustainable future.”
One District, One Thunder
The initiative forms part of ThunderPlus’ ambitious “One District, One Thunder” program, which aims to ensure every district in India has at least one high-powered charging station. The program prioritizes locations along national and state highways to enable long-distance electric mobility.
Industry experts view this strategy as addressing a crucial gap in India’s EV ecosystem. While personal vehicle charging has seen significant growth in urban centers, commercial vehicle infrastructure has lagged, particularly for intercity routes.
“Commercial EVs require fundamentally different charging solutions than passenger cars,” noted Arjun Mehta, an electric mobility analyst. “Their larger batteries and operational demands necessitate much higher power delivery, which this partnership addresses with its megawatt-class stations.”
Strategic Complementarity
The partnership leverages the complementary strengths of both companies. ThunderPlus brings expertise in developing high-power charging infrastructure, while Turno, through its subsidiary Electrigo, specializes in commercial electric vehicle adoption and fleet electrification.
Both companies see this as just the beginning. Plans are already underway to expand the network to other key highway corridors, creating a nationwide mesh of ultra-fast charging points capable of supporting commercial electric vehicle operations across India.
This development comes at a crucial time as India pushes toward reducing carbon emissions and decreasing dependency on fossil fuels in the transportation sector, particularly in the commercial vehicle segment that accounts for a disproportionate share of fuel consumption and emissions.
