India unveils homegrown 30 kW integrated drive system for electric vehicles

In a major boost to India’s electric mobility ambitions, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) on Monday launched an indigenously developed 30 kW Wide Band Gap (WBG)-based Integrated Drive System (IDS) for electric vehicles. The advanced power electronics system, designed to strengthen domestic EV manufacturing, was unveiled by MeitY Secretary Shri S. Krishnan at IIT Madras.

The technology has been developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Thiruvananthapuram, in collaboration with IIT Madras and automotive component major Lucas TVS under the National Mission on Power Electronics Technology (NaMPET). The 30 kW power class is particularly suited for India’s rapidly expanding electric passenger vehicle segment, including compact cars and fleet mobility platforms.

Officials said the innovation marks a significant milestone in enhancing India’s indigenous capabilities in advanced power electronics. At present, a large share of high-performance EV powertrain systems and semiconductor-based drive components are imported. The locally developed integrated drive system is expected to reduce import dependence, lower costs through localisation, and support scalable domestic manufacturing in line with initiatives such as the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes.

The newly launched IDS integrates the electric motor and inverter into a single compact, high-power-density unit, replacing the conventional separated motor-drive architecture. This integrated design improves efficiency, reduces system size and enhances overall performance — key factors for next-generation electric vehicles.

Addressing the gathering, S. Krishnan said the development reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Make in India, Make for the World.” He noted that India is steadily transitioning from being a technology importer to a technology developer and exporter through strong collaboration between research institutions, academia and industry. He described the 30 kW Integrated Drive System as a major step toward achieving self-reliance in electric mobility and strategic electronics.

The system has been successfully designed, fabricated and validated in partnership with Lucas TVS and is now ready for commercialisation and large-scale deployment. Experts believe its adoption could significantly strengthen India’s EV supply chain, create new opportunities for MSMEs in power electronics and thermal systems manufacturing, and enhance India’s global competitiveness in semiconductor-driven mobility solutions.

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Senior officials and industry representatives, including C-DAC Director General Shri E. Magesh, MeitY officials, IIT Madras faculty, and Lucas TVS leadership, were present at the launch event. Through initiatives like NaMPET, MeitY continues to promote innovation-led partnerships aimed at building globally competitive and self-reliant technologies for future mobility and energy systems.