The Climate Group recently convened leading Indian companies at Mahindra’s Vehicle Manufacturers Ltd. (MVML)’s plant in Chakan near Pune. This manufacturing facility is one of the largest greenfield automotive plants in the country, with state-of-the-art technology that covers more than 700 acres. It recently achieved the notable feat of producing its one millionth vehicle.
MVML was one of the first Indian companies to join the EP100 initiative in 2016, committing to double its energy productivity by 2041. MVML is one of five Mahindra companies in the EP100 campaign, which includes 65 other companies all committed to smart energy use. The factory tour convened leading Indian companies to discuss various energy efficiency interventions being implemented. The participants included energy managers and experts from a range of major Indian and international companies: ACC Limited, Alfa Laval, Godrej & Boyce Mfg, Hindalco Industries, JK Cement, K Raheja Corp, L’Oreal, Marico, Schneider Electric, Siemens and Tech Mahindra.
The MVML plant has improved energy productivity (kWh/equivalent vehicle manufactured) by 40% over the past three years. Among the many efficiency measures implemented by MVML, the most notable ones were: advanced valves for vacuum-gripping systems, an auto condenser-cleaning system, high-volume low-speed (HVLS) fans, online monitoring for compressed air (where 0.1 kg/sq.cm air pressure changes can translate into 10-20% power reduction), captive solar PV with autonomous waterless cleaning, and acrylic copolymer membrane-coated roofs reducing temperatures by as much as 13 deg. C which effectively reduces space cooling loads.
