SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST) has formalised a new collaboration with Stellantis India with the aim of accelerating research and development in electric vehicle technology. Anchored by the Centre for Electrical Mobility (CEM) at SRMIST, the partnership is designed to translate academic research into applied innovation.
Stellantis India has provided two Citroen e-C3 electric vehicles to the CEM, which will now serve as live test platforms for students and researchers. This provision enables practical, hands-on learning in diagnostics, system integration, and performance evaluation. By using commercially available electric cars for training and experimentation, the Centre intends to bridge the gap between theoretical instruction and the realities of current automotive technology.
SRMIST has previously received the DST-PURSE grant for its work in mobility research, which recognises its contribution to emerging areas such as electric and autonomous vehicles. Dr Bharatiraja Chokkalingam, Head of the Centre, described the collaboration as a national effort to combine innovation, education, and industry participation. He stressed the importance of building a platform that not only develops technical skills but also produces engineers capable of contributing to India’s broader green mobility goals.
Ashwin Kaundinya and Sriram Venkataramanan from Stellantis pointed to the Centre’s capacity to convert simulation models into production-ready modules as a key reason for supporting this partnership. Stellantis has committed to sharing technical expertise through workshops and mentoring sessions, in order to ensure that the curriculum and student exposure remain aligned with global industry expectations.
The collaboration is structured to involve ongoing engagement between Stellantis engineers and the academic staff at SRMIST. The joint effort includes identifying research priorities, shaping project direction, and building a framework for sustained knowledge exchange. Topics under development range from battery diagnostics and energy management systems to drive integration and user interface design, all of which are central to the success of electric vehicle platforms.
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