Ather Energy Powers 'EV Nation by 2047' Action Plan with Largest Free Charging Network
Spurring on India’s baby steps towards electric mobility, electric two-wheel maker Ather Energy has begun laying the foundation for a future of electric vehicles whizzing on roads with a network of charging points for the EV category. The network, called the AtherGrid and each charging point aptly called a Point will be free for six months and available to all EVs.
The startup launched in 2013 is backed by Hero MotoCorp, Tiger Global and Flipkart founders Sachin and Binny Bansal, mostly inspired by its efforts to locally manufacture a smart electric scooter, the S340, for which pre-orders begin in June. In preparation for its flagship product there are already 17 intelligent and connected charging points across the city of Bengaluru. There will be 30 charging points up and running by the end of May, and 60 charging points operational by end of 2018. The startup aims for the network to feature a charging station within 4km of driving distance from any point in the city. This becomes the largest and most comprehensive effort at setting up a charging power grid for electric vehicles in an Indian city.
After pushing India to become a 100 percent EV using nation by 2030 for approximately 5 years, the centre, at least from what could be deduced from Union minister Nitin Gadkari’s February 2018 statement, has momentarily suspended plans for an EV policy. Government think tank Niti Aayog has condoned the statement citing the fast-changing face of EV tech; little doubt lies pressures from auto makers and lobbyists would have been an additional reason. Nevertheless an action plan on EVs has been announced while Fame India Scheme Phase II proposes a Rs 500 crore VC fund for EV startups. Auto industry body SIAM suggests 2047 is a likelier year by which for India to complete its transition to EV usage. About the government’s cautious and slow approach to tabling policy for EV, Tarun Mehta, Co-founder and CEO of Ather Energy had said in a media report, that regardless of policies coming out or not the EV ecosystem will not be heavily influenced and that the entire industry is still in an experimental phase whose operations are not impacted by what the government stance is.
As the startup works on making EV ownership appealing, the AtherGrid has been made available at public and popular places like malls, cafes, restaurants, tech parks, multiplexes and gyms. Both two-wheelers and four-wheelers, or any with a 5A or 15A connector can charge at a Point. The charging network comes courtesy partnerships with locations up for hosting the AtherGrid and have installed charging points at no cost to Ather Energy. Promoting and encouraging the use of EV will come with more of such partnerships to increase convenience of owning an EV. To further promote EV ownership and increase adoption, just as AtherGrid is free to use for six months, so will be its accompanying app. With the use of cloud connectivity, consumers can use the app to locate the closest charging portal and even find their way there with the help of navigational assistance from the app. In addition to such services, the app also offers the ability to monitor charging status remotely along with an integrated payment to offer a seamless experience to the still nascent EV owner.
Tarun of Ather Energy said, “Electric vehicles cannot become a viable alternative without making charging infrastructure availability a greater priority. It is critical for us to make public charging convenient and accessible. This is an important step towards increased adoption and acceptance of electric vehicles and in the long run will have a positive effect on the cost of the vehicles themselves. The number of entrepreneurs and businesses that have come aboard to be a part of AtherGrid is also a testament to the future of electric vehicles. As we prepare ourselves for the launch of the Ather S340, Bangalore was a natural choice to be the home city for AtherGrid. Range anxiety and the inconvenience associated with charging will not be a deterrent to adoption, as the industry grows.”
The AtherGrid has been designed and manufactured in India to fit the needs of domestic users of a power grid in an Indian terrain. The grid will ensure safety by enabling electricity-drawing only when a vehicle is connected to a charging point and automatically stops electricity flow when vehicle is fully charged. Electric vehicles are protected from potential damages induced by under-voltage, over-voltage and over-current and an IP55 rated body makes it safe to use in any weather condition.
