India’s electric mobility revolution isn’t just about EVs on the road—it’s about the infrastructure, voices, and values powering them. From corporate boardrooms to rural streets, a network of changemakers is working to solve one of the nation’s biggest mobility challenges: charging access.
When Ola Electric announced its ambitious Hypercharger network, it promised more than just fast charging. “We’re not building isolated stations; we’re building a national highway of energy.” said a senior VP at Ola Electric in a press interview. The goal is density and speed—stations every 2–5 km in urban centers and along major routes. Ola’s design uses a mix of public-private partnerships and data-driven placement. The official site outlines a future where scooters can recharge up to 50% in 18 minutes. But behind the sleek timelines lies a bigger challenge: power grid readiness. “We’ve had to rethink grid interfaces at scale,” their VP notes, pointing to smart load balancing and micro-grid integration.
Open Standards or Closed Roads?
Charging fragmentation is a silent barrier to EV adoption. At a recent CTO roundtable hosted by Storypedia, leaders from Ather Energy, Bajaj Auto, and Mahindra Electric debated the road ahead.
Ather’s CTO argued for open connector standards. “We released the Ather Connector Standard in 2021.” he said, referencing their published whitepaper. “It’s time the industry aligned on this. Otherwise, we’re creating toll gates, not fast lanes.”
Mahindra’s CTO raised concerns about compliance and IP rights, while Bajaj called for a policy mandate. A shared point? Roaming infrastructure—letting users charge across providers using one interface. As the DRIIVZ blog puts it: “Roaming isn’t a feature—it’s a foundational need.”
NITI Aayog’s EV handbook echoes this urgency: “Without interoperability, scale will remain a myth.”
Rural Women Entrepreneurs Electrify Odisha & Telangana
In the towns of Rayagada and Nizamabad, charging infrastructure isn’t being built by tech firms—it’s being built by women.
Through the Thunder+ women-focused franchise program and UNDPsupported initiatives, local women are trained in EV tech, given microfinancing support, and deployed as charging station owners. One entrepreneur, Sangeeta from Odisha, now manages three stations, providing power to 200+ riders a week.
A viral LinkedIn post summed up the change: “It’s not just a plug point—it’s a woman’s business, her dignity, and her community’s mobility.”
The latest IEEFA briefing highlights these stations as more reliable and better-maintained than many urban counterparts.
What India’s Charging Leaders Are Saying
- “Charging infrastructure will be the new battleground— data-rich, decentralized, and hyper-local.” — Senior Analyst, IEEFA
- “We released our standard because India deserves open roads, not walled gardens.” — Ather CTO
- “We’re not just electrifying mobility. We’re electrifying livelihoods.” — Thunder+ Founder
- “Without interoperability, scale will remain a myth.”— NITI Aayog EV Handbook
