Ather Energy is prepared to offer complimentary assistance to entities in the electric vehicle sector seeking to adopt its charging connector, acknowledged as a standard by the Bureau of Indian Standards, to expedite the embrace of electric mobility, according to Ravneet S Phokela, the Chief Business Officer of the company.
Ather is concurrently striving to elevate its charging network to 2,500 by March 2024, engaging in discussions with other manufacturers for the widespread adoption of its charging connector.
Phokela expressed the company’s willingness to collaborate with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), providing support to streamline the adoption process.
The Bureau of Indian Standards approved Ather’s charging connector as a standard for light electric vehicles, endorsing its applicability to electric two- and three-wheelers, along with microcars.
Phokela emphasized Ather’s commitment to harmonizing charging infrastructure, promoting collaboration on the charging side while fostering competition on the vehicle side.
He clarified that adopting Ather’s charging connector is a flexible decision for OEMs, driven by compatibility rather than a mandate. The move towards standardization is expected to incentivize independent businesses to establish infrastructure, addressing previous uncertainties about which EV maker’s charging infrastructure to deploy.
Phokela highlighted the positive impact on customers, reducing range anxiety and facilitating the use of electric two-wheelers akin to conventional scooters.
Additionally, he noted the potential for government incentives to be directed towards charging infrastructure developers rather than individual OEMs.
Regarding Ather’s expansion plans for the charging network, Phokela outlined strong growth initiatives, aiming for approximately 2,500 charging stations by March 2024 and a prospective increase to about 5,000 in the following fiscal year.
