India’s electric vehicle (EV) charging ecosystem is taking a decisive step toward interoperability as Pulse Energy, a payments-first EV charging platform, announced a strategic partnership with HPe Charge, the EV charging brand of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL). The collaboration will integrate HPCL’s network of more than 5,000 EV chargers into Pulse Energy’s single access and payments platform, enabling EV users to locate, access and pay for charging seamlessly through one interface.
The partnership addresses a long-standing challenge in India’s EV ecosystem—fragmented charging networks requiring multiple proprietary apps and payment systems. Rather than consolidation, the move signals a shift toward interoperability, allowing diverse charging operators to remain independent while becoming accessible through a common digital layer.
With HPCL joining the platform, Pulse Energy’s interoperable ecosystem now includes leading national and regional charge point operators such as Shell, ChargeZone, BESCOM, Thunderplus, among others. The platform currently supports over 18 million electric kilometres driven every month across partner networks, despite not owning charging assets or offering energy discounts.
Commenting on the development, Akhil Jayaprakash, Co-Founder of Pulse Energy, said that India’s EV growth is constrained more by access than availability. He noted that Pulse Energy is focused on building the invisible digital infrastructure that simplifies charging access for users and improves utilisation for operators.
HPCL, one of India’s largest and most widely distributed energy companies, has been expanding its EV charging footprint across highways, fuel stations and urban centres under the HPe Charge brand. Integration with Pulse Energy is expected to significantly enhance charging accessibility, particularly for intercity and long-distance EV travel.
For EV drivers, the partnership reduces friction by eliminating the need to juggle multiple apps and payment platforms. For charge point operators, it offers better utilisation of existing infrastructure. At a broader ecosystem level, the collaboration reflects a growing industry consensus that cooperation and interoperability are critical to enabling mass adoption of electric mobility in India.
As India’s EV market continues to mature, such backend integrations are increasingly being viewed as vital enablers—complementing physical charger rollouts and helping build a more seamless, user-friendly national charging network.
