Ather Energy rolls out India’s largest e-charging infra in Bangalore

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Smart electric scooter maker Ather Energy has announced the launch of its charging infrastructure AtherGrid for electric vehicles (EVs). 

The company, which is known for its smart electric scooter S340, has begun installations of the connected charging stations across Bangalore.

In the first phase, Ather Energy will set up 30 charging points by May 2018 in Bangalore. The count will increase to 60 charging stations by this year.

With this, there will be a charging station within 4 km driving distance from any point in the Bangalore.  The company claimed it as the largest charging infrastructure effort in an Indian city.

Installed at malls, cafes, restaurants, techonlogy parks, multiplexes and gyms, they have been selected to cater to both, four-and-two wheelers.

To achieve this, Ather Energy has partnered with host locations, who have installed points pro-bono at their premises to offer a convenient experience for all EV owners in the city. To improve EV ownership experience and increase adoption, AtherGrid and its accompanying app will be offered for free for the next six months to all electric vehicle owners.

Using cloud connectivity, consumers can find the nearest point available and navigate to the charging location using the app. Remotely monitoring charge status and integrated payment options offers EV owners a seamless charging experience.

Speaking on the launch, Tarun Mehta, Co-founder and CEO 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. 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.”

Ather’s points have been designed and manufactured in India, keeping in mind the requirements of the domestic power grid. Safety features ensure that electricity is drawn only when connected to a vehicle and protects vehicles from overcharging with auto power cut off. Electric vehicles will be protected from undervoltage, overvoltage and overcurrent.  And with an IP55 rated body it is safe to use in any weather.

Co-founded in 2013 by IIT graduates – Tarun Mehta and Swapnil Jain, Ather Energy is one of a few hardware startups in India. The company is designing India’s first  intelligent electric scooter and is backed by the investors including Hero Motocorp.

Ather Energy is planning to expand its charging infrastructure to other cities too in the future.