Ather Energy Shares Proprietary Fast Charging Connector With Other EV Makers

Sharing Is Caring: With this move, the day isn't too far for a TVS iQube Electric or a Bajaj Chetak owner to use Ather's charging grid

• Collaborating with Ather Energy will allow other EV companies to use the former’s 200+ fast charging stations across the country.
• Ather’s fast charging connector gets a combination of both AC and DC charging. 
• It will also help in reducing the range anxiety for customers irrespective of which brand of EV they own.

In a first in the electric two-wheeler segment in the country, Bengaluru-based Ather Energy has announced that its proprietary charging connector is open for sharing with other OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers). Ather says this will also allow other electric two-wheeler manufacturers to use its 200+ fast charging stations across the country. 

This move by Ather will not only reduce range anxiety among customers but will also lower the infrastructure investments by other electric two-wheeler makers. All in all, it will go a long way in faster EV adoptions in the country. 

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Ather’s charging connector features both AC and DC charging. The company says that the size of the connector has been designed to suit both two-wheelers and three-wheelers. That said, only EVs with the ability of CAN 2.0 communication (a standard for communication between microcontrollers in the EV’s electronic circuitry) and control and proximity pilot (used to adjust the charging rate) can use the connector. Ather assures its charging connector has been designed to ensure cost-effective production, and hence can be used in mass-market electric bikes and scooters. 

For Ather, competition is good in the larger scheme of things, considering it improves the supply-chain management and also drives EV awareness massively. This, coupled with the recent FAME II subsidy revision, has encouraged several prospective customers to go green. In fact, Ather managed to register sales of over Rs 10 crore from the company’s Indiranagar (Bengaluru) experience centre in July. And now, by opening up its connector tech, Ather is helping other EV makers benefit from a unified charging ecosystem. 

In related news, Ola Electric is also planning to set up a widespread charging infrastructure in the country for its electric scooter. Will Ola follow in Ather’s footsteps and share its charging tech with others? Well, it’s a little too early to speculate, considering it hasn’t started setting up its charging network yet. Let us know what you think in the comments below.