This
would not only reduce range anxiety by allowing all scooters to access Ather
Energy’s 200+ fast chargers, but also allow more OEMs to build products on a
common standard thus lowering infrastructure investments.
A
robust charging infrastructure is one of the major drivers in accelerating
faster adoption of electric two-wheelers. In order to maximize usage and
efficiency of charging infrastructure, there needs to be common connectors that
can be used across products.
Since
its inception, Ather Energy has invested in building a fast-charging network,
Ather Grid, and has been providing normal speed charge options to all electric
two-wheelers and four-wheelers free of cost. Opening up Ather Energy’s
connector technology will promote the use of a common connector, allowing all
EV owners to use any fast charging solution across the country. This will
enable the entire ecosystem to work together to fast-track EV adoption in
India.
Need for a new
connector standard for fast charging
While
there are global standards for electric four-wheelers like the CHADEMO, CCS,
etc. there are no connector standards available customised for two-wheeler fast
charging, except in China. Two-wheeler fast charging requirements are unique.
The shape and size of the vehicle makes it infeasible to adopt a four-wheeler
charging connector. Similarly, the same connector would be used for normal as
well as fast charging. Indian road environment, temperature, and moisture
require a standard designed for Indian conditions with adequate field tests for
safety and equipment life.
Designed
by Ather, this connector has a combo AC and DC charging with the same
connector. This connector size has been designed to be suitable for integration
into two-wheelers and three-wheelers with the ability of CAN 2.0 communication
with control and proximity pilot. Finally, it is designed for production at low
costs, which allows it to be used in mass segment vehicles.
Says
Tarun Mehta, Co-founder & CEO, Ather Energy, “Electric two-wheelers are now
going mainstream with the big push through FAME 2 by the government. Consumers
need a fast-charging network in public locations to make this shift and that’s
exactly what we are doing to build this category. Sharing our proprietary
charging connector is a big step for having a common connector and hence
interoperable chargers for all two-wheelers. At this stage of the category, the
industry needs these collaborations and we are already in talks with some OEMs
to take this industry collaboration forward.”