Recognizing the urgent need for standardization in the electric vehicle (EV) charging sector, the Government of India has taken a crucial step to streamline the charging infrastructure across the country through standardization.
Discussing the same issue, Aishwarya partook in an in-depth dialogue with a number of the industry’s acclaimed specialists, such as, Uday Narang, Chairman, Omega Seiki Mobility, Prajwal Sabnis, Co-founder, Orxa Energies, Dinesh Arjun, CEO and Co-founder, Raptee Energy and Atul Gupta, Co-founder & Director, e-Sprinto.
Electrifying India: The Game-Changing Standardization of Two-Wheeler EV Chargers
With the recent implementation of standardized EV charging protocols for two-wheelers, Indian OEMs stand on the brink of transformative growth. Indian OEMs are optimistic, but what do these new standards entail, and how significant are they for the EV segment’s future? Let’s hear it from industry veterans on how they view this change.
Speaking on the topic, Uday Narang, Chairman, Omega Seiki Mobility expressed, “The recent EV charging standards for two-wheelers in India are a big deal, marking a significant shift towards a streamlined and unified charging infrastructure. Here’s a closer look at the two key aspects you mentioned:
Recent EV Charging Standards:
Combined Charging System (CCS) for Light Electric Vehicles (LEVs): This is the world’s first combined AC/DC charging standard specifically designed for two-wheelers and three-wheelers. It features a single connector supporting both AC Level 2 and DC fast charging.
Significance:
Interoperability: This standard eliminates the hassle of proprietary connectors used by different manufacturers, enabling any LEV compliant with the standard to charge at any compatible station. This fosters a user-friendly experience and reduces range anxiety for EV riders.
Faster Charging: The CCS allows for DC fast charging, significantly reducing charging times compared to traditional AC options. This makes EVs more convenient and competitive with gasoline-powered vehicles.
Cost-Effectiveness: The common standard simplifies the design and manufacturing of charging infrastructure, potentially leading to lower costs for both charging station operators and consumers.
Market Growth: Increased accessibility and convenience due to these factors can stimulate EV adoption, benefitting both OEMs and the entire EV ecosystem.
Long-Term Implications:
Economic Growth: A robust EV charging infrastructure can attract investments, create new jobs, and boost the manufacturing and service sectors.
Environmental Benefits: Widespread EV adoption will lead to reduced emissions and contribute to India’s clean energy goals.
Competitive Landscape: Indian OEMs will be better positioned to compete globally with access to a larger market and standardized technology.
Technological Advancements: The standardization paves the way for future innovation in charging technology, potentially leading to even faster and more efficient charging solutions.
Challenges and Remaining Steps:
Transition: Upgrading existing infrastructure and ensuring widespread adoption of the new standard will require collaboration between government, charging providers, and manufacturers.
Global Compatibility: While the CCS for LEVs is a positive step, monitoring global standardization efforts remains crucial to maintain compatibility with international markets in the future.
Overall, the recent EV charging standardization in India is a significant milestone with far-reaching potential. It can empower Indian OEMs, accelerate EV adoption, and pave the way for a more sustainable future for the nation.”
On the other hand, Prajwal Sabnis, Co-founder, Orxa Energies feels, “Most Indian networks are supporting CCS2 for four-wheelers and AC001 for light vehicles. Additionally, a new standard for DC charging for the light vehicle segment has recently been established. These 3 standards are essential to establish the ubiquitous availability of charging infrastructure pan India. This will drive EV adoption, thereby accelerating our transition to cleaner air for everyone.
What is also a major development is that India, as one of the largest light vehicle markets globally, has now defined a specific DC fast charging standard for light vehicles. This will not only position Indian vehicles and charging OEMs as global leaders but also set the stage for future standardization efforts.”
According to Dinesh Arjun, CEO and Co-founder, Raptee Energy, “In September 2023, the Bureau of Indian Standards approved ISI 7017 2023, a standard defining a unified AC and DC charging connector for light electric vehicles (LEVs). This promotes interoperability, simplifying the charging process for scooters, bikes, and rickshaws. Standardization reduces infrastructure costs, encourages EV purchases, and supports market growth. The success in two-wheelers may extend to other EV segments, fostering a unified ecosystem. Emerging standards like ISO 15118 and OCPP enhance charging efficiency. Overall, standardized EV charging in India could revolutionize mobility, accelerate adoption and attract green investments for a sustainable future.”
Atul Gupta, Co-founder & Director, e-Sprinto explains, “The recent Introduction of a national standard for a combined AC and DC charging connector for light electric vehicles (LEVs) in India represents a significant milestone with far-reaching implications. Collaboratively developed by NITI Aayog, the Department of Science and Technology, ARAI, EV manufacturers, and the Bureau of Indian Standards, this innovation positions India to set a global benchmark for LEVs. Engineered and designed locally, the standardized connector addresses a critical market gap by providing a unified charging system tailored for diverse light electric vehicles, including 2-wheelers, 3-wheelers, and microcars, simplifying the charging experience for users and fostering widespread EV adoption in the long run. This initiative also promotes interoperability, creating a versatile and cost-efficient charging infrastructure that benefits both users and charge point operators.”
From Chaos to Consistency: Solving India’s EV Charging Puzzle
In the quest for a sustainable automotive future, the lack of standardized EV charging infrastructure has been a critical barrier.
Uday Narang elucidates how consistency in EV charging is vital for several reasons, and the pre-standardization landscape in India highlighted the issues that arose from its absence. Here’s a breakdown:
Importance of Consistency:
Interoperability: A lack of common standards, as was the case with India’s two-wheeler market before, meant proprietary connectors from different manufacturers. This led to incompatibility issues, frustration for users, and limited access to charging infrastructure. Standardization solves this, allowing any EV to charge at any compatible station, regardless of brand.
Consumer Confidence: Range anxiety, the fear of running out of charge before reaching a station, hinders EV adoption. Consistent charging standards address this by ensuring accessibility and predictability, making EVs more convenient and trustworthy for consumers.
Efficient Infrastructure Development: Without a unified standard, building charging infrastructure becomes inefficient and costly. Different types of chargers and connectors require separate resources, creating a fragmented and incompatible network. Standardization optimizes infrastructure development, reducing redundancy and promoting cost-effectiveness.
Technological Advancement: A shared standard fosters innovation and collaboration within the industry. Manufacturers can focus on developing better batteries and charging technologies knowing they are compatible with a wider network. This accelerates the overall growth and improvement of the EV ecosystem.
Challenges Faced by Indian OEMs before Standardization:
Limited Market Reach: Fragmentation due to proprietary connectors restricted the potential market for Indian OEMs. Their vehicles were incompatible with many charging stations, hindering their ability to compete and expand.
Increased Production Costs: Developing and manufacturing different types of chargers for each proprietary connector was expensive and time-consuming for OEMs. Standardization simplifies production processes, potentially lowering costs and boosting manufacturing efficiency.
Negative Consumer Perception: Inconsistent charging experiences due to incompatible connectors and limited infrastructure created user frustration and hampered consumer confidence in India’s EV market. This discouraged potential buyers and slowed down the overall adoption rate.
The introduction of standardized EV charging in India, particularly the recent CCS for two-wheelers, is a significant step towards addressing these challenges. It paves the way for a more accessible, user-friendly, and efficient EV ecosystem, benefiting both Indian OEMs and consumers in the long run.
Prajwal Sabnis comments, “A lack of standards means everyone will have to set up a different proprietary charging network exclusively suited for their vehicles. This would be an inefficient use of resources. Having standardized charging systems ensures that charging infrastructure can be common, and hence more options are available to consumers. That in turn leads to wider adoption. Standardization also means that charging systems are a commodity, and are now a low margin high volume business opportunity.”
“Ensuring consistency in EV charging is pivotal for overcoming inefficiencies prevalent before standardization. The multitude of connector types led to extended charging times, heightened infrastructure costs, and consumer frustration, hindering EV adoption. Standardization simplifies the user experience, offering a single connector for seamless charging, enhancing convenience, and boosting consumer confidence. Predictable charging speeds alleviate range anxiety, while environmental benefits emerge from reduced energy consumption and accelerated integration of renewable sources. Before standardization, market fragmentation, infrastructure limitations, and consumer confusion posed challenges for Indian OEMs, hindering the development of a robust and uniform EV charging network. The recent standardization addresses these issues, fostering a more efficient and sustainable EV ecosystem in India”, views Dinesh Arjun.
Atul Gupta mentions, “Before the introduction of charging standards, Indian OEMs faced challenges related to fragmented charging infrastructure, where different manufacturers implemented proprietary charging solutions. This lack of interoperability meant that users were restricted to specific charging stations, limiting their flexibility and mobility. Additionally, varying charging protocols and connector types led to confusion, making it challenging for OEMs to develop vehicles that could seamlessly integrate with diverse charging networks. Standardization addresses these challenges by providing a common platform, promoting interoperability, and fostering a more efficient and user-friendly EV charging ecosystem.”
Charting New Territories: India’s EV Charging Standards vs. Global Norms
For EV manufacturers, standardization of charging infrastructure is a strategic lever for market penetration. By examining how India’s standards stack up against global criteria, let’s see how our industry expert views this development.
Comparing India’s EV Charging Standards with the Global Market, Omega Seiki gives a comparative analysis, that includes,
India:
Multiple standards: Until recently, India lacked a unified EV charging standard for two-wheelers and three-wheelers, leading to fragmentation and interoperability issues. Different manufacturers like Ola and Ather used their own proprietary connectors.
New Combined Charging System (CCS) for LEVs: In a significant step, India recently introduced the world’s first combined AC/DC charging standard for light electric vehicles (LEVs). This standard, developed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), offers several advantages:
- Interoperability: It allows any LEV compliant with the standard to charge at any compatible charging station, irrespective of the manufacturer. This fosters a more accessible and user-friendly charging infrastructure.
- Faster charging: The standard supports both AC and DC charging, enabling faster charging times compared to AC-only options.
- Cost-effectiveness: The common standard simplifies design and manufacturing of charging infrastructure, potentially reducing costs.
Existing standards for four-wheelers: India already follows established global standards like CCS for four-wheeler EVs, ensuring compatibility with international markets.
Global Market:
Dominant standards: Europe and North America primarily use CCS for both AC and DC charging of four-wheelers. CHAdeMO is also prevalent in Japan and parts of Asia.
Standardization efforts: Efforts are underway to create a truly global standard, with initiatives like the IEC standardization process for EV charging infrastructure.
How India’s Standards can help OEMs:
- Reduced fragmentation: The new CCS standard for LEVs eliminates the compatibility issues arising from proprietary connectors, allowing OEMs to focus on product development and expansion.
- Larger market reach: Standardization opens up a wider market for Indian OEMs, both domestically and potentially for export, as their vehicles will be compatible with a larger charging infrastructure.
- Boost in consumer confidence: Standardized charging makes EVs more user-friendly and removes range anxiety, potentially leading to increased consumer adoption and growth for OEMs.
- Cost efficiency: Reduced infrastructure development and production costs due to standardization can benefit OEMs and ultimately be passed on to consumers.
Challenges and Future Outlook:
Transition period: Existing proprietary infrastructure needs to be upgraded to comply with the new standard, requiring collaboration between government, infrastructure providers, and OEMs.
International compatibility: While the new CCS standard for LEVs is a positive step, it’s important to monitor global standardization efforts to ensure future compatibility with international markets.
Overall, India’s new EV charging standards represent a significant step towards building a robust and accessible charging infrastructure. This standardization will benefit Indian OEMs by simplifying production, expanding their market reach, and boosting consumer confidence, thereby promoting the growth of the nascent EV segment in India.
Orxa Energies comments, “Most global standards have focused on charging systems for cars and larger vehicles. This is in contrast to the vehicular distribution in India, Asia, South America, Africa, and many other such regions, where a higher population density tends to favor the lighter 2-wheeler or 3-wheeler form factor. Compact roads and the haphazard development of urban areas also mean a preference for smaller more nimble load carriers. These are in turn less polluting than large oversized vehicles. So, India truly stands a chance to redefine the EV story for compact mobility globally.”
“India’s EV charging standards, such as IS 17017 and ISI 7017, align with global protocols like IEC and SAE, ensuring compatibility and export potential. The focus on Type 2 AC connectors and CCS for DC charging mirrors international adoption, easing integration with imported vehicles. The unique ISI 7017 for two-wheeled DC charging caters to local needs, setting India apart. These standards reduce development costs, enhance market access, and simplify EV ownership, fostering domestic growth. While challenges like infrastructure development pace and global competition persist, India’s strategic standardization approach positions OEMs to competitively thrive in the evolving global EV market”, Explains Raptee.
e-Sprinto clarifies, “ When comparing India’s EV charging standards with the global market, the recent introduction of a national standard for combined AC and DC charging connectors for light electric vehicles (LEVs) is a remarkable step, showcasing India’s commitment to aligning with international practices. This standardized approach ensures compatibility and interoperability with charging infrastructure worldwide, facilitating a seamless experience for users and manufacturers operating on a global scale. These standards are particularly beneficial for Indian original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) as they seek to grow their presence and expand in the nascent EV segment. Firstly, having a unified standard eliminates the need for OEMs to design and produce different charging connectors for the domestic and international markets, streamlining manufacturing processes and reducing costs. Secondly, international alignment enhances the export potential for Indian EVs, making them more appealing to global consumers and markets with established charging infrastructure. Furthermore, these standards contribute to building a more robust and accessible charging network in India, fostering greater consumer confidence and encouraging EV adoption. As the market matures the harmonization of charging standards positions Indian OEMs to play a more influential role in the global EV landscape. The convergence of charging standards aligns with the broader objective of creating a sustainable and interoperable EV ecosystem, supporting the growth and competitiveness of Indian OEMs in the rapidly evolving international electric mobility market.”
Standardization’s Ripple Effect: Observations from Our EV Market Niche
According to Uday, Omega Seiki, “The introduction of standardized EV charging in India, has resulted in several notable changes for us across our niche:
Increased Market Reach:
Compatibility Boost: Standardization removes the previous limitations imposed by proprietary connectors, expanding the potential customer base for us. Our vehicles can now access a wider network of charging stations, enhancing their geographic reach and market penetration.
Brand Neutrality: Consumers are no longer restricted to choosing vehicles based on compatible chargers.
Improved Consumer Confidence:
- Reduced Range Anxiety: The standardized CCS system addresses range anxiety by ensuring wider accessibility and predictability of charging options. This instills greater confidence in EVs among consumers, potentially leading to increased sales and market growth.
- Enhanced User Experience: Consistent charging experience eliminates confusion and frustration caused by incompatible connectors. This improves user satisfaction and brand loyalty.
Cost & Efficiency Gains:
- Simplified Production: Standardization reduces the need for developing and manufacturing different chargers for each proprietary connector. This streamlines production processes, potentially lowering costs and boosting efficiency.
- Infrastructure Optimization: Standardized charging facilitates coordinated development and deployment of charging infrastructure. This avoids redundancy and optimizes resource allocation, leading to potentially lower costs for both OEMs and charging station operators.
Technological Advancements:
- Collaborative Innovation: With a common standard in place, we can focus on developing better batteries and charging technologies with the confidence that they will be compatible with a wider network. This fosters collaboration and accelerates technological advancements within the industry.
- Global Compatibility: Adherence to CCS, an internationally recognized standard, positions us for potential entry into even more global markets, further expanding our growth opportunities.
Prajwal Sabnis, Orxa Energies describes, “We specialize in high-performance electric motorcycles in the 2W segment. While the recent standardization efforts for EV charging are incredibly promising, it is still too early to assess their direct impact on our specific sector. Currently, most 2W charging happens at home through standard 15A sockets. However, we are keeping a close eye on developments that could significantly improve on-the-go charging options for performance motorcycles in the future.”
“Excited to enter India’s mid-premium electric motorcycle market, our company anticipates the recent EV charging standardization to be a game-changer. With potential barriers like range anxiety and compatibility concerns removed, our niche is poised for expanded market potential. Standardization fuels competition, encouraging innovation, and promises improved infrastructure, making charging more accessible. This shift boosts consumer confidence, creating a favorable environment for our innovative mid-premium electric motorcycles to thrive in India’s evolving EV landscape”, feels Dinesh Arjun, Raptee.
Atul Gupta, e-Sprinto explains, “Our Company falls in the EV two-wheeler segment. We have witnessed positive developments following the introduction of EV charging standards. The harmonization of charging protocols has notably enhanced the overall user experience, streamlined our manufacturing processes, and contributed to the broader adoption of electric two-wheelers. This shift has been instrumental in reducing barriers, making it more convenient for e-Sprinto to navigate the evolving electric mobility landscape. The standardization has no doubt played a key role in fostering growth and enhancing competitiveness within our segment.”
Shaping Tomorrow: Today’s Innovations and Tomorrow’s Expansion
Omega Seiki Mobility mentions, “This year has been marked by significant strides in innovation at OSM, particularly in our electric truck division. With a primary focus on the 1.5 Ton LCV segment, we’ve identified this as a crucial market sweet spot. Currently priced at Rs 15 Lakhs, our strategic goal is to make our electric trucks more accessible by working towards a price bracket of 8-12 Lakhs. To enhance the practicality and efficiency of our electric trucks, we are actively exploring various battery technologies, including fixed charging, fast charging, and battery swap technology. The incorporation of battery swapping is particularly noteworthy, as it is poised to substantially reduce the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for our customers.
In addition to our advancements in the electric truck domain, we have directed considerable effort toward perfecting our drones for diverse applications. Recognizing the growing significance of drone technology, we are committed to ensuring that our drones meet the highest standards in terms of functionality and performance. This emphasis on innovation aligns with our broader vision for expansion and growth.
Looking ahead, our plans for expansion in the near future include further refining and expanding our electric truck line-up, exploring additional applications for our drones, and continuously investing in cutting-edge technologies. We are driven by the goal of not only meeting but exceeding the evolving needs of our customers, and these innovations represent a significant step forward in that direction.”
Orxa Energies perceives that the past year, we have been pushing the boundaries of electric performance with advancements in both batteries and powertrains. We have developed the next generation of batteries with an increased range and faster charging times while reducing weight.
In 2024, we will also be looking at localizing production. This initiative will not only enhance our production capacity but also contribute to a stronger domestic EV ecosystem.
Raptee clarifies, “In a strategic move towards expansion, we are collaborating with the state government to establish a larger facility, slated to commence construction in 2025. Our initial focus involves the establishment of physical stores in key urban centers such as Chennai and Bangalore. Simultaneously, leveraging the online platform, our presence will extend to the top 10 cities, ensuring a widespread reach. As we solidify our foothold in these locations, our expansion plan encompasses further penetration into additional metro cities. This comprehensive approach reflects our commitment to growth, both in physical retail spaces and online accessibility, catering to diverse markets and meeting the evolving needs of our customers.”
At e-Sprinto, our commitment to innovation shines through our diverse electric scooter lineup, catering to a wide range of customer preferences. Over years, we introduced models such as the e-Sprinto, e-Sprinto BB, Roamy, Rapo low-speed scooters, and the popular e-Sprinto HS and Amery high-speed scooters. Our focus on sustainability is evident in these attractively priced electric scooters, boasting low energy consumption of just 1.5 units per charge. Notably, our emphasis on user experience sets us apart, integrating state-of-the-art technology with rigorous quality assurance. The precision and comfort designed into our electric scooters make them well-suited to the demands of Indian traffic conditions. As for plans for the future, e-Sprinto is actively exploring avenues for expansion, aligning with our vision to offer innovative and sustainable electric mobility solutions to a broader audience.