Ola Electric is all set to install the world’s largest electric charging infrastructure for two-wheelers. The firm announced on Thursday that it will provide 1 lakh charging points in 400 cities of India. The startup has unveiled the project with the name Ola Hypercharger Network. The project launch will take place in the coming months.
The Largest Two-Wheeler Electric Charging Network by Ola
Ola Electric has revealed its five years plan to set up 100000 electric charging points in the 400+ cities of India. The electric startup will invest $2 billion in this project. Softbank, the major investor in Ola Electric, with other partners will help Ola to establish the largest charging network in the world. The company will set up 5000 charging points in 100 cities in the first year to make the existing electric charging infrastructure double.
Why is Ola investing such a huge amount on the electric charging points? Answering this question, Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal said:
“For us to ensure aggressive and large scale adoption of electric vehicles, a strong charging network is required. One of the key infrastructure gaps in our country has been the charging network.”
The current project will help all Ola electric customers to get charging solution in their nearby area. With coverage of 400+ cities, the Ola Hypercharger Network will be the widest and densest electric charging infrastructure globally. The project will launch with the company’s Ola Electric Scooter availability in the market.
Aggarwal further revealed that electric mobility is the future. The electric charging network is the key for the adaptation of EVs (electric vehicles). The firm will announce more projects in future to make EV a reality in India.
He further added:
“By creating the world’s largest and densest 2-wheeler charging network, we will dramatically accelerate the customer adoption of electric vehicles and rapidly move the industry to electric.”
Ola Electric and its Competitors in India
The current project announcement has put Ola Electric ahead of its competitors. The current charging network has thehehehehehehehehehehe capacity to make the electric scooter battery 50% full within 18 minutes. With this much charging, Ola EV will able to cover a 75 km distance. Ola’s competitors like Ather Energy, Hero electric, TVs are under pressure due to the recent announcements of Ola.
Will Ola provide the current charging network access to other firms’ EV? Ola denied any such collaboration. Talking about it, Aggarwal said:
“It is a conscious strategic choice.” By controlling both ends of the ecosystems–the vehicle and the charging infrastructure–the firm would be able to offer a great “seamless” experience to the customers.”
He justified his company’s decision with Tesla and Chinese EV manufacturer Nio examples that provide their charging points exclusively to their customers.
He further added:
“With Hyundai electric car, you cannot charge on Tesla’s supercharger network. It is for Tesla people.”
Ola factory has an initial capacity to manufacture 2 million EVs a year in the initial phase. The Ola mega factory will also export its two-wheelers to countries including Europe, UK, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Australia and New Zealand.
