Divyank Kushagra Bansal 
India has taken a big leap forward in EV adoption as the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the National Standard Body of India, has approved the country’s first-ever indigenously-developed AC and DC combined charging connector standard for light electric vehicles (LEVs), IS17017 (Part 2 / Sec 7): 2023. Typically, LEVs comprise two- and three-wheelers, along with small-scale utility vehicles. The breakthrough is the result of a joint endeavour of the NITI Aayog (a public policy think tank of the Government of India), the Department of Science and Technology, ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India), automakers like Ather Energy, Hero MotoCorp, and the Bureau of Indian Standards.
It is also claimed to be the world’s first combined AC and DC charging connector standard for light electric vehicles, with the potential to become a global benchmark for LEVs. Designed and engineered in India, this standard has big benefits for the entire EV ecosystem, ranging from owners and end-users to vehicle manufacturers and charging point operators. It will also allow equipment manufacturers to rely less on international standards and protocols and instead implement a charging system that will propel Indian innovation ahead.
Sharing his thoughts on the occasion, B V R Subrahmanyam, CEO, NITI Aayog said, ‘I am happy to note the development of a combined charging standard which is an absolute necessity if we are to achieve our EV targets…since such an option has not been provided in the international standards, it was necessary to develop it indigenously to give Light EV customers the option of charging both from an AC or a DC outlet, whichever is available conveniently for them. Since more than 75% of new electric vehicles sold in India are either two or three-wheelers, we created a standard that impacts the biggest chunk of the vehicle market… it facilitates both AC (slow) and DC (fast) charging from the same service point/station.’
Swapnil Jain, Co-Founder, Ather Energy, said, ‘Taking our stride further in the EV space today, we have an EV charging standard for India with the potential to be implemented worldwide. This is a remarkable achievement because, for the first time, an India-designed and developed technology can be used globally.’
Niranjan Gupta, CEO, Hero MotoCorp, said, ‘A home-grown connector-standard is a breakthrough achievement for the country and the EV industry, aligned with the government’s “Make in India” policy…along with Ather Energy, it has been Hero MotoCorp’s constant endeavour to take the industry forward and make India the global leader in the light electric vehicle category. This development will go a long way in the pursuance of our vision.’
