For ages, the tech story globally has been told from places far from us. We grew up in an India that idolised German engineering and Japanese technology. This was especially true in the automotive industry, where many auto companies were set up as importers first, then set up local manufacturing with technology transfer or JVs when the market grew.
But times have changed. India is no longer just a market. Today, India is writing its own chapter - one where electric mobility is not imported, but invented and adapted for our roads and our people. The diverse conditions of our cities, the varied usage patterns, and the distinct needs of Indian riders have demanded innovation tailored specifically to our context.
Our journey at Ather began when there was no roadmap - no models to emulate, no existing ecosystem to plug into. From the outset we were willing to engineer the entire product and the platform from bottoms up, to build a deeply vertically integrated company, creating not just a product but all the individual pieces required.
We are continuously driven by the belief that there is power in engineering and that great technology must start from first principles. We believe that true tech leadership comes from a deep understanding of core principles and how they apply in practice. For example, our choice of a mid-drive motor configuration, rather than the then industry-standard hub motor, stemmed from a real-world, India-specific mobility challenge: the need for the scooter to easily climb an 18-degree slope with two passengers - a common occurrence on Indian flyovers and parking ramps, something our calculations showed a hub motor would not do consistently. When faced with stark choices we have always reverted to first principles. This approach has given us a wealth of experience and insights that continue to drive our R&D and innovation.
We are proud to introduce Ather Tech Review a platform dedicated to deep technical discourse on electric mobility. In an age characterised by fleeting headlines and rapid consumption of information, a long-form publication provides a platform for thoughtful consideration of ideas. In ATR, we focus on understanding EV technology in depth, beyond the hype and noise. It's a space where we examine the nuances of EV technology through an Indian lens, with the intent of pushing the boundaries of what's possible and shaping the future of mobility in our country.
Through the ATR, we aim to share our insights, highlight the thinking that powers our systems, and more importantly, spark conversations that propel the entire EV industry forward.
India stands at a remarkable inflection point to lead in electric mobility, especially in the two-wheeler segment. It’s an unprecedented opportunity for us to define our own path, and we invite engineers, entrepreneurs, policy makers, and enthusiasts to join us in shaping this future together. We hope this venture sparks your curiosity, and that you share it with your colleagues and business partners.
We discuss the below topics at length in ATR Volume 1:
Sodium-ion: worth the hype - Review of current state of sodium-ion battery technology and viability for E2W applications.
One charger to charge them all - Combined charging can help resolve the fragmented EV charging landscape, building interoperable infrastructure & fostering mutually beneficial alliances between corporations.
All auto companies need to become tech companies | Pt-1 - Managing hardware variation and facilitating adaptive solutions in embedded systems
Energy, orchestrated quietly - Examining Ather's custom-designed Battery Management System
Battery aging on a leash - Behaviour of Lithium-ion batteries and the challenges posed by India's tropical climate
The full version of ATR Volume 1 is available below. Please download and read.
Very well put up Swapnil!
While legacy manufacturers find it hard to believe and understand, I 100% agree with your point that "All auto companies need to become tech companies | Pt-1 - Managing hardware variation and facilitating adaptive solutions in embedded systems.
Indian automotive market is very cost sensitive. I see many automotive OEMs still doesn't prioritize tech software, hardware and firmware to varying conditions and form factors, while the fact is it should be deeply ingrained in the vehicle design principles. Thoughts?
Hi Swapnil, few points on which I would like to read (PS: haven't read the first report yet and I am sure a few of these would have been covered already)
1. Will battery get more efficient over the next 5 years for mass production and what is the maximum expected range being targeted for 2 wheelers?
2. Can order batteries be replaced with efficient newer batteries and software update to accomodate the same? Assuming the same size and shape of battery unit is maintained?
3. How are the motors evolving overtime with respect to efficiency?
4. Any indication on power consumption of motors betting better at higher speeds? Talking with respect to 4 wheeler EVs, I see ideal range below 60 to 70 KMPH for 3 year old nexon EV but this seems to have reached close to 80 KMPH for the mahindra bev 6e now. Anything faster will lead to a faster drain of battery exponentially. Will we eventually see motors with ideal drain even at 100 KMPH speed?
5. Charging speed infra. Is the country well equipped to cater to higher wattage public chargers being supported by power supply? Having chargers is one point and having the supply of power is the other pain point.
6. Acceptability in gated communities is still not great, most folks don't have dedicated home charging points in allocated parking slot. Anything that can be done to overcome this and still pay something close to what one pays via home charging?