Ather Energy has entered a strategic alliance with ThunderPlus to bolster India's electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. Through this partnership, Ather riders can now access over 140 ThunderPlus charging hubs across 15 states and 40 cities, significantly increasing the convenience of owning electric two-wheelers in urban and semi-urban areas.
This collaboration grants Ather customers full access to ThunderPlus' high-speed charging stations, enabling seamless integration between the companies’ charging technologies and expanding the reach of EV support across India.
“The EV revolution will be won by collaboration, not competition. Our partnership with Ather Energy opens up 140+ ThunderPlus charging hubs overnight to their riders, reducing charging anxiety and increasing consumer confidence,” said Rajeev YSR, CEO, ThunderPlus.
“We are also open to partnering with other OEMs to ensure that wherever EV users go, a ThunderPlus charger is never far away.”
The integration strengthens interoperability across EV platforms, paving the way for smoother and more consistent user experiences. It underscores a growing trend in the EV space—shared infrastructure and OEM collaboration to accelerate EV adoption.
ThunderPlus operates a robust network of more than 2,000 charging points spread across 140 hubs in India. These hubs offer high-speed chargers with capacities ranging from 30 kW to 240 kW, catering to a diverse range of electric vehicles, including partnerships with FlixBus, Turno, Ohm, and ETO.
This partnership exemplifies a critical step forward in India's sustainable mobility journey. By leveraging shared resources and infrastructure, Ather and ThunderPlus aim to tackle "range anxiety"—a key barrier to EV adoption—while encouraging other OEMs to adopt similar collaborative models.
Ather Energy is a prominent Indian electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, primarily known for its smart electric scooters and charging infrastructure. It has played a significant role in accelerating India's shift towards electric mobility.
Here's a detailed look at Ather Energy:
Founders: Ather Energy was founded in 2013 by Tarun Mehta and Swapnil Jain, both alumni of IIT Madras.
Initial Vision: Initially, they explored battery solutions, but soon realized the larger opportunity lay in designing and building a complete, high-performance electric scooter from the ground up, aiming to create a product superior to traditional petrol vehicles.
Early Funding: In December 2014, Flipkart founders Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal provided initial seed capital of $1 million.
First Unveil: In 2016, Ather showcased its first electric scooter, the Ather S340, at a technology conference in Bengaluru, featuring a touchscreen dashboard and connected features, marking a significant step for the Indian EV market.
Electric Scooters: Ather is best known for its "450" series of electric scooters.
Ather 450: Launched in 2018, it was considered one of India's fastest electric scooters at the time.
Ather 450X and 450 Plus: These are updated, performance-oriented models that have been very popular, known for their sporty design, quick acceleration, and smart features.
Ather Rizta: Launched in 2024, the Rizta is Ather's entry into the family scooter segment, prioritizing comfort, large storage space (56L), and safety features like an industry-first traction control system.
Charging Infrastructure (Ather Grid): Ather has built its own fast-charging network called Ather Grid. As of March 31, 2025, Ather has installed 3,578 fast chargers and neighborhood chargers across India. This extensive charging network is a key differentiator and a significant enabler for EV adoption.
AtherStack Software: The company develops proprietary software called AtherStack, which enables over-the-air (OTA) updates, provides ride statistics, and offers cloud integration, making their scooters "smart" and connected.
Manufacturing: Ather Energy has a manufacturing plant in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, which as of March 2024, had an annual installed capacity of 420,000 electric vehicles and 379,800 battery packs. They are also planning a new unit in Maharashtra.
Total Funding: Ather Energy has raised a total of $502 million over 19 funding rounds. Key institutional investors include Hero MotoCorp, NIIF (National Investment and Infrastructure Fund), GIC, and Tiger Global Management.
Unicorn Status: Ather achieved "unicorn" status (a valuation over $1 billion) in August 2024, with a valuation of approximately $1.3 billion (₹11,956 crore) post-IPO.
IPO (Initial Public Offering):
Ather Energy made its debut on the Indian stock exchanges (BSE, NSE) on May 6, 2025, after its IPO.
The IPO aimed to raise ₹2,981.06 crore, comprising a fresh issue of shares worth ₹2,626.30 crore and an offer for sale (OFS) of ₹354.76 crore.
The issue price was ₹321 per share. The IPO was subscribed 1.43 times.
The company intends to use the funds from the IPO for establishing a new electric two-wheeler factory in Maharashtra and for debt reduction.