New Delhi: India has once again demonstrated its leadership in the electric vehicle (EV) industry. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the National Standard Body of India, has given its approval for the country’s very first domestically developed standard for combined AC and DC charging connectors for light electric vehicles (LEVs), known as IS17017 (Part 2 / Sec 7): 2023.
This is the world’s first charging connector standard for light electric vehicles that can handle both AC and DC charging. It was designed and made in India and has the potential to become a global benchmark for these vehicles. This standard will create a unified AC and DC combined charging system for light electric vehicles, benefiting everyone involved in the EV ecosystem, from vehicle owners and manufacturers to those who operate charging stations.
In a unique collaborative effort, NITI Aayog, the Department of Science and Technology, ARAI, EV manufacturers, and the Bureau of Indian Standards joined forces to establish this national standard. This standard is important in creating an open ecosystem that will accelerate the adoption of EV worldwide, allowing original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to break free from exclusive reliance on international standards and protocols.
This new standard fills a significant gap in the market by providing a single connector that works for both AC and DC charging in light electric vehicles like two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and microcars. These smaller vehicles have unique charging needs, and using a big, expensive connector designed for four-wheelers just doesn’t make sense.
The combined AC and DC charging connector ensures a cost-effective charging system for all types of light electric vehicles, whether it be a quick charge or a slower one. Customers won’t have to carry around a bulky charger, gaining the advantage of accessing both fast and slow charging on a single, easy-to-use network.
B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, the CEO of NITI Aayog, expressed his satisfaction with the progress made in establishing a combined charging standard, emphasising its critical role in reaching the nation’s EV objectives.
“A strong need was felt for a combined charging system for Light EVs in India and 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,” he said.
He further noted that over 75% of newly sold vehicles in India fall within the category of two or three-wheelers, and the establishment of a standard will have a significant influence on the largest segment of the vehicle market.
Swapnil Jain, Founder of Ather Energy, commented, “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 of Hero MotoCorp, noted, “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. In fact, it is not just about Make in India any more, it is ‘Innovate in India and Make for the World’. 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.”
