Tarun Mehta: Ather Energy’s Visionary Driving India’s Electric Revolution

In the realm of electric vehicles (EVs), one name stands out as a visionary guiding India towards a sustainable, electrified future. Tarun Mehta, an IIT Madras graduate and the co-founder of Ather Energy, is a trailblazer who has defied convention and persevered on a remarkable journey to electrify Indian roads. His dedication to building reliable, high-performance electric scooters has reshaped the narrative around EVs in India.

Tarun Mehta and his co-founder, Swapnil Jain, embarked on their entrepreneurial journey in 2013 with a groundbreaking idea—a smart, intelligent electric two-wheeler. However, securing investors for their bold vision was no easy task. In the early stages, an investor suggested a radical but misguided tweak: retrofit a conventional Honda Activa into an electric scooter. Mehta, a firm believer in building EVs from the ground up, instantly rejected this notion, emphasizing the need for original electric vehicle designs.

Mehta and Jain encountered a wave of skepticism as they pursued their innovative electric vehicle venture. They were consistently advised against entering the market, often hearing the familiar query: “kitna deti hai?” (How much mileage does it offer?). Despite these challenges, Mehta remained resolute in his commitment to creating a superior electric product. A defining moment for Ather Energy came in January 2020 when they launched the Ather 450X, an electric scooter that shattered stereotypes. It boasted impressive specifications such as accelerating from 0 to 40 km/hr in just 3.3 seconds, a 7-inch touchscreen dashboard with Google Maps navigation, Bluetooth and 4G connectivity, a 116 km range on a single charge, and fast-charging capabilities, providing a 15 km range in just 10 minutes. These features catapulted the Ather 450X into a league of its own, positioning it as the quickest and smartest electric scooter.

With over $100 million raised to date, Ather Energy has garnered support from prominent investors, including Tiger Global, Hero Motocorp, and Sachin Bansal, co-founder of Flipkart. Their strategic approach of initially focusing on building infrastructure and ecosystem components paid off handsomely. Ather established a network of charging stations before commencing vehicle sales, currently boasting around 150 fast chargers across India, with plans for continued expansion.

Mehta’s emphasis on quality stems from past experiences with low-quality EVs that tarnished the segment’s reputation. Poorly designed electric vehicles were seen as mere toys with low speeds, short battery life, and inadequate charging capabilities. Mehta’s commitment to building reliable EVs shifted customer expectations, demanding that electric vehicles be viewed as an upgrade rather than a compromise.

Ather’s approach, while commendable, has limited its market presence due to its premium pricing. The need to launch more affordable models remains a challenge, particularly addressing concerns regarding range, charging infrastructure, and pricing. However, Mehta remains focused on a differentiated strategy to address these issues. Mehta envisions continued investments in the electric vehicle sector over the next few years and expects EBITDA profitability within two to three years. Amid discussions about lowering import duties on EVs, Mehta sees the real electric story in two-wheelers, emphasizing that duty adjustments are a distraction from the core mission of building electric vehicles in India.

As India grapples with the environmental and economic consequences of rising fuel costs, Tarun Mehta’s Ather Energy is positioned as a key player in the nation’s electric vehicle revolution. His journey reflects the transformational power of vision, persistence, and innovation in redefining the future of transportation.