Ather Energy Limited has improved its capacity for electric two-wheeler research and development by expanding its Product Testing & Validation Center in Bengaluru. The Juggernaut, a 38,692-square-foot facility, emphasises performance, quality, and dependability while speeding up product development procedures.
Specialized labs for testing vehicle environments, electrical and electronic dependability, battery testing, and structural durability are located in the enlarged facility. The 4 DOF Road Simulator is a crucial component that can shorten the 100,000 km endurance test into 15 days, greatly cutting down on the testing period that would normally take roughly ten years on real roads.
“EVs are radically different from ICE vehicles and are a relatively new technology, so it is important to thoroughly test all the components,” said Swapnil Jain, Co-founder and CTO of Ather Energy. “With the expansion of The Juggernaut, we are scaling up our testing capacity and capabilities, enabling us to accelerate innovation and product development.”
The facility conducts comprehensive battery validation, including thermal performance tests, water wading tests, drop tests, and vibration and thermal cycling. According to the company, Ather’s battery packs undergo 272 tests and are certified IPX7 waterproof and AIS 156 compliant.
As of December 31, 2024, Ather had conducted 4,535 unique tests to validate its electric two-wheelers. The company’s R&D expenditure stood at Rs. 2,388 million, representing 15% of revenue from operations, with about 46% of its workforce dedicated to research and development.
Ather Energy currently operates three R&D facilities in Bengaluru, with one recognized as an in-house R&D unit by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. The company follows the Ather Product Development System, which requires eight quality reviews before any product launch.
The electric two-wheeler manufacturer produces two scooter lines – the Ather 450 and the Rizta – targeting the performance and convenience segments respectively. Ather was the first in India’s electric two-wheeler sector to introduce features such as touchscreen dashboards with navigation, internet connectivity, and cloud integration.
The company maintains two manufacturing plants in Hosur, Tamil Nadu – one for vehicle assembly and another for battery manufacturing – with a third facility under development in Bidkin, AURIC, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Maharashtra.
Founded in 2013, Ather Energy has established itself as a significant player in India’s growing electric vehicle market, which has seen rapid expansion as the country pushes toward electrification of transportation to reduce emissions and fuel dependency.