Ather Energy Expands Testing Facility to Accelerate EV Development

Ather Energy Limited has expanded its Product Testing & Validation Centre in Bengaluru, strengthening its research and development capabilities for electric two-wheelers. The facility, known as The Juggernaut, now spans 38,692 square feet and focuses on ensuring quality, reliability, and performance while accelerating product development processes.

The expanded center houses specialized laboratories for structural durability, battery testing, electrical and electronics reliability, and vehicle environment testing. A key feature is the 4 DOF Road Simulator, which can compress a 100,000 km endurance test into 15 days, significantly reducing the testing time that would typically take about 10 years on actual 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.