Pulse Energy Connects Over 10,000 EV Chargers to BHIM UPI via Unified Bharat eCharge

Pulse Energy, an Indian EV charging technology company, has joined Unified Bharat eCharge (UBC) as one of the first certified technology enablers for the nationwide interoperable EV charging network launched with support from the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI), Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd.  (BHEL) and the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).

The UBC initiative is designed to simplify EV charging by allowing users to discover participating charging stations and make payments through UPI on the BHIM app, without downloading separate charging applications or maintaining operator specific prepaid wallets.

Under the system, EV users can open the BHIM app, locate a UBC enabled charging point, scan the QR code and pay directly from their bank account through UPI. The unified approach is aimed at reducing fragmentation in India's EV charging ecosystem, where drivers often need multiple applications, accounts and wallets to access charging networks operated by different companies.

The initial rollout will be available through the BHIM app, with participating charging points being added across cities and national highways. The network is expected to subsequently become accessible through other payment, mobility and automotive applications, enabling consumers to discover and use UBC enabled chargers through platforms they already use.

Pulse Energy will support application providers in connecting to the UBC network while also helping charge point operators integrate their existing infrastructure. This will allow operators to retain their charging hardware and individual brands while making their chargers discoverable through the interoperable network.

The company currently works with more than 100 charge point operator partners and has a connected network of more than 10,000 EV chargers. Through its role as a technology enabler, Pulse Energy will facilitate the integration of charging operators with UBC and help them reach a broader base of EV users.

Lalitha Nataraj, CEO, NPCI BHIM, said that the initiative is intended to address the challenges associated with multiple applications and wallet based payments for EV charging, allowing users to discover chargers, charge their vehicles and make payments through the BHIM platform.

Akhil Jayaprakash, Co founder and CEO, Pulse Energy, said that EV drivers should not have to determine which charging network they are using before accessing a charger. According to him, UBC can bring different charging networks onto a common infrastructure, simplifying payments for consumers while enabling operators to serve users beyond their own applications.

Unified Bharat eCharge has been developed as digital public infrastructure using the open Beckn protocol, with the underlying digital public infrastructure developed by the Network for Humanity team. Its open architecture is intended to enable charging operators, technology providers and consumer applications to connect to a common ecosystem instead of operating as isolated networks.

The Ministry of Heavy Industries is supporting the development of the National Unified Hub for EV charging under UBC to create an interoperable and consumer focused charging ecosystem across India. MHI has appointed BHEL as the Project Implementation Agency and engaged NPCI BHIM Services Ltd for the design and development of the platform.

The initiative is being rolled out across participating charging points, with the network expected to expand further across the country. Pulse Energy has also established a feedback mechanism through the Unified Bharat eCharge platform, allowing users to provide feedback and request additional features.