Bolt.Earth and Blaze DC: Delivering Universal Fast Charging for India’s Light EV Market

Raghav Bharadwaj, CEO & Founder of Bolt.Earth, discusses the launch of the Blaze DC fast charger for electric two- and three-wheelers and its significance for India’s light EV ecosystem. The conversation covers charger compatibility across OEMs, Bolt.Earth’s nationwide charging network, collaborations with fleet operators and automakers, domestic manufacturing efforts, and the company’s R&D focus in advancing EV charging technology. 

Bolt.Earth recently launched the BLAZE DC fast charger for e-2Ws and e-3Ws. Please help us understand the significance of this solution for India’s light EV market.

Blaze DC is India’s first universal DC fast charger for electric 2- and 3-wheelers. It delivers fast charging at 1% per minute with maximum safety. This is our response to one of India’s most urgent EV infrastructure gaps: fast, universal, and reliable charging for light EVs. 

Two- and three-wheelers form the backbone of urban mobility and last-mile logistics, yet they’ve long been underserved by charging solutions. With Blaze DC, we’re introducing four variants – 3kW (Single & Dual Gun), 6kW (Single Gun), and 12kW (Single Gun). It’s compact, cost-efficient, and optimized for high-throughput environments like fleet depots, commercial hubs, and highway corridors. 

Blaze DC supports both the LECCS Type 7 and LEVDC Type 6 standards, catering to all vehicle makes, making it truly universal for India’s diverse EV ecosystem.

Which OEMs’ e-2Ws and e-3Ws can the Blaze DC fast charger work with?

Blaze DC works seamlessly across a wide spectrum of OEMs, including Ather, Ola, Ultraviolette, Simple Energy, and other larger/listed OEMs, and is currently undergoing testing and validation by the OEMs. We’ve collaborated closely with these manufacturers to ensure compatibility across voltage ranges, connector types, and charging protocols. Whether it’s a high-performance scooter or a rugged cargo three-wheeler, Blaze DC delivers fast, safe, and reliable charging, tailored to the unique needs of each vehicle.

Given there is no universal fast-charging standard for 2Ws and 3Ws, how does BlazeDC achieve compatibility with multiple OEMs?

The absence of a universal fast-charging standard for 2Ws and 3Ws was a challenge we embraced head-on. At the hardware level, Blaze DC supports both Type 7 connector (LECCS, BIS-approved) and Type 6 connector (LEVDC- endorsed by Bharat Charge Alliance (BCA)), making it work efficiently across different voltages and vehicle types.

But what really makes Blaze DC special is how dynamic it is. It intelligently recognizes the vehicle’s onboard system and adjusts power delivery accordingly, ensuring safe and efficient charging across different vehicles. We’ve also built firmware-level integrations with OEMs like Ather, Ola, Ultraviolette, Simple Energy, and others to ensure seamless communication and safety. Blaze DC adapts, learns, and optimizes for every vehicle it connects to, making it a future-proof solution for India’s emerging EV ecosystem.

Bolt.Earth claims to be India’s largest EV charging network. Can you share the current number of Bolt.Earth Charger installations corresponding to the types of vehicles served and the geographical footprint for our readers?

Our network has now crossed the milestone of 1,00,000 charger deployments across India, making us the country’s largest EV charging network. What sets us apart is the diversity of vehicles we serve, from two-wheelers and three-wheelers to four-wheelers, all playing a vital role in India’s clean mobility journey.

In terms of energy consumption, two-wheelers account for about 42–45% of the charging demand, three-wheelers contribute around 20%, and four-wheelers make up approximately 35%. This reflects the unique mix of India’s EV adoption, where smaller vehicles are leading the transition, but larger vehicles are steadily catching up.

Geographically, our footprint spans the length and breadth of India, with a strong presence in key states such as Maharashtra and Karnataka. We also see significant growth in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Kerala, which together represent the top five regions driving EV adoption. Our mission is simple: to make charging accessible, reliable, and convenient for every EV user, no matter where they are in India.

Can you share how Bolt.Earth is serving the fast-growing EV fleet market for different vehicle categories?

India’s EV fleet market is expanding at an incredible pace, and we are committed to powering this growth across all vehicle categories. 

• For two- and three-wheelers, we are working closely with quick commerce and mobility partners like Zepto and Rapido, ensuring their delivery fleets have reliable access to charging infrastructure.

• On the commercial vehicle side, we collaborate with leading OEMs such as Mahindra and Bajaj to support their growing EV portfolios. We also serve dedicated fleet operators like Bijliride, driEV, helping them scale efficiently with dependable charging solutions. 

For four-wheeler fleet aggregators, we provide advanced DC fast-charging facilities that are critical for keeping larger fleets on the move with minimal downtime.

Please share about the level of domestic value addition or localization for Bolt.Earth chargers.

Bolt.Earth chargers are 100% designed, developed, and manufactured in India. This level of domestic value addition is something we are proud of, because it ensures that our solutions are tailored to the unique conditions of Indian EV users while also strengthening the country’s manufacturing ecosystem.

We operate hi-tech facilities in Bengaluru, Mysore, and Chandigarh, where our teams focus on production and quality assurance. Through our Integrated Testing and Warehousing Facility (ITWF), we bring advanced engineering together with local talent development across all units. By keeping the entire value chain within India, we are able to deliver chargers that are cost-effective, reliable, and future-ready, contributing to job creation and the broader vision of self-reliant, sustainable mobility.

What is your current team strength, and what % of Bolt’s workforce is involved in R&D?

We are a strong 150-employee company; what defines us is the depth of our technical focus. Nearly 45% of our workforce is dedicated to research and development. Our R&D efforts are centered on building the highest quality charging products, the epitome of reliability, safety, and performance with user-friendly design.

We have a strong engineering backbone that constantly pushes the boundaries of engineering excellence, whether it’s enhancing charger efficiency, integrating smart software features, or developing fast-charging solutions tailored to India’s diverse EV ecosystem. This commitment to R&D ensures that every product we deliver is aligned with the evolving needs of EV users across the country.

Also Read: EV Charging Tech Series Part 1 – Types, Power Systems and Engineering Design