Pulse Energy, India’s pioneering EV charging technology company, announced its participation as one of the first certified technology enablers for Unified Bharat eCharge (UBC), a nationwide interoperable EV charging network launched by the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI), Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) and the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). The network will enable electric vehicle users to discover participating chargers and pay for charging through UPI on the BHIM app, without having to download separate applications or maintain operator-specific prepaid wallets.
: Pulse Energy, India’s pioneering EV charging technology company, announced its participation as one of the first certified technology enablers for Unified Bharat eCharge (UBC), a nationwide interoperable EV charging network launched by the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI), Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) and the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). The network will enable electric vehicle users to discover participating chargers and pay for charging through UPI on the BHIM app, without having to download separate applications or maintain operator-specific prepaid wallets.
The launch, announced on India’s 80th Independence Day, is aimed at addressing fragmentation in the country’s EV charging ecosystem, where users often have to navigate multiple charging applications, accounts and wallets across different networks. Under UBC, participating charging points can be accessed through a common network, giving EV users a simpler way to find and pay for charging as they travel across cities and highways.
The initial rollout of Unified Bharat eCharge will be available through the BHIM app, with participating chargers being added across cities and national highways. The network is also expected to be made available through other applications across payments, mobility and automotive, allowing users to access UBC-enabled chargers through platforms they already use.
Pulse Energy will support these application providers in connecting to the UBC network, extending interoperability beyond the charging infrastructure itself to the consumer applications through which EV users discover and access charging services.
Pulse Energy is enabling charge point operators to connect their existing charging infrastructure to the UBC network. This allows operators to retain their own charging hardware and brands while making their chargers discoverable and accessible through the interoperable network.
The company currently works with more than 100+ charge point operator partners and operates a connected network of more than 10,000 EV chargers. Through its role as a technology enabler on UBC, Pulse Energy will support charging operators in integrating with the network and accessing a wider pool of EV users.
According to Lalitha Nataraj, CEO, NPCI BHIM, “Multiple apps and wallet loading for EV charging is exactly what we wanted to solve for . Discover EV charges on BHIM payments app, charge, pay and go. Simple solution for everyone”
“EV charging should not require drivers to think about which network they are using before they can plug in. The idea behind UBC is to make charging more accessible by bringing different networks onto a common infrastructure. For users, that means a simpler payment experience, while operators get the opportunity to serve users beyond their own applications,” Said Akhil Jayaprakash, Co-Founder & CEO, Pulse Energy
Unified Bharat eCharge has been developed as digital public infrastructure using the open Beckn protocol, with the underlying DPI developed by the Network for Humanity (NFH) team. Its open architecture is intended to allow charging operators, technology providers and consumer applications to connect to a common ecosystem rather than operating as isolated networks.
The initiative brings together participants across India’s EV and digital infrastructure ecosystem, with MHI, BHEL and NPCI supporting the national-level rollout of the network.
Ministry of Heavy Industries is supporting the development of National Unified Hub for EV charging, i.e., ‘Unified Bharat e-Charge (UBC),’ to enable a seamless, interoperable, and consumer-friendly ecosystem across India. MHI appointed BHEL as Project Implementation Agency (PIA) and engaged NPCI BHIM Services Ltd (NBSL) for its design and development”
UBC will go live on Independence Day, with the rollout of participating charging points expected to expand across the country. Pulse Energy has also established a feedback mechanism through unifiedbharatecharge.com, allowing users to share feedback and request new features, which can be routed to the relevant government points of contact working on the network.
