A new industry forum, LEAF, has been launched in India to support the development of a more consistent and interoperable charging ecosystem for light electric vehicles, including two- and three-wheelers. The launch event was attended by Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, H. D. Kumaraswamy.
Industry Participation
LEAF brings together stakeholders across the EV ecosystem, including vehicle manufacturers, charging infrastructure operators, component suppliers, and technology providers.
The forum has been formed through a memorandum of understanding between Hero MotoCorp (through its Emerging Mobility Business Unit), Ather Energy, and IPEC India. These companies are part of the initial steering committee. At the time of launch, the forum included more than 20 member organisations. The group is expected to expand further.
Focus Areas
The forum will work on improving coordination across the charging ecosystem. Its key areas of focus include:
- Enabling interoperability across charging networks
- Improving reliability and consistency of charging services
- Expanding access to public charging infrastructure
LEAF will also engage with government bodies, regulators, and industry associations to align with existing policies and standards.
Role of Charging Standards
The development of common charging standards is a key part of the forum’s approach. One such initiative is the Light Electric Combined Charging System (LECCS), which has been approved under Bureau of Indian Standards (IS 17017 Part 2/Sec 7).
The LECCS standard supports both AC and DC charging through a single “Type 7” connector. It is intended to enable compatibility across networks and support features such as communication between chargers and vehicles.
Industry Context
The formation of LEAF comes at a time when electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers are seeing increased adoption in India. However, the charging ecosystem remains fragmented, with different networks and varying user experiences.
Industry participants have identified interoperability and infrastructure availability as areas that need coordination.
Elctrik Speaks
The creation of LEAF indicates a shift toward collaborative efforts in India’s EV charging ecosystem, especially for light electric vehicles. While policy support and vehicle adoption have progressed, charging infrastructure remains uneven.
A coordinated approach involving manufacturers, operators, and technology providers could help address compatibility issues and improve access. However, the effectiveness of the forum will depend on how widely its standards and recommendations are adopted across the industry.
