Retrofitted autorickshaws clock over 1.5 million km and complete 25,000+ rapid charging sessions during four-month pilot
Bengaluru, September 21, 2026: Exponent Energy has completed 200 electric-vehicle (EV) retrofits of internal combustion engine (ICE) autorickshaws in Bengaluru, marking a key milestone in its four-month pilot under the Exponent OTO platform.
The company said the retrofitted vehicles have collectively covered more than 1.5 million kilometres and completed over 25,000 charging sessions in the city. Exponent also claims to have captured a 20% share of Bengaluru’s electric three-wheeler market.
The company marked the milestone by bringing together members of its OTO driver community at its Bengaluru facility.
Retrofitting platform targets commercial three-wheelers
Exponent OTO is the company’s three-wheeler mobility platform, designed to accelerate the electrification of existing and new commercial three-wheelers. The platform enables ICE autorickshaws to be converted into EVs, while Exponent is also working with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to integrate its mobility technology into new electric three-wheelers.
According to the company, an ICE autorickshaw can be retrofitted within 24 hours, reducing downtime for drivers. The OTO platform offers 0–100% charging in about 15 minutes, a claimed real-world range of 140–150 km, and a five-year or 3,000-cycle warranty.
Battery designed for rapid charging
The retrofit uses a battery system designed for the high-utilisation requirements of commercial three-wheelers.
Speaking about the battery technology and its applications, Rakesh H N, Module Lead – OTO Platform, Exponent Energy, explained that the system is designed to support frequent rapid-charging cycles while maintaining vehicle availability for drivers.
According to Exponent, the battery enables the vehicle to achieve its claimed 0–100% charging time of around 15 minutes, helping drivers minimise charging-related downtime during working hours. The battery is covered under the company’s five-year or 3,000-cycle warranty.
The OTO platform is also designed to increase vehicle utilisation. Exponent said its vehicles can work with standard public and home charging infrastructure, giving drivers additional charging options beyond the company’s own network.
Retrofit model and financing support EV adoption
Speaking about the milestone, Ayush Bhargava, Head of Business, Exponent Energy, said the 200 retrofits demonstrate the potential to electrify vehicles already operating on Indian roads instead of waiting for them to be replaced.
He said the retrofit model could provide commercial drivers with a more accessible route to EV adoption while allowing them to continue using the vehicles and service ecosystem they are familiar with.
Exponent said India’s existing commercial vehicle base is nearly 10 times larger than the new-vehicle market, making the electrification of vehicles already on the road an important part of the country’s transition to electric mobility.
The company believes this approach is particularly relevant to commercial three-wheelers, which typically operate for long hours every day. Retrofitting can allow such vehicles to transition to electric power without requiring drivers to immediately purchase an entirely new vehicle.
To address the initial cost of conversion, Exponent has introduced Exponent ONE, its EV financing platform, which provides financing options for the OTO retrofit kit. The company said the initiative is aimed at lowering the upfront financial burden on commercial drivers and improving the economic viability of EV adoption.
Exponent’s technology and company background
Founded in 2020, Exponent Energy said its technology has so far powered more than 3,500 EVs, supported over 200 charging stations, enabled more than 2 million rapid-charging sessions, and covered over 100 million kilometres across India.
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