Terra Motors is a prominent electric vehicle ecosystem developer rooted in Japan. It has joined forces with the Tamil Nadu State Government to revolutionize the state’s EV infrastructure. The strategic investment in Tamil Nadu will enable the Japanese company to enhance the existing EV charging infrastructure in the state, strengthening India’s EV charging network. During an interaction with Vidushi, Akihiro Ueda, CEO of Terra Charge highlighted Terra Charge’s strategies for addressing gaps in India’s EV charging infrastructure, including investments, technological innovations, and alignment with the ‘Make in India’ initiative to promote sustainable and accessible electric mobility.
Q- What was the initial vision behind establishing Terra Charge, and how has it evolved to address the critical gaps in India’s EV charging infrastructure?
Ans. Our vision was to create a smart society by making sustainable and clean transportation accessible to all. However, I am confident in achieving our goal through mutually beneficial collaborations with stakeholders in the EV ecosystem. As an industry player, we aim to lead the sector’s growth by working closely with our customers, partners, and the community. Over the years, we have come together to develop innovative charging infrastructure solutions and chargers to promote EV adoption globally. As a result, our vision has also evolved to address the gaps in India’s EV charging infrastructure with a keen focus on accessibility, scalability, and sustainability. For instance, there is a huge gap between the demand for EVs and the working charging infrastructure. So, we are focused on developing charging infrastructure solutions suitable for urban and rural areas so that everyone has easy access to advanced charging technologies. We are also exploring strategic partnerships to deploy our solutions on a broader scale.
Q- What key strategies did you implement to achieve such remarkable success, and how did you apply these strategies to Terra Charge?
Ans. My team and I factor in multiple things while implementing any project, especially when we know it could impact a large number of people and the economy of a country. Looking back, I feel that the success achieved by Terra Charge was possible because of our company’s forward-thinking mindset and long-term strategy. From the get-go, we have been clear about focusing on the needs of our customers and the diverse market they come from so that their unique needs are met. Each town and city in this country has different terrains, diverse geographic conditions, and infrastructure landscapes that require different charging infrastructure. As a team, we keep this in mind while setting up charging stations in a region. For example, if an area has a problem with waterlogging, we create a water-resistant infrastructure. Similarly, if an area has more demand for electric two-wheelers, we install chargers that are suitable for bikes and scooters.
One of our key strategies has always been to leverage Japanese technology and market expertise to develop innovative and high-quality charging solutions. This technological advantage, backed by our decade-old experience in the Indian EV industry, helps us distinguish ourselves from competitors.
I believe that a favourable policy environment and government support are crucial to making tangible developments in a nascent segment. This is why, as part of our expansion strategy, we seek to collaborate with the government and local investors to achieve our mutual goals of promoting EV adoption. For instance, we have joined hands with the Tamil Nadu government with an investment of Rs.50 crore into the state’s charging infrastructure. We have also partnered with several electric ride-hailing services to meet their charging needs. I see this as a key step towards our goal of creating a robust charging infrastructure network throughout the nation.
Q- Terra Charge has expanded to six major Indian cities. What challenges did you face during this expansion, and how did you overcome them to establish Terra Charge as a key player in the EV sector?
Ans. We have recently raised $28 million in Series C funding and have expanded to Hyderabad, Bangalore, Pune, Gurgaon, Kolkata, and Chennai to expand our Terra Charge vertical. As the CEO, my immediate goal is to provide high-value EV charging services and explore meaningful business opportunities in the country. However, during our early expansion stage in these cities, we faced challenges in the form of differences in market sentiment and charging needs, along with hesitance to explore charging infrastructure solutions.
To overcome these challenges, we focused more on our R&D efforts and studied the diverse market needs. We are also collaborating with local authorities and investors to develop suitable charging solutions unique to each city and nearby areas. By introducing tailored charging solutions for public, residential, and commercial establishments we are strengthening our position in the EV charging segment. Besides that, we are constantly improving our customer service and sales methods, and expanding our distributor network. I am hopeful that our efforts in these cities and other major locations across India will enable us to support the government goal of 30% EVs by 2030.
Q- Can you elaborate on Terra Charge India’s Rs. 50 crore investment in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu government? How do you see this partnership contributing to the state’s EV charging infrastructure and overall electric mobility?
Ans. In order to expand advanced charging infrastructure and promote e-mobility, we have collaborated with the Tamil Nadu government and generated an investment of Rs. 50 crore. This investment is expected to strengthen charging infrastructure and green transportation in the state. It will also create employment opportunities, supporting the growth and well-being of the community. I plan to leverage our Japanese technology and global market knowledge to offer efficient electric vehicle solutions tailored to Tamil Nadu’s unique EV market.
Moreover, the state policies focus on green energy and transportation, which aligns with our broader goal. So, with our advanced technologies and experience, I am hopeful that we can lead the state toward embracing e-mobility.
Q- Terra Charge offers a comprehensive package that includes charging infrastructure, financing, and management software. How does this “blanket solution” cater specifically to segments like logistics and last-mile delivery?
Ans. Our blanket solution includes an L5 Loader vehicle, charging infrastructure, financing, and management software solutions. To elaborate, the package offers an L5 Loader vehicle tailored to meet the new India’s logistics and last-mile delivery service needs. Last-mile delivery companies will also access loans at attractive interest rates under this solution without any lengthy documentation or process. Meanwhile, our charging infrastructure will help business owners keep their fleets operational and reduce downtime during active hours.
Our software management solutions will further help them improve their services and offerings. Each offering caters to all the major needs that an electric fleet owner could need to start or manage their business. Hence, you can say that Terra Charge’s blanket solution has been designed keeping in mind the needs of logistics and last-mile delivery services.
Q- How does Terra Charge align with the ‘Make in India’ initiative, and what steps are you taking to ensure that your operations contribute to both environmental sustainability and economic growth in India?
Ans. Terra Charge aligns with the ‘Make in India’ initiative by focusing on locally manufactured EV charging infrastructure, which reduces the dependency on imports. This move supports local manufacturers and ensures that all the solutions are tailored to India’s unique needs. As a part of this Make in India move toward the environment, we focus on manufacturing charging infrastructure that could help reduce carbon footprints and help the nation meet its net zero carbon emissions goal. Through our Made in India charging solutions and infrastructure projects, we are helping generate job opportunities for youths in sectors including logistics, public transportation, software management, and infrastructure.
Recently, I came across the IVCA-EY-Induslaw report that said the EV sector can help create 10 million direct and 50 million indirect jobs by 2030, including opportunities in the charging space. I believe that making advanced charging infrastructure accessible to everyone in the country can further help meet the high demand for EVs, support the industry’s growth, and foster economic growth and development.
Q- How do you see the expansion of EV charging networks influencing urban mobility, particularly in terms of reducing traffic congestion and improving air quality.
Ans. In my opinion, the expansion of EV charging networks is influencing urban mobility on a large scale by making EVs more accessible to everyone. These charging networks could promote a shift toward electric transportation from traditional engine transport, which would help lower environmental impact. All traditional fossil fuel-driven vehicles are the main contributors to air pollution, impacting public health and the environment. However, EVs are eco-friendly as they emit zero tailpipe emissions. In fact, one electric vehicle can help eliminate 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide in a year, equivalent to planting 60 trees. Hence, they can directly impact the environment and the health of people by reducing air pollution, especially in urban areas.
Noise pollution is closely associated with conventional vehicles, which adds to the commotion in urban areas. EVs are not necessarily noisy, which makes them a great fit for urban areas where streets are filled with personal vehicles, commercial fleets, and public transportation in all shapes and sizes.
By increasing the number of public charging stations, we can lower the range anxiety associated with electric vehicles and boost their adoption rate in cities with heavy traffic flow. However, in this regard, it is important to pay attention to the location of charging stations. To elaborate, if the placement of charging stations is planned strategically, especially in remote areas, highways, and public places, EV owners can easily access them on their daily routes.
