Battery Visionary At the core of Exponent's offering is a seamlessly integrated ecosystem: the e^pack (battery), e^pump (charger), and e^plug (connector), all designed to work together.

When Arun Vinayak co-founded Exponent Energy back in 2020, he wasn't just launching a new business—he was setting out to solve what he believed was the biggest hurdle in India's electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem: energy.

"As the EV market evolved, it became obvious that the driving experience had finally caught up with traditional petrol and diesel cars," Arun shared. "But we were still facing issues like long charging times, poor battery life, and a lack of infrastructure. These weren't isolated problems—they were symptoms of a broken energy system."

This insight inspired Arun and his team to create a solution from the ground up. At the core of Exponent's offering is a seamlessly integrated ecosystem: the e^pack (battery), e^pump (charger), and e^plug (connector), all designed to work together. The outcome is a standard lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery that can fully charge in just 15 minutes and lasts for an impressive 3,000 cycles.

"What sets us apart," Arun noted, "is our ability to provide ultra-fast charging without sacrificing affordability or battery life." One of Exponent's standout innovations is its heat management system. Rather than using bulky and costly onboard cooling systems, Exponent has cleverly integrated the thermal system into the charging station itself. "Our off-board cooling circulates refrigerated coolant through the connector, cooling each cell individually," he explained. "This keeps the battery at its optimal temperature—even in India's extreme weather—without adding extra cost or weight to the vehicle."

Even with its current success, Exponent's path hasn't been without its bumps. "India hasn't historically excelled in hardware innovation," Arun admitted. "Finding the right talent and fostering a strong engineering culture was essential." Convincing manufacturers to embrace their technology was another challenge. Arun addressed this by engaging directly with end-users. "Once we demonstrated the value to customers, it became much easier for OEMs to place their trust in us."

Today, Exponent powers over 1,700 vehicles across five Indian cities (Delhi NCR, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, and Hyderabad) and has completed more than 350,000 charging sessions."We've just rolled out India's first and the world's third 1 megawatt fast-charging technology for heavy electric vehicles," Arun shared.

Looking to the future, he envisions tremendous growth. "We've demonstrated that the technology is effective and scalable. Now, it's all about branching out into different vehicle types and cities," he explained. "The EV battery market is just beginning, and we're thrilled to be at the forefront."

Arun's goal is straightforward: "Our mission has always been to make energy simpler and electrify transportation. That's a commitment that remains unchanged—and it always will."

Facts:

• Founded: 2020
• Employees: 200+
• Units Sold: 1700+ EVs
• Funding Raised: USD 44.6 Mn