Marking its expansion beyond electric vehicles, Ola Electric has launched a new battery energy storage system (BESS) called Ola Shakti. Known for pioneering India’s electric two-wheeler market, Ola is now stepping into the broader clean energy ecosystem, with ambitions to serve both residential and grid-scale energy needs. This development aligns with India’s growing focus on energy self-reliance and sustainability.
What is Ola Shakti?
Scalable Energy Storage
- Ola Shakti is designed as a modular, scalable energy storage system that can cater to various applications—from homes and commercial buildings to large-scale grid deployment.
- This marks a strategic move by Ola Electric to diversify into energy infrastructure while capitalizing on its existing lithium-ion cell manufacturing technology.
Based on Bharat 4680 Cell
- The system is built on the Bharat 4680 lithium-ion cell, Ola’s proprietary battery platform.
- These cells are being manufactured at the Ola Gigafactory, part of the company’s larger vision to localize advanced battery tech in India.
Technological and Industrial Significance
From EVs to Energy Infrastructure
- Ola Electric has already gained attention for its in-house development of rare-earth-free ferrite motors and for receiving government certification for these innovations.
- With Ola Shakti, the company is now venturing into the energy storage sector, a critical component for balancing renewable energy and ensuring power reliability.
Targeting 5 GWh Storage Capacity
- According to company projections, Ola Electric expects to scale its annual energy storage capacity to 5 GWh in the next few years.
- This would position it among the leading players in India’s emerging BESS market, which is vital for supporting intermittent renewable sources like solar and wind.
Applications and Impact
Residential to Grid-Scale Use
Ola Shakti can be deployed in a wide range of environments,
- Residential and small commercial setups for backup power and solar integration
- Industrial facilities for load balancing and energy cost optimization
- Grid-scale installations to support national power infrastructure and renewable integration
- The platform’s modular design enables flexible deployment depending on user needs, making it suitable for both urban and rural electrification projects.