– Electric vehicle (EV) drivers can now use WhatsApp to pay for charging at any charging station partnered with InstaCharge and it allows EV users to easily and conveniently pay for charging sessions.
– The companies have developed a sign-up form for Charge Point Operators (CPOs) to integrate the feature into their network, it allows them to scan and pay for their charging sessions using WhatsApp, making the process more convenient and accessible for everyone.
Bengaluru, 17th January 2023: Log9 Mobility, a subsidiary of Log9 Materials, a deep-tech and advanced battery technology startup based in Bengaluru, has announced a partnership with EV SaaS startup Pulse Energy to launch India’s first WhatsApp-based payments at Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations. Pulse Energy offers a platform for over 550 fast charging points and enables interoperability between charge point operators throughout India.
Through this partnership, Log9 Mobility aims to overcome persistent challenges in the EV industry by increasing the use of fast chargers and providing a one-stop solution for payments at charging stations, contributing to the development of a seamless EV charging infrastructure. The WhatsApp payment option will initially be available for 3W EV drivers and will later expand to include 2W and 4W EVs.
Currently, one major hurdle for EV drivers is the need to browse through multiple charging station apps to find the nearest available charging station, and the issue of different EV charging stations using different apps, resulting in money being loaded into the wrong app and becoming irretrievable. This partnership addresses these issues and offers a solution through the convenience of WhatsApp’s easy scan and pay feature at Log9 InstaCharge partnered charging points.
Speaking on the collaboration, Mr. Kartik Hajela, COO & Co-founder, Log9 Mobility, says, “This tie-up aligns with our stance of pioneering responsible energy, Log9’s core belief. I am certain that the partnership with Pulse Energy will be instrumental in offering impeccable charging experience to EV users, eventually leading to the much-needed expansion of the charging infrastructure and EV mobility in India.”
Devang Mistry, CTO & Co-Founder, Pulse Energy describing the complexities involved in making EV charging more accessible, adds, “When Aadish Jain (Co-founder of Pulse Energy) and I looked at software providers in the charging market today, we found everyone was selling inexpensive, white-labelled apps to CPOs who were willing to pay. We took a different approach and looked at what EV users want and what challenges they face due to multiple charging apps. Our approach so far has yielded a higher charger utilization for CPOs, and satisfied EV drivers.”
For this initiative, Pulse Energy partnered with WhatsApp@Meta and its business partner WATI to help bring a seamless WhatsApp based solution for EV drivers. On this occasion Ravi Garg, Director – Business Messaging, WhatsApp India says, “We are delighted to partner with Pulse Energy and Log9 Mobility to enable users to charge their EVs seamlessly using the WhatsApp Business platform and its inbuilt payment solution. It is a proud moment for us at WhatsApp to play a meaningful role in empowering consumers in the evolving EV ecosystem in the country.”
Starting today, CPOs partnering with either Pulse Energy or using Log9’s InstaCharge application will be able to make transactions through WhatsApp. If you are interested in enabling WhatsApp-based charging, please sign up at: https://whatsapp.pulseenergy.io
