Ather Energy Limited has expanded its Product Testing & Validation Centre – The Juggernaut, located in Begur, Bengaluru. This expansion is a crucial step in enhancing Ather’s research and development (R&D) ecosystem, ensuring superior quality, durability, and safety for its electric scooters.
The new facility features dedicated labs for structural durability, battery testing, electrical and electronics reliability, and environmental testing. With this expansion, Ather aims to accelerate product development while maintaining high safety and performance standards.
Ather employs a layered validation approach, ensuring rigorous testing at every stage of development. A key feature of this facility is the MTS 334 Road Load Simulator, capable of replicating real-world two-wheeler conditions. This system compresses a 1,00,000 km endurance test into just 15 days, a process that would typically take 10 years of on-road riding. This advanced simulator enables early bug detection, design optimisation, and cost reduction, ensuring scooters meet real-world challenges before reaching customers.
The battery testing lab at The Juggernaut further enhances Ather’s safety standards. The company conducts thermal performance tests, water wading tests, drop tests, vibration tests, and thermal cycling tests to assess battery resilience under varied and extreme conditions. Battery packs are subjected to real-world load conditions, cycling through typical customer usage patterns to monitor long-term degradation and performance.
Ather’s testing process includes over 4,500 unique tests, ensuring that its vehicles can withstand the diverse and often challenging Indian road conditions. The battery packs undergo 272 safety tests, including over-temperature resistance, mechanical drop testing, and extreme vibration testing. Additionally, Ather’s batteries are IPX7 waterproof certified and AIS 156 compliant, reinforcing their ability to function reliably in all weather conditions.
The company follows the Ather Product Development System (APDS), which mandates eight quality reviews before any product launch. Ather has three R&D facilities in Bengaluru, including one recognised as an in-house R&D unit by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR). As of December 31, 2024, the company’s R&D expenditure stood at INR 2,388 million, accounting for 15% of its total revenue. Nearly 46% of Ather’s workforce is dedicated to R&D, reflecting its strong focus on innovation and product development.
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