New Delhi: The Light Electric-Vehicle Acceleration Forum (LEAF) was launched today as a neutral, industry-led consortium focused on advancing the EV charging ecosystem to accelerate the adoption ofelectric two-wheelers and three-wheelers. The forum was inaugurated by H. D. Kumaraswamy, Union Minister for Heavy Industries (MHI) & Public Enterprises of India.
As EV adoption goes mainstream, LEAF will enable charging ecosystem development by bringing together OEMs, charging infrastructure operators, suppliers, component manufacturers, and technology providers. The forum will work closely with government & regulatory bodies and industry associations to exchange insights and accelerate the development of EV charging infrastructure in India as per government policies.
The forum aims to advance interoperability across charging networks, improve the reliability and consistency of the user experience, and expand public access to charging infrastructure. Interoperability initiatives for LEVs,including LECCS (Light Electric Combined Charging System)
– approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (IS 17017 Part 2/Sec 7) as a combined AC/DC “Type 7” connector supporting slow and fast charging, are taking shape and enabling unified communication and roaming across networks.
LEAF was formed through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Hero MotoCorp Limited through its Emerging Mobility Business Unit; IPEC India., and Ather Energy Limited. The LEAF’s founding members constitute the initial steering committee. At the launch, the forum brought together 20+ member organizations across the LEV ecosystem, consisting of vehicle manufacturers, charge point operators, suppliers, and software providers. The consortium will continue to expand its membership in the coming months. For more information or to express interest in joining this consortium, visit www.leafconsortium.com.
Speaking at the launch, the founding members of LEAF, Kausalya Nandakumar, Chief Business Officer – Emerging Mobility Business Unit, Hero MotoCorp, Ravneet S Phokela, Chief Business Officer, Ather Energy, and Ms. Zohra Khan, CEO, IPEC India collectively expressed their views: “EV adoption in India has reached an inflection point, and the next phase of its growth will depend on how effectively the industry addresses charging anxiety, as users navigate fragmented networks and inconsistent experiences. Delivering a seamless and interoperable charging experience at scale will require alignment on shared approaches, which LEAF aims to enable. We believe India has the potential to emerge as a global leader in light electric mobility, and initiatives like LEAF are key to unlocking this potential by building a more cohesive and scalable public charging ecosystem.”
