Empowering a self-reliant, technologically advanced future
Bhavish Aggarwal, CEO and founder of Ola Electric, is launching “Ola Shakti,” a dual strategy focused on residential energy independence and technological self-reliance through a residential Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and an expansive AI ecosystem. This initiative aims to build a vertically integrated, indigenous technology powerhouse.
Powering Your Home’s Future: The Ola Shakti Residential BESS
The Ola Shakti residential BESS, launched on October 16, 2025, is Ola Electric’s entry into India’s energy storage market, designed to address power outages, voltage fluctuations, and the demand for sustainable power. It is engineered for residential use, farms, and small businesses, offering on-demand energy management.
- Technology: Leverages Ola’s proprietary 4680 Bharat Cell technology, the same advanced lithium-ion cells used in Ola’s electric vehicles.
- Manufacturing: Automotive-grade battery packs are produced at the Ola Gigafactory in Tamil Nadu, ensuring reliability and high performance.
- Indigenous Design: It is India’s first residential BESS entirely conceived, designed, and manufactured domestically, promoting national energy self-sufficiency.
- Functionality: Acts as a power backup during grid failures, enables solar energy storage, and stabilizes voltage for sensitive electronics.
- Vision: Transforms home energy management from emergency backup to a proactive, smart approach.
Smart Energy Management Features:
- Time-of-Day (ToD) Scheduling: Optimizes energy storage/discharge based on tariff hours for maximum savings.
- Intelligent Backup Systems: Ensures continuous operation of critical appliances during outages.
- Remote Diagnostics and Control: Mobile app for monitoring and control.
- Over-the-Air (OTA) Updates: For system upgrades and adaptations.
- Scalability Options: Allows for capacity expansion as energy needs grow.
Availability and Pricing:
- Configurations will vary to suit diverse needs.
- Smallest variant: 1.5 kWh unit at ₹29,999.
- Largest variant: 9.1 kWh system at ₹1,59,999.
- Reservations are open, with deliveries anticipated in early 2026.
Beyond Energy: Ola Shakti’s Vision for an AI-Powered India
Ola Shakti’s vision extends to a comprehensive AI foray through Ola’s AI venture, Krutrim, aiming to build a vertically integrated sovereign cloud and AI stack tailored for India, focusing on Indian languages and cultural contexts.
Krutrim AI: Crafting India’s Intelligent Future
- Mission: To forge an AI ecosystem that resonates with India’s linguistic and cultural diversity.
- Development: Focuses on advanced large language models (LLMs) and vision models capable of understanding and interacting in numerous Indian languages, promoting digital inclusion and innovation.
- Goal: To build foundational AI designed for India, by India.
Indigenous AI Chips: The Bodhi Series Unveiled
- Roadmap: In-house development and manufacturing of advanced AI chips.
- “Bodhi 1”: AI chip slated for production by 2026.
- “Bodhi 2”: AI chip targeted for 2028.
- Purpose: Engineered to handle complex computational demands of LLMs and vision models for next-generation AI applications.
- Significance: Represents a leap towards technological sovereignty and full-stack AI capability.
AI in Motion: Krutrim Virtual Assistant for Ola Electric
- Integration: Ola Electric’s scooters will be powered by the Krutrim AI virtual assistant running on the MoveOS 5 operating system.
- Beta Release: Anticipated by late October (Diwali 2024).
- Functionality: Aims to provide intuitive voice command understanding in Indian languages, personalized recommendations, and proactive assistance, transforming mobility.
Everyday AI: Krutrim’s Tools for Enhanced Living
- AI-Powered Customer Care: Application supporting 22 Indian languages for essential services.
- “Bhashik”: A multimodal language hub for video translation, aiming to dissolve communication barriers across regional languages.
Ola Shakti’s dual focus on energy storage and AI demonstrates Bhavish Aggarwal’s strategy to empower India with physical and digital infrastructure for a self-reliant, technologically advanced future.
The Core Innovation: Technologies Driving Ola Shakti
Ola Shakti is underpinned by significant technological innovations and a commitment to indigenous R&D and manufacturing.
Ola Gigafactory: A Hub of Indigenous Manufacturing Excellence
- Location: Tamil Nadu.
- Function: Produces high-quality, high-performance battery cells and packs for the Ola Shakti BESS and other products.
- Benefits: Reduces reliance on global supply chains, enhances quality control, contributes to economic growth, and symbolizes India’s advanced manufacturing prowess in green energy.
4680 Lithium-Ion Cells: The Heart of Ola’s Power Solutions
- Technology: Advanced cylindrical cells offering superior energy density, improved thermal management, and simplified battery pack design.
- Benefits: Enhanced efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and high performance.
- Indigenous Development: Ola’s 4680 Bharat Cells are developed and manufactured domestically.
- Economies of Scale: Shared cell technology across EVs and BESS drives down costs and ensures consistent performance.
AI-Driven Efficiency: Maximizing Your Energy Savings
- System: Advanced AI-driven energy management system with 98% energy efficiency.
- Functionality: Learns user patterns, predicts energy needs, and optimizes power flow.
- Features: Time-of-Day scheduling for cost savings, remote diagnostics, and OTA updates for continuous improvement.
Seamless Solar Integration: Towards a Greener Home
- Capability: Designed to work harmoniously with solar panels.
- Purpose: Enables homeowners to store excess solar energy for later use, maximize solar investment, reduce grid reliance, and achieve energy independence.
- Contribution: Positions the Ola Shakti residential BESS as a key component for sustainable, self-sufficient homes and a greener energy future.
Shaping India’s Future: Market Potential and Conclusion
Bhavish Aggarwal predicts that Ola Shakti’s non-vehicle energy segment could surpass the automotive division in revenue, highlighting the immense potential in India’s energy solutions market.
- Market Growth: The BESS market in India is poised for exponential growth due to climate awareness, government incentives for solar adoption, and rising conventional electricity costs.
- Addressing Dual Challenges: Ola Shakti addresses India’s need for reliable power and the transition to cleaner energy.
- Consumer Suitability: Its intelligent design and scalability cater to diverse consumers, from urban dwellers to rural communities.
- Smart Home Ecosystems: The synergy between Ola Shakti’s energy storage and Krutrim AI will enable smart home ecosystems that optimize energy usage and interact with smart grids.
- Positioning: Ola Electric is positioned as a pivotal force in India’s journey towards energy independence and a digitally empowered future.
Timeline: Reservations are open, with deliveries expected to commence in early 2026.
“Ola Shakti embodies our commitment to a self-reliant India, empowering every home with intelligent energy and fostering a vibrant AI ecosystem.”— Bhavish Aggarwal, CEO & Founder, Ola Electric
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