20 Indian energy firms launch UPI-like system for EV charging

The Unified Energy Interface (UEI) is a collaborative effort by 20 energy companies, including ChargeZone, Pulse Energy, Kazam, Sheru, Trinity, and Turbo, to create an open energy network that facilitates seamless payment and transaction interoperability for electric vehicle (EV) charging.

This initiative, resembling the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), aims to ensure that EV drivers can easily access charging infrastructure, regardless of the vehicle's brand or charging network.

Who is supporting the UEI?

The consortium is advised by leading public policy think tanks and research organizations, such as the Rocky Mountain Institute and the World Resources Institute. 

The UEI has received endorsement from the Department of Science and Technology, highlighted in their latest e-Mobility White Paper. The Beckn protocol, a Made in India open-sourced protocol that enables various open networks, supports UEI.

What does UEI aim to achieve?

UEI is designed to enhance the efficiency of energy transactions and is expected to grow substantially with more business-to-consumer (B2C) apps joining the network. According to consortium members, the network has already facilitated 1.4GWh of energy transactions and is anticipated to increase 100-fold.

It will also support peer-to-peer trading of green electricity, facilitating payments directly between peers, which is a significant step towards a green energy revolution.

How will UEI impact consumers?

Consumers will benefit from the UEI as it allows them to discover, pay, and charge at any member company’s charging station through a unified system, removing the need for multiple access cards or accounts. This not only simplifies the charging process but also encourages competition and innovation among charging point operators.

“We are a customer-obsessed organization, since the beginning days of Pulse Energy we have been nurturing the idea of an open energy network. To accelerate the world’s transition to EVs, we need interoperable systems and do business with each other seamlessly," said Akhil Jayaprakash, CEO of Pulse Energy. 

Raj Kumar, the Executive Director of Trinity, said, “As the transportation sector shifts towards greater electrification, it’s crucial to ensure that EV drivers can access charging infrastructure easily, regardless of their vehicle’s brand or the charging network. Trinity has been a pioneer in such initiatives, like UEI, which aims for seamless integration at the backend. This approach improves convenience for EV drivers by eliminating the need for multiple access cards or accounts. Furthermore, it fosters competition and innovation among charging point operators, as they are motivated to provide better services and prices to attract customers.”

The alliance is a not-for-profit entity formed to manage minimal infrastructure costs, which will be equally split among all members. The UEI's technical framework is designed to be scalable and adaptable to market needs, ensuring it remains relevant through continuous technical evolution and governance.

The framework is crucial as it aims to integrate new and existing participants smoothly, expanding the network’s impact and reach.

Explaining the purpose of the Unified Energy Interface, Reji Pillai, CEO, India Smart Grid Forum (ISGF) said, “India Smart Grid Forum has been promoting peer-to-peer (P2P) trading of green electricity from rooftop solar PV systems; and we have undertaken three successful pilot projects on P2P trading of green energy on blockchain platform in India. The key challenge in scaling up P2P projects is the payment settlement mechanism between the peers involved in the P2P trading. In the present scenario, the payment against P2P trade has to be managed by the respective utilities. With UEI, we could enable P2P payments directly between the peers while the energy wheeling charges for the utility can be levied in the electricity bills by the utility. This is going to unleash a green energy revolution in the country, particularly with 10 million rooftop solar PV systems being rolled out on the fast track under the PM Suryoday Yojana. UEI will herald a paradigm change in the fundamental operating regime of the power sector globally!”