Sachin Maini

Indian entrepreneur pioneering electric mobility through affordable two-wheeler innovations

Sachin Maini is a visionary engineer whose work in sustainable transportation is transforming India's urban landscapes. Born in 1987 in New Delhi, he co-founded Ather Energy in 2013 with a mission to make electric vehicles (EVs) accessible in a country where 80% of vehicle traffic consists of two-wheelers. His company's S40 electric scooter became India's first mass-market EV with a 100km range per charge at an affordable ₹140,000 (~$1,800) price point, undercutting competitors by 30%.

Maini's innovations address India's unique challenges: the S40's modular battery system allows users to swap batteries at Ather's 500+ stations, solving range anxiety without requiring charging infrastructure in crowded cities. This model inspired similar programs in Vietnam and Indonesia. By 2022, Ather's fleet had cumulatively prevented 120 million kg of CO2 emissions, equivalent to planting 1.6 million trees. The company's open-source battery swapping standard has been adopted by 15 Indian states, creating a blueprint for developing nations.

His approach combines cutting-edge technology with grassroots understanding - Maini spent 6 months riding Delhi's streets to study rider behavior, leading to features like a smartphone-integrated navigation system with real-time pollution levels. This human-centered design philosophy earned Ather a UNESCO award for Sustainable Urban Mobility in 2018. Maini also founded the Electric Mobility Foundation in 2019, providing EV training to 50,000+ mechanics across India.

Beyond India, his work influences global EV strategies - MIT's Technology Review named him one of the '35 Innovators Under 35' in 2020 for his battery swapping model now being tested in European cities. Maini's vision of 'mobility as a service' through shared EV fleets is being piloted in Mumbai and Bangalore, aiming to reduce the 1.3 million annual traffic deaths in India by 50% through safer, smarter transportation systems.