



Exponent Energy's battery data intelligence will power its new EV financing push in India
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Lightspeed-backed Exponent Energy, a maker of batteries and equipment that allow rapid charging of electric three-wheelers, is setting up a subsidiary that will offer an innovative pay-as-you-go financing model to help expand its business across the country, according to top company executives. The finance subsidiary, Exponent One, will allow operators of autorickshaws to repay loans based on vehicle usage and their daily earnings instead of fixed equated monthly instalments.
Exponent One will finance both the retrofitting of CNG or LPG three-wheelers into EVs and purchases of new electric three-wheelers. "Fundamentally, we think with EVs, energy is the capital expenditure problem. Customers are paying that capex up front," Arun Vinayak, chief executive officer and founder of Exponent Energy, told Mint in an interview.
“Customers need innovative financing options if we want to drive EV adoption." EV financing is a niche segment estimated at $3.59 billion this year and projected to grow to $28.7 billion by 2031, according to Mordor Intelligence. India is one of the world's largest EV three-wheeler markets, with sales growing 15% to 797,729 units in 2025, its best year so far. Exponent Energy has roped in former Ola executive Sandeep Divakaran to serve as CEO and co-founder of the new venture, alongside Vinayak.
Divakaran previously served as CEO of evfin, an EV financing company from Greaves Finance, a subsidiary of Greaves Cotton. Exponent Energy raised a $2 million pre-seed cheque from mobility venture capital fund AdvantEdge Founders. It is betting that its battery tech tracking and real-time analysis will help its financing business to underwrite loans more precisely.
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