Ola Electric’s journey from rigorous battery testing to the brink of launching its ambitious Lithium-Ion Gigafactory marks a seismic shift in India’s clean-tech landscape. What began as a bold bet on electrification is now shaping up to be a defining moment in the company’s evolution—from a disruptor to a dominant force.

Ola’s battery development phase wasn’t just a technical exercise—it was a strategic crucible.

The company invested heavily in R&D, assembling a team of global experts and building advanced labs to test cell chemistry, thermal stability, and lifecycle performance.

This phase was crucial not only for product reliability but also for building credibility in a space traditionally dominated by international giants like CATL and LG Chem.

Ola will be making (see 1:25:00 on wards of Sankalp 2025 video):

• 4680 Cell ( already made and will enter market 22 Sept 2025.

46100 Cell (bigger efficient & more economical)

46120 Cell (even bigger, efficient & economical)

OLA Gigafactory: The Big Boy in Town

Now, with the Gigafactory nearing launch, Ola is poised to scale its vision. The facility, set to be one of the largest in Asia, will produce multi-GWh capacity annually, enabling mass production of EV batteries for scooters, cars, and potentially energy storage systems.

Ola is currently having 5GWh capacity. This will expand to 20GWh as demand increases and will finally grow till about 100GWh capacity. The planned total battery capacity of Exide + Amara Raja and other together is not even 50GWh.

Most of these PLANS will not come into production because they do not have a ready product like an eScooter which will use the cells and the current eScooter makers have already placed orders from China.

So it is very doubtful that even Exide or Amara Raja would even dare to start a manufacturing plant (MoU and Planning is one thing and building plant and manufacturing, doing R&D, redesigning, and Testing and launching is another thing totally) just to test whether they will be able to sell the battery cells in India is too risky and cost intensive to even attempt. Unless ofcourse they too start to build a PRODUCT (either eScooter or Home Power BackUp Solutions) which will use the cells.

Ola’s transition from a mobility startup to a battery manufacturing heavyweight is emblematic of a broader shift in India’s industrial narrative. It’s no longer just about assembling EVs—it’s about owning the core technology.

• Strategic Scale: The Gigafactory isn’t just about volume—it’s about influence. It positions Ola as a key player in India’s push for battery independence.
• Economic Impact: Thousands of jobs, supply chain stimulation, and tech spillover effects make this more than a corporate milestone—it’s a national asset.
• Localized Innovation: Ola focused on tailoring battery tech to Indian conditions—heat, humidity, and road stress—ensuring real-world durability.
• Vertical Integration: By developing its own cells, Ola aims to reduce dependency on imports and control costs, a move that echoes Tesla’s playbook.
• Market Muscle: With in-house battery production, Ola can undercut competitors, offer better warranties, and innovate faster.
• Policy Synergy: Ola’s timing aligns with India’s PLI (Production Linked Incentive) schemes, giving it both financial and regulatory tailwinds.

Ola Cells will be required everywhere:

• eScooters,
• Electric rickshaws,
• Cars,
• Commercial vehicles,
• Buses, trucks,
• Residential energy storage,
• Drones, autonomous systems,
• Robots & robotics,
• Grid-scale energy storage.

You name it Ola cells will be required for anything and everything.

Conclusion: Gigafactory is here to electrify the future

Ola’s Gigafactory isn’t just a facility—it’s a statement. It signals the company’s arrival as a serious contender in the global EV ecosystem. From testing cells in labs to testing the limits of scale, Ola is no longer the scrappy newcomer—it’s the big boy in town, and it’s here to electrify the future.