Plugzmart Launches India’s First Multi-Network EV Charging Platform ‘Relay’ to Boost Accessibility and Uptime

In a breakthrough for India’s electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem, IIT Madras-incubated startup Plugzmart has unveiled ‘Relay’, a first-of-its-kind multi-network EV charging platform that promises to make charging more accessible, reliable, and future-ready. The indigenously developed platform allows a single charger to connect to multiple Charging Management Systems (CMS) simultaneously, eliminating the current restriction of one charger being tied to a single app or network.

With India’s EV adoption steadily increasing, limited charger visibility and network incompatibility have been major roadblocks for EV users and charging point operators (CPOs). Plugzmart’s ‘Relay’ is designed to bridge this gap, enabling real-time connectivity across networks, improving charger utilization, and making EV charging more seamless than ever before.

Solving a Key Challenge in EV Adoption

Until now, EV chargers in India have typically been locked to a single CMS platform, meaning users had to rely on specific apps to find and access charging points. This lack of interoperability created fragmented networks, resulting in reduced visibility, underutilized infrastructure, and inconvenience for EV owners.

Plugzmart, an innovative EV charger manufacturer based in Chennai and incubated at IIT Madras, identified this as a critical hurdle slowing India’s EV growth. ‘Relay’ tackles this problem head-on, allowing one charger to appear across multiple service provider platforms simultaneously.

“One of the biggest roadblocks for EV adoption is the limited availability of chargers visible on public platforms,” said Raghavendar TS, Director of Software Business Unit at Plugzmart. “Our solution maximizes the visibility of each installed charger, boosting utilization, improving ROI for charger owners, and offering EV users more choices across cities and rural areas.”

How ‘Relay’ Works: Multi-Network Connectivity Without Hardware Upgrades

At the heart of Relay is intelligent middleware built by Plugzmart that seamlessly integrates with Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP)- compliant chargers, enabling multi-CMS connectivity without requiring hardware changes.

Key features include:

• Multi-Network Compatibility: Each charger can simultaneously operate across different service providers, significantly expanding reach and accessibility.
• Dynamic Session Management: An intelligent routing system manages charging sessions in real time, ensuring smooth operations, accurate billing, and uninterrupted service even if one CMS experiences downtime.
• Unified Dashboard: CPOs can monitor all connected platforms from one interface, simplifying management and reducing operational complexities.
• Vendor Flexibility: This policy eliminates vendor lock-in by allowing operators to switch or add CMS providers at any time, promoting open and interoperable infrastructure.
• Fast Deployment: Since it supports OCPP-based chargers, existing hardware can integrate with Relay without expensive retrofits or replacements.

This innovation enables real-time session routing, ensuring EV users can access a charger via any app or network, vastly improving user experience.

Boosting Charger Utilization and ROI for Operators

The lack of interoperability has inconvenienced EV owners and impacted charging point operators (CPOs), who struggle to maximize utilization of their infrastructure. With Relay:

• Increased Visibility = Increased Utilization: A charger listed on multiple platforms is more likely to be discovered and used by EV drivers.
• Improved ROI: Serving a broader user base enhances revenue potential without additional investment in new hardware.
• Reduced Downtime: If one CMS platform faces technical issues, Relay routes the session to another network, avoiding service interruptions.

By addressing these concerns, Plugzmart enables a more sustainable and profitable EV charging ecosystem, encouraging more investors and operators to expand infrastructure.

A Step Towards Open, Interoperable EV Infrastructure

Plugzmart’s Relay is not just a technological upgrade—it represents a shift towards open and interoperable EV infrastructure, aligning with global best practices. Unlike traditional models, EV drivers have freedom of choice, while users are forced to rely on one network’s app. Relay gives freedom of choice to EV drivers and operational independence to CPOs.

This interoperability is especially crucial for India, where EV infrastructure is still developing and fragmented. As multiple charging networks expand in parallel, ensuring cross-platform accessibility is vital for user convenience and large-scale adoption.

“With this breakthrough, Plugzmart positions itself as a key enabler of future-ready EV infrastructure, making India’s charging network more open, scalable, and efficient,” Raghavendar TS added.

Why This Matters for India’s EV Future

India’s EV market is projected to grow rapidly in the coming decade, driven by government initiatives, environmental policies, and rising fuel costs. However, charging accessibility remains a significant barrier, with many potential buyers hesitant to switch to EVs due to uncertainty about finding available and compatible chargers.

Relay directly tackles these pain points:

• EV Users: Enjoy wider access to chargers via multiple apps without compatibility concerns.
• CPOs: Gain higher utilization rates and vendor flexibility, reducing operational risks.
• Industry Growth: Encourages a collaborative, non-fragmented ecosystem, accelerating nationwide EV adoption.

The Road Ahead

As India builds its EV infrastructure, innovations like Plugzmart’s Relay will be crucial in shaping a seamless, interconnected charging ecosystem. By bridging gaps between competing networks and enabling real-time user access, Relay sets new benchmarks in operational efficiency and customer convenience.

Plugzmart’s homegrown solution demonstrates how Indian startups can solve complex, industry-wide challenges, paving the way for scalable, inclusive, and future-proof EV solutions that can meet the country’s ambitious sustainability goals.