Airtel Payments Bank just made it easier to pay for electric vehicle charging in India. Starting now, users can top up their EV wallets directly through the Airtel Thanks app using Bharat Connect, the payment platform run by NPCI Bharat BillPay Limited.
If you own an EV, you probably know the drill: downloading separate apps for different charging networks, logging in repeatedly, managing multiple wallets. It’s messy. This update cuts through some of that clutter by letting you recharge supported EV wallets from one place.
Here’s how it works. Open the Airtel Thanks app, go to the Pay Bills section, tap “Recharge EV,” put in your registered mobile number, pick an amount, and pay. The money shows up in your EV wallet right away, so you’re good to charge whenever you need to. One can do the recharge using Airtel Payments Bank’s savings account, or any credit card, debit card, UPI, Netbanking, or Wallets.
Because it’s built on Bharat Connect, the system works across different service providers. That means you’re not stuck using one charging network’s app or payment method, you get more flexibility.
India’s EV market is growing, and developments like these could further promote adoption among users. Payments are one of those areas where things can get annoying fast. Airtel Payments Bank already handles a bunch of bill payments and banking stuff through its app, so adding EV wallet recharges makes sense as more people switch to electric vehicles.
Bharat Connect sees this as part of building a payment system that can handle the shift toward green transport. By making EV wallet recharges interoperable, they’re trying to avoid the fragmented mess that happens when every operator does their own thing.
For users, it’s straightforward: one app, one payment process, instant confirmation. For the EV industry, it removes a friction point that might keep some people from making the switch.
India’s pushing hard on clean mobility, and while big policy moves get attention, small fixes like this actually matter. You’re not driving your EV to a gas station anymore, you’re managing the whole thing from your phone. Now that experience is a bit smoother than it was earlier.
