Ola Electric begins test rides of scooters powered by indigenously developed 4680 Bharat Cell

Ola Electric on Sunday said it has started test rides of its 4680 Bharat Cell-powered vehicles at flagship stores across the country.

The S1 Pro+ (5.2 kWh) is the company’s first product to use the 4680 Bharat Cell battery pack, which Ola says offers higher range, improved performance and enhanced safety.

The company recently secured ARAI certification under the AIS-156 Amendment 4 standards for its 5.2 kWh battery configuration, developed and manufactured in-house.

“With this indigenous technology now available for customers to experience through test rides at our flagship stores, we are proud to bring the future of performance, range and safety to the roads today,” an Ola spokesperson said.

The announcement comes as the company is facing scrutiny linked to reports in South Korea alleging leaked proprietary battery technology from LG Energy Solution (LGES).

According to South Korean media, a former LGES researcher is under investigation by the National Intelligence Service and Seoul Metropolitan Police for allegedly transferring pouch-type ternary lithium-ion battery technology to Ola Electric after joining the company in late 2023.

LGES reportedly detected the data breach earlier this year and alerted authorities, leading to the researcher’s dismissal and prosecution in October 2025.

The individual has admitted to transferring data but claimed he did not know it was confidential, the reports said.

Ola Electric has strongly denied any link between its 4680 cell technology and the alleged leak. The company said the timing of the reports, coinciding with the commercial rollout of its own cell, raises doubts about their intent.

“The fear of losing market opportunities, including a significant customer in Ola Electric, is prompting the foreign rival to attack an indigenous battery innovation,” the company alleged.

It said that its 4680 Bharat Cell uses a cylindrical form factor with advanced dry electrode technology, unlike the older pouch cell technology referenced in the alleged leak.

“The old and dated pouch cell technology is not even an area of research or commercial interest for Ola Electric,” the company said.

The 4680 Bharat Cell, which Ola describes as India’s first indigenously developed large-format lithium-ion cell, entered mass production in mid-2024 at the company’s gigafactory in Tamil Nadu built with an investment of ₹2,500 crore.