Meet the Man Powering India’s Clean Mobility Revolution

Rajeev YSR is more than a CEO — he’s a movement maker. As the CEO of ThunderPlus, CMO of ETO Motors, and the visionary behind EV Master Class and CXO Club, Rajeev is deeply embedded in the fabric of India’s clean mobility transformation. With a background rooted in IIT Madras and MIT Sloan, and industry experience spanning from Mahindra to GATI Logistics, his work bridges tech, policy, and impact.

In this in-depth conversation with EV Unplugged, Rajeev shares his unfiltered insights on ThunderPlus’s growth, the future of EV adoption, and how charging stations might just become the next big small-town business opportunity.

Let’s start with your personal and professional journey — could you take us back to how ThunderPlus began?

Rajeev YSR : I was always fascinated by automobiles, since my childhood. Despite securing an All India Rank of 360 (AIR) in IIT JEE, I chose to join Engineering Design, completing my master’s in Automotive Engineering. The love only grew throughout my 5-year stay at IIT Madras, where I joined core automotive companies such as TVS Motors, Bosch, Mahindra & Mahindra, and ETO Motors.

The idea of sustainable mobility captured my heart while I was developing last-mile delivery solutions through electric vehicles for IKEA, while working with GATI Logistics. Having worked in EV OEMs such as ETO Motors and with the Government, one thing I realized is that charging infrastructure continues to be perceived as an impediment to the growth of the EV industry.

That’s when the idea for ThunderPlus was sparked. How can I solve the single, persistent problem: range anxiety? I realized that without a robust, accessible, and smart charging infrastructure, EV adoption in India would always remain stunted. ThunderPlus was born to eliminate that anxiety — starting from scratch and scaling vertically from manufacturing to operations, all under one umbrella.

From the first pilot to achieving ₹10 crore in just one year — that’s quite a leap. How would you describe the evolution of ThunderPlus during this phase?

Rajeev YSR : It’s been an electrifying ride. From our first few installations to hitting ₹10 crore in revenue within 12 months, the growth has been powered by relentless innovation and sharp execution.

We always wanted to be the fastest growing EV company and never had the ₹10 crore as our target, but we have been consistent and persistent in our efforts. And over the past 12 months, we realized we hit the ₹10 crore target. This definitely wouldn’t be possible without the tireless efforts of our team and immense support from our customers.

From being a charger manufacturer to developing parking & charging solutions, EPC solutions, and public charging solutions — we have left no stone unturned in building India’s first vertically integrated charging company.

Key turning points are our innovative product positioning such as a universal 3.3KW home charger under the campaign called #HarGharThunder, as well as our strategic partnerships with giants such as TATA Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, MG, Ather, Tork, Flix Bus, Turno, India Post, and BPCL, among many.

Each of these partnerships brought us closer to becoming India’s most dependable EV charging brand.

ThunderPlus has been at the forefront of innovation in EV infrastructure. What would you say are its most defining contributions to India’s clean mobility ecosystem so far?

Rajeev YSR : We strongly believe that any technology would be successful when it is democratized. We have seen the same in LED bulbs, mobile phones, and see its potential in the EV industry — and thus, most of our campaigns are centered around the common man entering the EV ecosystem as an entrepreneur.

Our entry-level franchise starts from INR 2 lakhs, while a regular EV charging franchise starts from INR 50 lakhs. Apart from that, India’s first #HarGharThunder campaign is synonymous with our old STD booth business, where anyone can set up a charging station and earn from the comfort of their home.

We also introduced:

• India’s first dynamic load-sharing fast chargers
• Ethanol and methanol-powered charging units that function independently of the grid
• The country’s first LEVDC (Light Electric Vehicle DC Charger) for 2W and 3W — branded as #ChaiPeCharge — which can charge a 2-wheeler in 10 minutes and a 3-wheeler in 30 minutes

Additionally, we built India’s first EV-ready post office and a multi-portfolio fast charging station that can simultaneously charge 2W, 3W, 4W, and buses.

With such innovative initiatives, we have expanded from 1 state to 14+ states, and from 1 city to 40+ cities, setting up a 12 MWh charging station and dispensing 10,000 units every day.

You’re constantly pushing boundaries with ThunderPlus. How do you see your current initiatives transforming the EV landscape in the next 2–3 years?

Rajeev YSR : We’re already piloting wireless EV charging, cluster charging stations, and mobile EV charging vans and methanol charging stations that are grid independent. These technologies will be game-changers — enabling seamless urban charging, boosting uptime, and ensuring rural and Tier-2/3 inclusivity.

We’re also launching our “ODOT” campaign — One District One Thunder, which promises to take the conversation on clean mobility mainstream to every district.

Despite momentum, EV adoption in India still faces resistance. What do you see as the three biggest hurdles slowing it down?

Rajeev YSR : Fragmented Infrastructure: Majority of our efforts and resources are spent in erecting the power infrastructure and the civil infrastructure. The costs towards transformers, deposits, and other regulatory purposes are increasing both the lead time as well as investment to set up a reasonable 240KWh+ charging station.

Awareness Gaps: Misconceptions about EV performance and reliability. And people must realize and appreciate the EV charging business could be a potential business/entrepreneurial opportunity.

Policy Execution: Good policies exist but need faster, more localized execution. We need stronger public-private partnerships, standardized tech protocols, and urban planning that embeds charging into daily infrastructure — especially from DISCOMs.

We’re seeing massive innovation at the crossroads of clean energy, digital tech, and electric mobility. How do you see this intersection evolving in the near future?

Rajeev YSR : The convergence of IoT, AI, and clean energy is redefining EV charging. Smart chargers with dynamic load balancing, real-time fault detection, and grid-responsive algorithms are no longer futuristic; they’re foundational. Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS), blockchain for energy credits, and solar-integrated chargers excite me the most.

For the young minds and entrepreneurs stepping into the EV or cleantech space — what advice would you give them?

Rajeev YSR : Solve real-world problems first. Be vertically agile. Understand policy, tech, and consumer behavior together. Most importantly build for Bharat, not just India. Tier 2/3 cities hold the real key to EV scalability.

ThunderPlus is widely regarded as a tech-first company driving India’s EV transition. Can you walk us through the core platform and what makes it unique?

Rajeev YSR : Our ecosystem includes:

• Thunder Tej: India’s fastest 2W/3W charger.
• Thunder Lite: An affordable universal charger for residential and commercial use.
• Smart SaaS Layer: Real-time analytics, dynamic load sharing, remote diagnostics, and seamless app experience.

What sets us apart is our “end-to-end integration” — from manufacturing the chargers to operating the network to analyzing performance with AI. We’re not just plug-and-play; we’re plug-and-elevate.

ThunderPlus recently launched a women-focused EV franchise program — a bold and much-needed move. What inspired you to take this step?

ThunderPlus Launches Women-Focused EV Charging Franchise Program

Rajeev YSR : Women are not just drivers of vehicles, they’re drivers of change. We launched the Women EVpreneurs initiative to bridge the gender gap in cleantech entrepreneurship. This program empowers women with ownership, revenue, and purpose — bringing EV charging to neighborhoods through a grassroots, gender-inclusive lens.

Editor’s Note: Why This Feature Matters

This story isn’t just about one company’s success. It’s about redefining India’s EV narrative through accessibility, inclusion, and innovation. Rajeev YSR’s vision for a decentralized, digitally intelligent, and socially inclusive clean mobility ecosystem is what makes ThunderPlus a name to watch.

Message to EV Unplugged Readers:

Whether you’re an investor, a policymaker, or a young student sketching your first EV idea — Rajeev’s journey is proof that clean mobility isn’t just a government goal or corporate buzzword. It’s a mission that starts with bold choices, real problems, and human-first thinking.