Brands
Ola lights up homes with ‘Shakti’ energy storage system
MUMBAI: Ola has flipped the switch on a new kind of power. With Ola Shakti, the company is charging into the fast-growing Rs 1 lakh crore Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) market, bringing clean, home-grown energy straight to Indian households.
Launched in Bengaluru, Ola Shakti marks Ola Electric’s first step beyond electric mobility into energy storage for homes, farms and small businesses. It uses the company’s indigenous 4680 bharat cells and is fully designed, engineered and manufactured in India.
“India doesn’t face an energy shortage; it faces an energy storage opportunity,” said Ola Electric CMD Bhavish Aggarwal. “With Ola Shakti, we are turning that opportunity into energy independence.”
Available in four configurations of 1.5 kwh, 3 kwh, 5.2 kwh and 9.1 kwh, Ola Shakti starts at an introductory Rs 29,999 for the first 10,000 units. Reservations are open at Rs 999, and deliveries will begin on Makar Sankranti 2026.
Compact, stackable and built to last, Ola Shakti offers efficiency of up to 98 percent and zero maintenance costs. It promises instant power during outages, protection from voltage fluctuations and weatherproof reliability tested for monsoon conditions.
The system can also think for itself. Through real-time insights, intelligent scheduling and remote updates, Ola Shakti helps users manage power smarter, reduce bills and make the switch to clean energy effortless.
Brands
IndiGo names William Walsh CEO
Former IATA chief to take charge in August after Elbers exit, Bhatia steers interim
India’s biggest airline has moved fast and gone global. InterGlobe Aviation, which operates IndiGo, has tapped aviation heavyweight William Walsh as chief executive officer, subject to regulatory approvals, marking a sharp pivot as the carrier eyes its next burst of expansion.
Walsh, currently director general at the International Air Transport Association, will step down on July 31, 2026, and is expected to take charge by August 3. The appointment comes barely three weeks after Pieter Elbers exited the corner office, with Rahul Bhatia holding the fort in the interim.
The choice signals intent. Walsh brings decades of cockpit-to-boardroom experience, having led British Airways and later International Airlines Group, the parent of Aer Lingus, Iberia and Vueling. His tenure across carriers has been defined by hard resets, restructurings and cross-border consolidation—skills IndiGo may need as competition intensifies and scale becomes decisive.
Vikram Singh Mehta, chairman and non-executive independent director of IndiGo, said Walsh’s experience in managing large-scale airline operations and navigating complex market dynamics makes him well-suited to lead IndiGo in an increasingly competitive global aviation environment, adding that the appointment marks a new chapter as the airline scales in one of the world’s fastest-growing markets.
Rahul Bhatia said Walsh’s global perspective, operational expertise and customer-focused approach would be critical as IndiGo enters its next phase of expansion.
Walsh, widely regarded as one of the industry’s most influential figures, will oversee overall management and strategic direction, with a mandate spanning operational performance, network expansion, commercial strategy and customer experience. He is expected to work closely with the board and leadership team to sharpen IndiGo’s growth trajectory.
Walsh said IndiGo has a strong foundation and is well-positioned to capitalise on the evolving aviation landscape, adding that he looks forward to fostering a culture of excellence, innovation and sustainable value creation across the organisation.
A new captain, a bigger runway—and a market that rewards scale. IndiGo is lining up for its next take-off.
