Dr. Satish Mittal : Empowering Drivers And Electrifying Mobility For A Sustainable Future
Dr. Satish Mittal
Co-Founder & Chief Digital Officer
In a candid interview, DR Satish Mittal shared his remarkable life journey, highlighting the lessons and values he's gained, along with his plans.
Give a brief about your organization Chargeup. What drives and motivates you in your daily work?
Have worked across domestic and international markets with leading brands such as Meta, Nokia, Vodafone, and Reliance, spanning industries like telecom, social media, digital, and now electric vehicles (EV). I was honoured to receive a Doctorate in 'Customer Experience in the Digital Era,' which highlights my commitment to enhancing customer interactions in today’s rapidly evolving digital land - scape. Throughout my career, I have witnessed three monumental shifts: the trans - formation from a discon - nected world to a hyperconnected era through mobile phones, the shift from cash-only transactions to a cashless society with UPI, and the transition from fossil fuels to electric power in the rise of EVs. My journey in the EV sector began alongside our founder and CEO, Varun Goenka, with a focus on the last-mile drivers who are crucial to India’s economy.
Despite adopting EVs, these drivers face significant challenges, such as high upfront investment and financing costs, breakdowns, battery replacements, and charging anxiety. Batteries account for 40 percent of an EV’s cost, and ongoing investment is required for replacements after the warranty period. Chargeup's Battery-as-a-Service (Ba - aS) solution provides drivers with a leasing option, cutting both initial and ongoing costs. Using advanced battery technology, we collect EV data every 30 seconds, enabling AI-driven predictive maintenance for real-time asset management. This optimizes battery perfor - mance, extends mileage, and ensures uninterrupted operation. Chargeup also brings together key players in the EV industry - OEMs, financiers, insurers, and recyclers - on a single platform, offering integrated solutions. Our core mission is to improve the lives of last-mile drivers, with every decision focused on their well-being.
Can you share the unique experiences SP Jain Institute of Management and Re -search offers, and what lessons you gained from campus life beyond academics?
I did my MBA from SP Jain after gaining around 20 years of experience, which made the experience unique. I could easily relate to the theories being taught, such as constraint management and customer lifecycle optimization, as I had encountered many of them in the field. For my industry project, I chose a real-world problem on churn management, ran it for six months, and applied concepts learned in class to reduce churn by half. The project was well-received, and my professor had me present it in MBA classes as an example of applying academic concepts to real corporate outcomes.
What key factors do you consider when developing strategies for long-term digital transformation?
Our digital strategy is the backbone of our EV platform, and we take pride in being a full-stack solution. First, we bridge the gap between demand and supply by connecting drivers with financial institutions, like NBFCs, and OEMs entirely through digital means. Second, we've implemented digital under- writing, allowing us to onboard drivers completely online with
My leadership style is collaborative and foc-used on effective dele-gation, which I've honed over the years
Can you share the unique experiences SP Jain Institute of Management and Re -search offers, and what lessons you gained from campus life beyond academics?
I did my MBA from SP Jain after gaining around 20 years of experience, which made the experience unique. I could easily relate to the theories being taught, such as constraint management and customer lifecycle optimization, as I had encountered many of them in the field. For my industry project, I chose a real-world problem on churn management, ran it for six months, and applied concepts learned in class to reduce churn by half. The project was well-received, and my professor had me present it in MBA classes as an example of applying academic concepts to real corporate outcomes.
What key factors do you consider when developing strategies for long-term digital transformation?
Our digital strategy is the backbone of our EV platform, and we take pride in being a full-stack solution. First, we bridge the gap between demand and supply by connecting drivers with financial institutions, like NBFCs, and OEMs entirely through digital means. Second, we've implemented digital under- writing, allowing us to onboard drivers completely online with
out any physical paperwork. All necessary documents are uploaded and evaluated digitally, and within four hours, drivers receive approval or disapproval. Third, we’ve adopted a mobile-first approach, enabling our field staff to manage everything via mobile - attendance, salaries, driver onboarding, and service tickets - entirely online. Lastly, we use AI/ML engines based on five years of battery data to predict failures before they occur, offering service guarantees to drivers. We've also developed a 'karma score’, a digital metric based on driver behaviour and patterns. These four pillars define our digital transformation.
Could you share your leadership approach? What key guidelines or methodo-logies do you follow in your role as a leader?
I've had my leadership journey, starting from a small village in Haryana and experiencing various leadership styles over the past 30-35 years. From authoritative to collaborative and bottom-up approaches, I’ve found that collaborative leadership works best. I'm proud to bring this style to our organization. One initiative we’ve implemented is the 'Idea Factory' as part of our people charter, where we encourage employees to collaboratively address challenges and opportunities through white boarding, idea-sharing, and piloting solutions. If successful, it becomes a collective win.
What is the direction you are aiming for in the future?
My future goals are both personal and professional. I am committed to building a leadership pipeline within the organization, mentoring emer-ging leaders like Harshita, and aspiring to become a TEDx speaker. I’m working on a project applying the Bhagavad Gita to modern corporate life and plan to teach these concepts. Professionally, I aim to transform our company into a billion-dollar enterprise and achieve unicorn status. With a clear strategy based on insights from over 1,000 drivers, our roadmap includes expanding to 100,000 drivers in the next three years and reaching profitability within the year, setting us up for substantial growth and success.
Dr Satish Mittal, Co-Founder & Chief Digital Officer, Chargeup
DR Satish Mittal is a technology leader in the EV industry, focused on electri-fying last-mile mobility and improving drivers' livelihoods. He leverages data and AI to drive efficiency and sustainability while staying committed to lifelong learning and mentorship.
Could you share your leadership approach? What key guidelines or methodo-logies do you follow in your role as a leader?
I've had my leadership journey, starting from a small village in Haryana and experiencing various leadership styles over the past 30-35 years. From authoritative to collaborative and bottom-up approaches, I’ve found that collaborative leadership works best. I'm proud to bring this style to our organization. One initiative we’ve implemented is the 'Idea Factory' as part of our people charter, where we encourage employees to collaboratively address challenges and opportunities through white boarding, idea-sharing, and piloting solutions. If successful, it becomes a collective win.
What is the direction you are aiming for in the future?
My future goals are both personal and professional. I am committed to building a leadership pipeline within the organization, mentoring emer-ging leaders like Harshita, and aspiring to become a TEDx speaker. I’m working on a project applying the Bhagavad Gita to modern corporate life and plan to teach these concepts. Professionally, I aim to transform our company into a billion-dollar enterprise and achieve unicorn status. With a clear strategy based on insights from over 1,000 drivers, our roadmap includes expanding to 100,000 drivers in the next three years and reaching profitability within the year, setting us up for substantial growth and success.
Dr Satish Mittal, Co-Founder & Chief Digital Officer, Chargeup
DR Satish Mittal is a technology leader in the EV industry, focused on electri-fying last-mile mobility and improving drivers' livelihoods. He leverages data and AI to drive efficiency and sustainability while staying committed to lifelong learning and mentorship.