3W EV fleet operator, 3eco Systems, and advanced battery-tech and deep-tech start-up, Log9 Materials, have announced a strategic collaboration to deploy 2,000+ InstaCharged heavy duty Shakti 8 Cargo (S8Ci) EVs across India over the next 18 months. The vehicles’ deployments will be initiated from Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai and then extended to other metro cities. 3eco Systems claims that these Commercial Electric Vehicles (CEV) will be catering to e-commerce and hyperlocal logistics players such as Amazon, Flipkart, Big Basket, etc. 3eco Systems states that it and Log9 are on a shared mission of electrification and digitisation of the last-mile logistics segment. Their partnership will also aim to accelerate the setting up of fast-charging infrastructure across the cities of operations in the longer run.

Shakti 8 Cargo (S8Ci) EVs by 3ev Industries is an L5 CEV that has been designed to serve last-mile logistics use-cases. As per 3eco Systems, it comes with a range (on full charge) of 130 km and a payload capacity of 580 kg, besides having several other superlative high-performance features. InstaCharged by Log9's RapidX batteries, the cargo EV can be charged from 0 to 100 percent in less than 35 minutes.

3eco Systems states that In India, the last-mile logistics sector is anticipated to increase by 900 percent to $9 billion by 2025. This is largely driven by the e-commerce industry. For intra-city logistics, three-wheeler cargo vehicles are fast becoming a preferred choice for last-mile deliveries, with EVs winning in this segment due to lowest operating cost and highest efficiency, 3eco Systems states. And this is exactly where the collaboration between Log9 and 3eco Systems comes in and can prove to be a game changer, according to 3eco Systems.

Sharing his views, Peter Voelkner, MD, 3eco Systems, said, “3eco serves the widest list of enterprise customers as a dedicated EV fleet operator in India, currently with operations in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Coimbatore and Mumbai. We take a holistic approach to understanding the complete value-chain before we enter a market or customer engagement. We analyse the bottlenecks, operating challenges and other efficiency issues, then work with our strategic partners, like Log9 Materials, to design solutions for greater productivity based on our operating capabilities. After jointly optimising the services using our platform, we unlock substantial benefits for the customers and the communities in the form of higher cost savings and service improvement.”

3eco Systems claims that e-retail logistics is a growing industry that is solving the niche problems for India’s booming e-commerce players. Traditional logistics providers face challenges of offering comprehensive last-mile services for online retailers. According to 3eco Systems, this poses issues such as delayed deliveries, poor last-mile delivery management (particularly of returned items) and insufficient real-time tracking, among others. The partnership between Log9 and 3eco will be attempting to overcome these issues.

Speaking of the strategic partnership, Kartik Hajela, Co-founder and COO, Log9 Materials, said, “The last mile logistics sector has finally come of age and has started manifesting its impact on the Indian economy. With customers today flocking to e-commerce platforms for A to Z, the industry today calls for technologies that empower fleet operations to deliver on time, every time. Our RapidX batteries have earned their repute for the fastest charging batteries in India and have created a benchmark for safety across sectors. We are proud to see our RapidX batteries form an integral part of 3eco’s fleet operations and are certain that our rapid charging technology would ensure higher utilisation of the EVs across multiple use cases, thus creating a positive impact on the bottom line of partners, such as 3eco Systems.”

Karan Kadaba, Director, 3eco Systems, added, “At 3eco, our operations are managed and optimised for maximum utilisation over the day, often operating 1.5 shifts in a 24-hour period, which boosts the vehicles’ revenue generating potential. Our vehicles have smart electronics integrated with the 35-minute charging capability enabled by the RapidX Log9 batteries to give us maximum flexibility to optimise performance, utilisation and cost of operations. Our collaboration with Log9 will allow the customers to have complete advantage of 3ev’s top-tier performance in terms of range, acceleration, braking, as well as multiple points of telemetry for real-time tracking. Access to real-time and targeted data drives our consistent improvement to check all the sub-standard metrics and adopt positive outliers as system-wide best practices. We have plans to expand to eight more tier-1 and 2 cities over the next 12 months.”

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Eicher Trucks & Buses, a division of VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV), has successfully completed a landmark journey from Kashmir to Kanyakumari (K2K) with its Eicher Pro X EV.

The expedition, titled #XpertHaiTohPossibleHai, saw the electric commercial vehicle become the first and fastest in its category to traverse the 4,100-kilometre route under fully loaded conditions.

Starting from Lal Chowk, Srinagar, and concluding at the southern tip of India in six days, the journey was independently adjudicated by the India Book of Records, resulting in four new national records. The initiative was designed to address industry concerns regarding range anxiety, charging infrastructure and the operational reliability of electric vehicles (EVs) in the B2B sector.

The journey tested the vehicle across India’s most diverse terrains and climates, including the Himalayas, the Deccan Plateau and coastal ghats. The Eicher Pro X EV travelled through temperatures ranging from -2deg Celsius to 40deg Celsius. The EV relied entirely on public charging stations, coordinated through the MyEicher App. The trip was conducted with the vehicle at full load capacity to simulate authentic logistics operations.

Abhishek Chaudhary, SVP, SCV - Sales & Marketing, VECV, said, “The K2K milestone is a strong validation of the Eicher Pro X EV’s engineering capability under real-world operating conditions. The initiative not only builds confidence in electric mobility as an economical source of providing logistical solution but also strengthens trust through proof, not promise.”

Eicher collaborated with commercial vehicle influencer Raman Nayak (Behind The Wheels) and a network of regional creators to document the journey. The multi-episode series focused on the practicalities of EV ownership, such as route planning and terrain management, presented in local languages to reach a broader demographic of fleet operators.

Bhagwan K. Bindiganavile, EVP – Strategic Planning, Brand & Communications, VECV, said, “In the commercial vehicle industry, trust is built through proof. Taking a production vehicle on a journey of this scale was a deliberate move to move beyond conventional marketing and demonstrate capability in a real, unfiltered and conclusive manner.”

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Bengaluru-headquartered electric two-wheeler maker Ather Energy has announced that its first family electric scooter, the Rizta, has crossed the 300,000-unit sales milestone within just two years of its April 2024 launch.

The e-scooter has become Ather’s primary volume driver, significantly accelerating the company's growth in both its home markets and new regions.

The Rizta reached 200,000 units in December 2025 and added the most recent 100,000 units in just five months, reflecting a rapid surge in demand for family-focused electric mobility.

The Rizta has been instrumental in Ather’s ‘Middle India’ strategy, focusing on states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha. In these regions, Ather's market share shot up from 4.1 percent (Q1 FY25) to 17.3 percent (Q4 FY26). In Northern states, including Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, market share grew more than threefold during the same period.

In its home base of Southern India, the Rizta helped Ather retain its leadership position, contributing to a regional market share of 23.5 percent in Q4 FY26.

Interestingly, nearly 70 percent of Rizta owners are families with children, moving away from Ather's traditional enthusiast-only demographic. The e-scooter's success is attributed to its 56-litre total storage, spacious seat and safety features like SkidControl. In FY2026, the Rizta accounted for approximately 76 percent of Ather’s total sales volume.

Ravneet Singh Phokela, Chief Business Officer, Ather Energy, said, “Since its launch, the Rizta was sharply positioned as a family scooter and has resonated extremely well with the family audiences across the country. The Rizta has helped us gain a leadership position in FY2026 in Southern India. Additionally, the Rizta has played a crucial role in expanding our market share in ‘middle India’ by 4X since its launch in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha. In FY '26 the Rizta constituted about 76 percent of our portfolio and continues to lead our growth.”

Ather has maintained strong customer engagement through its AtherStack software. In September 2025, the company released AtherStack 7 via an over-the-air (OTA) update. This update introduced a touchscreen interface for existing Rizta Z models, pothole alerts & voice commands and advanced safety features including crash alerts, ParkSafe tow-zone detection and LockSafe theft prevention.

This milestone comes as Ather prepares to enter the mass-market segment with its upcoming EL platform and expands production capacity through its Factory 3.0 facility at AURIC, Maharashtra.

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Hyroad Energy has entered into an agreement with Toyota Motor North America to deploy 40 hydrogen fuel cell Class 8 trucks in Southern California. The announcement took place at the ACT Expo, where the companies outlined a framework covering vehicles, software, and fuel supply.

As per the understanding, Hyroad will provide the trucks along with maintenance and data services for Toyota’s logistics operations. On the other hand, Toyota will supply the hydrogen fuel via its refuelling infrastructure currently being developed in Ontario, California.

The fuel cell trucks offer a claimed driving range of up to 500 miles (804km) and refuelling time of 15-20 minutes, comparable to diesel vehicles. However, the trucks emit only water vapour. Each Class 8 truck carries approximately 70 kg of hydrogen, equivalent to the capacity of 12 Toyota Mirai sedans.

Hyroad operates as an equipment-agnostic provider, bundling vehicle procurement, maintenance and fleet management software. In August 2025, the company acquired 117 hydrogen trucks and intellectual property assets from the Nikola Corporation bankruptcy auction. It now provides parts and support services for existing Nikola truck owners alongside its own fleet operations.

“Accelerating the hydrogen economy requires collaboration, and Toyota is proud to work with Hyroad to move the heavy-duty sector forward,” stated Toyota in a release.

Dmitry Serov, Founder & CEO, Hyroad Energy, said, “Toyota has done exactly what great allies do — they've brought genuine hydrogen expertise to the table and made thoughtful, strategic decisions. They're not waiting for someone else to build this ecosystem. They're investing in it directly, and that's what makes this meaningful. When fuelling, vehicles, software and operational commitment all come together, hydrogen trucking works."

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BYD has claimed the title of the United Kingdom’s leading electric vehicle brand for 2026, surpassing established rivals including Tesla, BMW, KIA and Volkswagen. Official figures show the Chinese automaker has registered 12,754 battery-electric cars since the start of the year. This achievement is particularly notable as BYD has simultaneously become the top choice among private EV buyers, a feat accomplished despite being excluded from the government’s official Electric Car Grant scheme.

The brand’s broader success extends to its plug‑in hybrid lineup, marketed under the DM‑i dual‑mode intelligent system. Combining fully electric and hybrid sales, BYD has delivered 26,396 new energy vehicles in the UK year‑to‑date, capturing a 9.5 percent share of the national market. Three DM‑i models are currently available – SEAL U, SEAL 6 and SEALION 5 – with the ATTO 2 and additional models scheduled to arrive soon. The overall UK EV market has expanded by 22 percent, reflecting rising consumer appetite for sustainable transport.

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Bono Ge, Country Manager, BYD UK, said, “With fuel prices remaining high, more drivers are turning to electric vehicles as a smarter and more economical choice. We are delighted to see the UK EV market grow by 22 percent year-on-year, and even more proud that BYD has become the UK’s leading EV brand in a little over three years. At BYD, we are committed to delivering outstanding value through high-tech electric vehicles that combine innovation, quality and affordability. But our ambition goes beyond building great cars.

“We are also bringing advanced technologies that unlock the full value of electrification, including Vehicle-to-Grid solutions that can help customers optimise energy use and reduce costs. In parallel, BYD has been deploying home and utility-scale energy storage solutions to support a more efficient and affordable energy ecosystem. Looking ahead, we also plan to introduce our breakthrough FLASH Charging, capable of charging a vehicle from 10 percent to 97 percent in just nine minutes.”

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