An interesting picture is emerging in India as the EV scene heats up. The big players like Bajaj Auto, TVS Motor Company and Hero MotoCorp and Honda Motorcycles & Scooters India have shed any reservation they would have had about India’s EV market to mark their presence. The movement of these big wigs in the 2-wheeler space is taking place amid a certain clout created by new entrants at the organised end of the EV market like Ather Energy and Ola Electric as well as at the unorganised end of the EV market by entrants like E-Ashwa, ADMS e-bikes, Miracle 5, etc.

What is turning the EV scene in India more interesting is how the small EV players that could be described as those belonging to the unorganised part, are organising themselves to take on the big wigs. A recent development in Maharashtra where the transport authorities seized and fined low-speed two-wheelers that could exceed the stipulated maximum speed of 25 kmph and possibly possessed batteries and motors that exceeded the capacity put down in the rules has led to the smaller EV players to organise themselves as an association that would help them deal with any such eventualities in the future. The treatment meted out to them during the event made them think of a strategy that would effectively make them portray themselves as bigger and stronger. Make them possess the ability to represent themselves better and to lobby effectively if the needs arises.  

A similar development is taking place in the three-wheeler category as well. Starting of as small enterprises, electric three-wheeler manufacturers from across the country are beginning to organise themselves as they find that the bigger and better organised players like Piaggio and Ampere are beginning to corner a share of the electric three-wheeler market in the passenger as well as the cargo carrier level.

Moving up the value chain and taking to work closely with Indian suppliers, the smaller three-wheeler manufacturers are investing in better R&D, seeking help from specialised associates at the testing and components supply end to ensure that their vehicles meet the regulatory demand as well as the market expectations.  

Smaller electric three-wheeler manufacturers are also working closely with financiers to drive sales while keeping an eye on the regulatory changes and announcement of incentives by states as they announce EV policies in line with the one that the Union Government has drawn. Drawing attention to the EV policy announced by the State of Haryana, Suman Mishra, CEO, Mahindra Electric Mobility, said that her ompany welcomes the move. Terming it as ground breaking, she averred, “What is encouraging is that there is a comprehensive EV policy backing this move. Slashing emissions from the road transport sector forms a pivotal part of India's efforts to de-carbonise its economy and a well-articulated, incentivised EV policy is crucial to creating a conducive environment for the adoption of EVs.” 

As the bigger players like Mahindra and Piaggio continue to invest in network expansion, technology upgradation and development of products that are more efficient, the smaller players are taking to collaborations. They are working closely with components suppliers – many of whom are common to the bigger players – to ensure reliance on technology and to enhance their ability to sell reliable EVs. An emerging EV supply chain is almost ‘God-sent’ to the smaller Indian EV manufacturers. Also, the emergence of unique solutions providers like those that are supplying battery pack casing to facilitate easy swapping or charging of the battery or those that are making available test and certification facilities that would otherwise need high investments.  

Opinions and feedbacks have been called for by an agency under the aegis of Niti Aayog to prepare a draft for battery swapping policy even as the BIS standard has been made mandatory for EV batteries. There is however a need to reconsider the battery dimension regulation as far as the terminals are concerned, it seems. An industry source mentioned that a new concept of sunken terminals which are safe and efficient rather than the lead-acid battery-like terminals said to be under consideration with appropriate protection show go a long way in revolutioning the use of lithium-ion batteries, he informed.

The battery swapping policy draft is expected to be made public by the end of July 2022 and a policy expected to be announced soon after. At the passenger vehicle level, it is the big wigs like MG Motors and Tata Motors who have been calling the shots. New entrants like BYD are also planting their feet in the market that is growing at a fair pace. As the charging infrastructure grows amid high fossil fuel prices, electric passenger vehicles are growing in the face of attractive incentives, a growing drive range and increase vehicle performance.  

At the CV level too, it is a combination of established players like Tata Motors and new entrants like Olectra-BYD and JBM that have been calling the shots. The EV proliferation is at the bus-end of the market. The buyers are mostly city and state transport organisations. The act of purchasing electric buses is also helped by government initiatives like FAME II, which is claimed to be public transport oriented, are helping their proliferation. Given the complex nature of contracts for the supply of electric buses to government and semi-government organisations, it is the organised players with a deep understanding of the market that are at the forefront. What is surprising is how the new entrants like JBM and Olectra-BYD have succeeded in getting a strong hold. Their e-buses too are found along side the e-buses supplied by Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland in most cities in India.  

EVs have been big levelling act in India, mentioned an industry source. He drew attention to how the smaller and bigger players are jostling for the same market space almost. A right thrust on infrastructure creation and an emphasis on generation of electricity from greener sources should help EVs to prove to an extent that their cost to the environment is lower than that of the fossil-fuel vehicles, he added. For EVs to be truly environmentally friendly, efforts are being for scientific recycling and processing of vehicles and their components. The small and big players are expected to work together to achieve this goal, making the EV ecosystem in India are ‘true levelling’ ground. Something, which the fossil-fuel intensive auto sector has so far been unsuccessful to create.  

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Two-wheeler industry veteran Roy Kurian has joined Revolt Motors as President. This marks the second innings for Kurian at Revolt Motors; he had previously held a brief stint in January 2023, before joining Montra Electric as its Chief Executive Officer.

Kurian is a seasoned C-suite executive known for his deep expertise in the automotive and mobility sectors, specialising in business turn-arounds and scaling operations, particularly within the electric vehicle (EV) landscape.

He spent over a decade at India Yamaha Motor from 2007 to 2019, growing to the ranks of Senior Vice-President Sales Marketing. He had joined Tork Motors in 2019 spending over a year at the electric motorcycle company before joining Ampere Electric Vehicles as COO and Executive Director Electric Mobility.

In his new role, he will lead RattanIndia Enterprises-led Revolt Motors, which has been focussing on expanding its market share in the electric two-wheeler space.

For CY2025, Revolt MotoCorp has sold around 8,164 electric two-wheelers as compared to 9,955 units in CY2024. At present, Revolt MotoCorp’s product portfolio includes – Revolt RV1, Revolt RV1+, Revolt BlazeX, Revolt RV400BRZ and Revolt RV400 in the electric motorcycle segment.

conventional two-wheeler leadership at a major international brand, followed by a concentrated pivot into high-growth, executive roles across the Indian EV ecosystem, culminating in multiple tenures as CEO and President. He possesses proven skills in executive management (CXO), strategic sales, marketing, and operational leadership.

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Refex Mobility, the clean mobility arm of the Refex Group, has launched its operations in Delhi NCR, committing to fast-track clean corporate transportation in the region. The launch event was attended by the Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy, Prahlad Joshi, along with other dignitaries.

The company plans to deploy over 400 new four-wheeler clean-fuelled vehicles in Delhi NCR within the next three months, enhancing its presence across India.

Refex Mobility is looking to use its Delhi NCR launch as a springboard to scale into Tier-1 and Tier-2 cities nationwide. The firm currently operates a fleet of over 1,400 all-electric four-wheeler vehicles across Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Mumbai, serving more than 70 leading corporates from sectors including BFSI, IT/ITES, e-commerce and telecom. The company, supported by over 200 employees, has already abated 3.5 million kilograms of tailpipe CO2 emissions since its inception.

Union Minister Prahlad Joshi commended the company's initiative, emphasising the need for solar-powered EV fleets: “Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is advancing rapidly towards clean energy and sustainable mobility. To truly unlock the promise of electric vehicles and smart energy-efficient transportation, we must ensure they are powered by the sun. I urge corporates to lead the way by adopting solar-based charging for their EV fleets, thereby reducing oil imports, cutting emissions, and building greener, healthier cities in line with their ESG commitment.”

Anil Jain, Chairman & Managing Director, Refex Group, said, "Delhi NCR is not just an expansion for us but it is a commitment to scale. Within a couple of quarters, we will create one of the largest corporate clean-mobility fleets in the region. At Refex, we believe in diversification with responsibility, and Green Mobility is one of the most critical pillars of our sustainability journey."

Anirudh Arun, CEO, Refex Mobility, added, “At Refex Mobility, we are reimagining what reliable and responsible mobility means for India. Our promise is built on three pillars - dependable fleets that corporates can count on, exceptional experiences for every rider, and a deep commitment to sustainability and our driver partners. With our entry into Delhi NCR, we are proud to bring this ethos to the capital, as we continue shaping a cleaner and more trusted future for urban mobility.”

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Yuma Energy, one of India's fastest-growing Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) providers, has announced a major partnership with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) to rapidly scale its battery swapping network across the country. HPCL is one of India's largest energy companies, boasting a vast network of over 24,000 retail outlets.

By leveraging HPCL's extensive footprint, Yuma Energy aims to gain a strategic advantage, allowing it to deploy its AI-driven battery swapping stations in high-demand locations – from major metro areas to Tier-2 towns.

This move aims to give riders, delivery fleets and businesses instant and reliable energy access that is as quick as traditional refuelling.

Yuma Energy will use HPCL's retail network to deploy its ‘Yuma Stations’ strategically based on real-time demand. This demand-responsive model ensures that EV users – including e-rickshaw drivers, gig-economy partners, and commuters – are always close to a fully charged battery.

The partnership directly addresses the key challenge of energy network infrastructure that needs to keep pace with India's accelerating EV adoption, particularly in the two- and three-wheeler segments. For HPCL, the alliance allows the company to diversify its business into future-ready energy solutions.

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Kinetic Green Energy and Power Solutions has introduced the E-Luna Prime, an electric two-wheeler designed for India's commuter motorcycle market. The new model builds on the success of the E-Luna, which has sold over 25,000 units since its launch.

The E-Luna Prime, the company shared, is engineered to meet the needs of millions of commuters, offering an affordable and practical solution for both urban and rural environments. It features rugged 16-inch alloy wheels, a digital cluster and a spacious front-loading area. The electric two-wheeler is available in two variants with ranges of 110 km and 140 km, prices starting at INR 82,490 (ex-showroom).

According to Kinetic Green, the E-Luna Prime offers significant savings compared to conventional petrol-based motorcycles. The total cost of ownership is estimated at just INR 2,500 per month, which includes the EMI and running expenses. This is a fraction of the estimated INR 7,500 monthly cost for a traditional ICE two-wheeler, potentially saving consumers up to INR 60,000 annually.

Dr Sulajja Firodia Motwani, Founder & CEO, Kinetic Green, said, "We are delighted to unveil the E-Luna Prime, that embodies our commitment to transforming the future of personal mobility in India. Building on the resounding success of our E-Luna series, which has garnered widespread acclaim from thousands of satisfied customers, the E-Luna Prime represents a significant leap forward in our pursuit of innovation and customer-centricity."

Dr. Motwani added that extensive consumer research revealed an opportunity to create "India's most affordable yet aspirational mobility solution for the fastest growing commuter motorcycle segment." She stated, "The E-Luna Prime, with its industry-leading features along with the winning proposition of INR 2,500 monthly ownership cost, exemplifies our commitment to address the evolving and unmet customer needs by leveraging cutting-edge electric vehicle innovations."

The E-Luna Prime is available in six colours and will be sold through Kinetic Green's network of over 300 dealerships across the country.

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