Big shift: Tata Motors to supply 25,000 e-taxis to Uber

By Bhushan Mhapralkar
February 22, 2023

Under the Xpres brand that it launched exclusively to cater to the needs of taxi fleets in July 2021, Tata Motors has signed an MoU with Uber to supply 25,000 Xpress-T electric sedans to be operated under the latter’s premium category. The EVs are a close cousin of the Tata Tigor EV which was launched in 2021 and subsequent updated in 2022.

Supporting Uber in its commitment for cut down carbon emissions, the Tata Xpres-T electric taxis are available in two range options – 315 km and 277 km. They pack a high energy density battery of 26 kWh and 25.5 kWh respectively. The batteries can be charged from 0 to 80 percent in 59 mins and 110 mins respectively by using fast charging. They can also be normally charged from any 15 Ampere plug point, which is easily available and convenient.

Fitted with a single-speed transmission, the electric taxis feature dual airbags, ABS and EBD as standard. Their convenience features include automatic climate control and ‘Electric Blue’ accents across the interior and exterior to differentiate it from the fossil fuel powered Tigor cars.

Set to add to the rising fleet of electric taxis in India – there are an estimated 8000 of them on the roads – the agreement to supply 25,000 Xpres-T taxis to Uber by Tata Motors indicates how the rising scale could help build an effective local supply chain and infrastructure, both of which will drive the initial acquisition price lower. While concerns regarding the quality of EVs – India has about 13,34,385 of them – is there, a robust local supply chain and skill development at the manufacturing and service levels would help immensely.

With the Tata Motors and Uber announcement not the first of its kind in the country (Ola announced it will launch 10,000 EV cabs in January 2023), experiments like those in Nagpur to run a fleet of EVs by Ola should be looked upon as a learning tool. With scooters, mopeds and motorbikes dominating the Indian market and seemingly the EV market as well (with the inclusion of electric three-wheelers that are used as commercial vehicles on the whole), the electric taxi category may not be big in numbers but good enough to draw attention on the roads.

James Hong, Head – Mobility Research, Macquarie Group may opine that EV adoption in cars is low, it is not unusual to stop a battery electric ‘white and green’ taxi in Delhi NCR. Electric cab hailing company BlueSmart began with 70 units in 2019 in Delhi NCR and has come to operate 680 battery electric cabs as of now. In 2022, the company placed an order for 3500 Tigor EVs (read this as Xpres-T EVs) as part of the journey to deploy over 100,000 electric taxis by 2025.

As the discussion about electricity to power these vehicles would from green or gray sources takes place among various quarters of the society in India, including technical circles, the fact is, Indian taxi operators are watching their market place evolve over time. They are watching how the initial acquisition prices have come down and the range has gone up. They may not be so much bothered about whether their EV has a sunroof or not, they are clearly concerned about costs and quality.

For me it is the operating costs and ease of maintenance that is important, mentioned a cab driver in Mumbai who first saw the Mahindra e-Verito car a few years ago. Tracking the rise in the number of EVs on the roads in his city from a price point of view since then, he is keen to seek a trade solution that will increase whatever little profit he makes today. The high CNG cost is ensuring that our cabs are no longer very viable as a business case, another cab driver in Mumbai quipped as he overheard the discussion with the earlier cab driver on a busy street in the mega city. If the operating costs are lower than the CNG cabs and the purchase price closer to a CNG cab, then it will be easy for us to shift to an electric taxi, he added.

Blue Energy Motors Deliver LNG Trucks To Inland World Logistics

By MT Bureau
June 09, 2025

Pune-headquartered alternative fuel commercial vehicles manufacturer Blue Energy Motors has delivered LNG-powered heavy-duty trucks to Inland World Logistics.

These LNG-powered trucks are claimed to offer 30 percent lower CO2 emissions and thus not only contribute to lower tailpipe emissions but also lower operational costs.

With this, Blue Energy Motors has over 800 LNG trucks plying on Indian highways, which have enabled over 50 million kilometres. This translates to almost 14,000 tonnes of CO2 reduction.

Anirudh Bhuwalka, CEO, Blue Energy Motors, said, “We are proud to lead India’s clean trucking revolution and partner with visionary companies like Inland who share our commitment to sustainable growth. Our trucks offer a powerful alternative to diesel, with significantly reduced emissions and a lower total cost of ownership. This reflects our commitment to enable cleaner mobility at scale—fleet by fleet, region by region.”

Praveen Somani, Managing Director, Inland World Logistics, said, “We believe that the future of logistics lies in green mobility, and transitioning to LNG is a crucial step in that direction. Blue Energy Motors stood out for us - not just for their product innovation, but for their clear commitment to making sustainable trucking viable and accessible. These trucks align with our vision of reducing our carbon footprint while ensuring efficiency and performance on long hauls.”

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Kia EV3 Excels In Euro NCAP Assisted Driving Test

By MT Bureau
June 06, 2025

The Kia EV3 has secured the highest possible ‘Very Good’ grade in Euro NCAP's assisted driving test. The test focused on the model's Highway Driving Assist 2 (HDA 2) system, which combines real-time driver monitoring, adaptive cruise control and lane centring.

In the ‘assistance competence’ and ‘safety backup’ categories, the EV3 received scores of 74 and 88 out of 100, respectively. The vehicle achieved the highest rating with a total score of 162 points, making it the first car from both Kia and the Hyundai Motor Group to receive this grade. By aiding the driver in a variety of real-world situations, such as changing lanes, maintaining lane position at different speeds and stopping if the driver becomes unresponsive, the EV3's HDA 2 strikes a balance between a high degree of vehicle assistance and driver involvement, according to Euro NCAP. In addition to providing exceptional safety backup, the model provides ‘very good’ highway assistance.

With the adaptability and affordability to be the primary vehicle in the home, Kia's EV3 is a high-volume electric vehicle designed specifically for the compact SUV market. The 2025 World Car Awards have crowned the vehicle the 2025 World Car of the Year. In the UK, the car has also received other honours, including ‘UK Car of the Year 2025’ at the UK Car of the Year Awards and ‘Best EV Crossover’ at the TopGear.com Electric Awards 2025.

Pablo Martinez Masip, Vice President Product and Marketing of Kia Europe and COO of Kia Connect Europe, said, “This excellent outcome reflects Kia’s commitment to delivering advanced technologies that enhance driver convenience and passenger safety. The EV3’s performance in the Euro NCAP assisted driving test draws attention to the capabilities of Highway Driving Assist 2 and serves as a milestone for Hyundai Motor Group.”

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CHARGE ZONE Celebrates World Environment Day With Project Shwa

By MT Bureau
June 06, 2025

On World Environment Day, CHARGE ZONE, India’s largest electric vehicle (EV) charging network, unveiled ‘Shwa’, a groundbreaking public art project that redefines EV Supercharging stations as cultural landmarks. By integrating large-scale murals into charging hubs, Shwa blends sustainability, community engagement and creativity, transforming functional spaces into open-air galleries that inspire climate action.

Each mural, created in partnership with both well-known and up-and-coming Indian artists, offers a distinct perspective on a sustainable India that is firmly anchored in regional aesthetics, local tales and messages of optimism for the environment. The project begins with striking murals painted by renowned artist Rahul Kumawat in Karjan, Gujarat, and Suryapet, Telangana. Meaningful interaction with the art and its underlying environmental issues is made possible by the thoughtful placement of these enormous artworks at CHARGE ZONE's Supercharging stations, where visitors usually spend longer time.

Each artwork has a discrete QR code that connects to the recently built Shwa website (shwa.chargezone.co.in), adding an interactive element. With its high-resolution photos, artist biographies and the backstories of each piece of art, this digital platform functions as a living archive. In order to make the sustainability discussion more widely available, the website also emphasises themes of climate resilience and local history while offering downloadable media materials.

Kartikey Hariyani, Founder & CEO, CHARGE ZONE, said, “EV charging stations are a gateway to the future of mobility and with Shwa, we’re using them to tell stories that matter. We’re starting with just three murals across our Supercharging stations, but in the next six months, we aim to bring this experience to 10–12 more sites. Over the next five to six years, our ambition is to create a few hundred such installations across the country. This is not just about infrastructure, it's about sparking emotional connection and climate consciousness through art that speaks to everyone. I am thankful to our young team of millennials and GenZ for conceptualising and seeding the process from idea to execution.”

Devbrat Hariyani, Project Shwa Head, CHARGE ZONE, said, “Infrastructure should serve more than just function, it should inspire. With Shwa, we’re creating spaces where culture, community and climate intersect. These murals are invitations to slow down, to think and to feel. Over time, as hundreds of these works bloom along our highways, we hope to create an evolving living archive that’s open to everyone.”

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Terra Charge, AAI Inaugurate EV Charging Station At Agartala Airport

By MT Bureau
June 03, 2025

Terra Charge, India’s leading EV charging infrastructure provider, has taken a significant step towards enhancing electric vehicle adoption in Northeast India by inaugurating a new charging station at Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) Airport in Agartala. This initiative, launched in collaboration with the Airports Authority of India (AAI), marks a crucial development in Tripura’s evolving EV ecosystem.

The charging station, strategically located near the airport’s VIP car parking area, is equipped with both 7.4 kW and 10 kW chargers, catering to a variety of electric vehicles. EV drivers can easily locate the station via the Terra Charge Mobile App and initiate charging sessions with digital payments, offering a fully contactless and user-friendly experience. The inauguration ceremony saw the presence of key officials, including State Transport Department Secretary C K Jamatia and Airport Director K C Mina, underscoring the government’s support for sustainable mobility solutions.

This project is part of a long-term partnership between Terra Charge and AAI to modernise India’s airports with future-ready EV charging solutions. By leveraging Japanese technology, the station ensures high efficiency and reliability, aligning with India’s broader goal of achieving 30 percent EV penetration by 2030. The move not only supports Tripura’s green mobility ambitions but also sets a precedent for further EV infrastructure expansion across the Northeast.

Go Suzuki, Managing Director, Terra Charge, said, “This launch marks another milestone in our mission to make EV charging accessible, reliable and convenient for all. Airport locations are critical transit hubs, and by enabling EV users to recharge effortlessly here, we are eliminating a key barrier to EV adoption. In addition, our partnership with AAI reflects a shared commitment to accelerating India’s green mobility transition. With this new charging station at MBB Airport, we are one step closer to a future where range anxiety is a thing of the past.”

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