With its Net|Zero|Now immediate action programme to mitigate climate change, Continental said it would offer its customers the opportunity to achieve carbon neutrality for their businesses. The company said in a statement that the aim of the programme is to enable customers with ambitious sustainability goals to neutralise the currently remaining “carbon backpack” of their relevant business with Continental.

This carbon backpack includes all emissions generated by processes at Continental and its suppliers as well as following end of use, but does not include the customer’s use phase and emissions.

The carbon backpack is offset by an equal quantity of so-called negative emissions. Net|Zero|Now complements the reduction measures implemented by the company to date and sustainable innovations such as the Conti GreenConcept tyre, which are designed to achieve carbon neutrality in line with the Paris climate agreement, the release said.

The focus of Net|Zero|Now is on Continental products and systems used in emission-free vehicles – from electric cars to hydrogen-powered buses and streetcars, it said.

Continental generated sales of almost EUR 1 billion with emission-free mobility in the past fiscal year. The company said the 10 highest-volume electric vehicle brands worldwide in 2021 all placed their trust in Continental technology. The programme means that for these vehicles, zero-emission mobility is already possible when it comes to the share of CO2 emissions attributable to Continental. Not only are they emission-free during their use, but the value chain relating to Continental is also carbon-neutral, it pointed out.

Besides, Net|Zero|Now will be immediately available for the combustion-engine-vehicle and industrial business, thus helping companies meet the increasingly ambitious carbon neutrality targets on the market, it said. 

Dr. Ariane Reinhart, Executive Board member for Human Relations and Sustainability at Continental, said, “2021 in particular, with its devastating floods and forest fires, showed that climate change mitigation needs to be accelerated. We must use every means available to implement measures faster. At the same time, we must seize the opportunities associated with this transformation together with our partners.” 

Continental said it sees Net|Zero|Now as an important blueprint for other companies to better achieve the goals of the 2015 Paris climate agreement alongside ambitious reduction efforts and neutralisation measures.

Reinhart added, “Reaching net zero is the benchmark here. And for that, we need appropriate economic incentives as well as more courage. To date, for example, carbon neutrality has not been taken into account in the VAT rate.” 

Continental said its approach with its immediate action programme for climate change mitigation relies on the principle of negative emissions and therefore goes beyond conventional carbon offsetting. In mathematical terms, this means that no more emissions are generated for each product in the supply chain than are removed again from the atmosphere, for example through reforestation. On balance, net zero is thus achieved and there is no longer any burden on the climate. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which focuses on accelerating carbon dioxide reductions, is increasingly recommending negative emissions in order to meet the goals of the Paris climate agreement. 

Continental said it has been working with recognised partners on high-quality and certified ecosystem restoration and reforestation projects to remove the appropriate quantities of CO2 from the atmosphere. Social aspects, the sustainability of reductions, such as safeguards in the event of forest fires, and other quality criteria also play an important role in the selection process, it pointed out.

The company’s sustainability ambition comprises four focus areas: carbon neutrality along Continental’s entire value chain, emission-free mobility and industry, a circular economy and responsible value chains. Continental aims to fulfill its ambition by 2050 at the latest.

Dr. Steffen Schwartz-Höfler, head of Sustainability at Continental, said, “The path to carbon-neutral mobility is both a marathon and numerous sprints. The actual reduction of emissions and our Net|Zero|Now neutralization measures are important complements to our goal of becoming carbon-neutral. Only with this combination can we successfully drive forward the transformation to a sustainable economy with the necessary speed.” (MT)

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Ahmedabad-based electric two-wheeler brand Avore Electric launched its first electric motorcycle – the Avore Electric EX at prices starting at INR 124,999 (ex-showroom).

The e-motorcycle is available in three variants – the EX 2S, EX 2 and EX 1. The model range was developed over three years using the company's indigenous AVORE Source technology stack and AVR vehicle platform. The development process involved over 120 intellectual property filings across nine vehicle systems, including the battery management system, motor controller, onboard charger and operating system.

The EVs use a rare-earth-free Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) with peak power output ranging between 7.5 kW and 10.5 kW depending on the variant, while all three models produce 250 Nm of peak wheel torque.

The EX 2S attains a claimed top speed of 114 kmph, whereas the EX 2 and EX 1 reach top speeds of 100 kmph. The powertrain utilises an integrated motor and swingarm structure to manage chassis balance and weight distribution.

The EX 2S and EX 2 carry IDC-certified range ratings of 260 km and 255 km respectively, while the EX 1 carries an IDC-certified range rating of 160 km. All variants include a 1500W onboard charger compatible with standard 5A and 15A domestic sockets, charging the battery from 20 per cent to 80 percent in two hours and reaching a full charge in a claimed four hours. The battery pack is homologated by NATRAX, and the battery management system is validated by ICAT.

Software systems integrated into the platform include the AVORE SENSE operating system, an artificial intelligence (AI) companion named Avore Synapse and an automatic manual gear mode. The platform complies with AIS 156 and AIS 038 safety standards and underwent 100,000 km of road testing alongside 2,500 hours of dynamometer testing prior to commercial introduction.

Priyank Rakholiya, Founder, Avore Electric, said, "We dedicated three years to research, development, testing, and validation before the launch of the EX so as to ensure class-leading engineering and innovation. We are ensuring global-levels of safety and performance, while pushing the frontiers of Indian-developed electric mobility technology stacks that deliver reliability, consistency, and economic viability. Our goal is to improve adoption and accessibility to world-class electric mobility solutions for every Indian and we are confident that the EX is just the start of our journey towards that direction."

Bookings for the EX series have opened on the manufacturer's website at an initial reservation amount of INR 799, with customer deliveries scheduled to begin in two months. The battery pack is supplied with a 5-year or 60,000 km warranty.

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Energy In Motion, a provider of integrated electric mobility solutions for long-haul freight transportation, has executed an agreement with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation to establish and operate charging and battery swapping infrastructure for heavy commercial vehicles at retail outlets across India.

As per the understanding, Energy In Motion will deploy swap-and-charge hubs on freight corridors including Mumbai–Pune, Delhi–Jaipur and Chennai–Bangalore over the next 18 to 24 months. These stations will support vehicles such as the Ashwa 55-tonne e-tractor, providing battery exchange capability in 7 minutes.

Energy In Motion manages battery inventory and hardware, while Hindustan Petroleum Corporation provides space and utilities across its network of over 25,000 retail outlets.

Narendra Murkumbi, Managing Director, Energy In Motion, said, “Charging infrastructure succeeds or fails on reliability. Working with HPCL allows us to place charging and swapping where drivers already stop – sites with power, space, amenities, safety systems and staff on duty. Combining our battery and fleet expertise with HPCL’s nationwide retail network lets us build dependable swap-and-charge hubs on the corridors that carry India’s freight and to do it at the pace the transition demands.”

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Hero MotoCorp's electric mobility brand, VIDA, has made its international market entry into Nepal through a partnership with CG Motors.

The launch was announced by Kausalya Nandakumar, Chief Business Officer, Emerging Mobility Business Unit, Hero MotoCorp and Nirvana Chaudhary, Managing Director, Chaudhary Group.

The introduction features the VIDA VX2 Evooter range – comprising the VX2 Plus and VX2 Go variants – alongside the VIDA DIRT.E K3 youth off-roader. The VX2 Plus features a 4.4 kWh setup, delivering a 140 km range and a top speed of 90 kmph, while the VX2 Go uses a 2.2 kWh battery with a 75 km range. The DIRT.E K3 is an electric off-roader equipped with a 350W motor and app-based parental controls.

Kausalya Nandakumar said, “This launch marks a proud and defining moment as VIDA goes global. We are thrilled to take the very best of our engineering and design capabilities beyond India, starting with Nepal, a strategically crucial market where riders are quickly adopting smart electric mobility. The VIDA VX2 EVOOTER range and the VIDA DIRT.E K3 are built to redefine the future of mobility, and through our collaboration with CG Motors, we are ensuring that the Nepalese customers have access to premium, reliable, and technologically advanced riding experience.”

Nirvana Chaudhary added, “The entry of VIDA perfectly aligns with Nepal's shift towards sustainable mobility. By offering advanced electric products & solutions tailored for both, everyday commuters and the next generation of riders, this product launch redefines our two-wheeler landscape. CG Motors is proud to strengthen its partnership with Hero MotoCorp and partner with VIDA to drive our nation's green transition forward."

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Pune-headquartered electric commercial vehicle manufacturer EKA Mobility has announced that Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar, recently flagged off 15 EKA Mobility electric buses in Zanzibar. The commercial operations for the e-buses is scheduled to begin on 1 August 2026.

The deployment forms part of an initial order of 35 e-buses, with the fleet expected to expand to 150 units by the end of the year.

EKA Mobility is collaborating with Global Rapid Transport and the Zanzibar Social Security Fund to train local personnel in vehicle operations, maintenance and safety systems.

Vijay Yelne, President – Export Marketing & SCM, EKA Mobility, said, "The launch of Zanzibar's first electric bus fleet is a strong validation of EKA's technology and our ability to deliver world-class electric mobility solutions beyond India. It demonstrates that products designed and manufactured in India can successfully meet the evolving mobility needs of international markets. This is another step in taking Indian engineering to the world, and we see Africa as a key growth market in EKA's global expansion journey."

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