Eka Mobility, a clean mobility company backed by Mitsui & Co (Japan) and VDL Groep (Netherlands) has partnered KPIT Technologies and Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) to deploy 9-metre hydrogen fuel cell bus at Cochin International Airport (CIAL), Kochi.

This move is part of the Kerala government’s focus on sustainable mobility and net-zero ambition.

The hydrogen fuel cell bus is being deployed as a proof of concept (PoC) project for a three-year period. Under the partnership, Eka Mobility sourced the hydrogen fuel cell technology from KPIT and integrated it in 9-metre bus, which will accommodate over 30 passengers. On the other hand, BPCL has established the hydrogen generation, dispensing and refuelling infrastructure in Kochi to support green mobility.

Dr. Sudhir Mehta, Founder & CEO, Eka Mobility, said, "At Eka Mobility, we are devoted to pioneering clean energy solutions for sustainable urban transportation. The introduction of our hydrogen fuel cell bus in Kochi highlights our commitment to innovation and sustainable mobility. With our strong equity alliances and engagement with BPCL and KPIT, we seek to speed India's transition to hydrogen-powered public transportation. "

Kishor Patil, Co-Founder, MD and CEO, KPIT Technologies, said, “Building sustainable solutions by reimagining mobility is at the heart of KPITs vision. We have been persistently working on hydrogen fuel cell technology and other green solutions. We are pleased to be technology partners in this collaboration with Eka Mobility and BPCL, where we come together as an ecosystem around hydrogen fuel cell powered buses to power net zero ambitions of large infrastructure projects in Kerala."

Sulajja Firodia Motwani, the Founder & CEO of Kinetic Green, was recently awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Literature by the Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth Institute in Pune.

The recognition was conferred to Motwani for her contribution towards driving the adoption of electric vehicles in the country. An MBA from Carnegie Mellon University, Pennsylvania, USA, she has also worked towards promoting manufacturing in the country and has held notable positions at the Federation of Indian Chambers Of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV) and Indian Federation of Green Energy (IFGE).

“I am deeply humbled and honoured to receive this recognition. The Firodia family has always by synonymous with strong values, nation building, self-reliance and a deep-rooted sense of nationalism. This acknowledgement inspires me to further serve for the greater good, a mission that we at Kinetic Green are constantly working towards,” said Motwani.

Škoda Auto has released a teaser clip of the all-new Elroq vRS, offering a first glimpse of both its exterior and interior. The world premiere is scheduled to take place digitally on 3 April 2025 and will be streamed live on Škoda’s official YouTube channel.

Following its digital unveiling, the all-electric compact SUV will make its public debut at Milan Design Week 2025 in the Padiglione d'Arte Contemporanea gallery in the Porta Venezia Design District. In keeping with Škoda's Be More Elroq campaign, the exhibition will showcase the Elroq vRS as the focal point of an experiential journey from 8 to 13 April 2025. The show will also feature the official launch of Botas sneakers, which are based on Škoda Modern Solid design principles, in honour of the company's 130th anniversary. These sneakers were created in collaboration with the Škoda Auto design team. Members of the Škoda team will wear one of the three versions that are planned for the occasion.

Folks Motor, a retrofit start-up, has announced that it will invest INR 5 billion towards capital expenditure over the next five years, it is also targeting to attain revenue of INR 5 billion revenue including INR 2 billion from domestic market and INR 3  billion in exports.

The start-up claimed it is investing towards developing India’s first retrofit warehouse and industrial park – The Blue IP – to strengthen domestic EV supply chain.

Folks Motor claims it has already started exports to Middle East and Africa, with plans to enter Europe, Latin America and Southeast Asia.

The new investment will see the start-up form strategic partnership with powertrain manufacturers, electronic manufacturing services, energy storage and system integrators.

Nikhil Anand Khurana, MD & CEO, Folks Motor, said, "At Folks Motor, we recognise the urgent need to build a robust and integrated EV ecosystem in India. With ‘The Blue IP’, the first-ever xEV-focused warehousing and industrial park, we are taking a big step toward strengthening domestic manufacturing. Our target of INR 6 billion in order book by 2030 reflects our commitment to making India a leader in the global EV supply chain. Our expansion strategy ensures that sustainable mobility is accessible to a broader audience without the financial and environmental costs of scrapping existing vehicles."

The start-up claimed that it has structured a USD 100 million ESG bond for efficient fund utilisation, which it aims to scale up to INR 2.5 billion for working capital and operational expenses.

In what may come as a boon to the electric vehicle industry in India, the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced that the government is set to do away with duties on several goods used to manufacture electric vehicle batteries.

The move is being seen as a way to support the domestic EV industry, which may be impacted by potential reciprocal US tariffs.

“We aim to boost domestic production and enhance export competitiveness by reducing duties on raw materials,” said Sitharaman.

The move is expected to exempt 35 items used to manufacture electric vehicle batteries.

The manufacturing, adoption and promotion of EVs has been a priority area for the government of India, which has introduced a wide-variety of schemes such as – Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) with a budgetary allocation of INR 26.7 billion, Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme (EMPS) with a budget outlay of INR 5 billion, PM E-Drive Scheme with an outlay of INR 109 billion, Pm e-Bus Sewa-Payment Security Mechanism (PSM) Scheme with an outlay of INR 34.3 billion and Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electric Passenger Cars in India (SMEC).

According to the latest data shared by the government of India, the country has over 4.4 million EVs registered as of August 2024, which includes 950,000 units sold in just eight months of 2024, achieving 6.6 percent market penetration.