It is early afternoon as the Shatabdi train rolls into Amritsar from Delhi. An army of electric passenger three-wheelers greet the travellers as they come out the station and head to their respective destination. The other choice the travellers who have walked out of the station is the bigger diesel autorickshaws. Ironically, the diesel autorickshaws that can seat more passengers have been slowly making space for the electric three-wheelers because the latter are starting to make a more viable business case.  

First is the ability of many to beat the higher entry barrier of diesel autorickshaws in terms of the acquisition price. The second is the running cost of a diesel rickshaws per day, which is more than that of an electric passenger three-wheeler. Third is the lower maintenance of an electric three-wheeler as compared to the that a diesel autorickshaw. Petrol or CNG autorickshaws are still not preferred in many Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities for reasons that are more on the side of perception than actual. The CNG autorickshaws especially have been known for their unreliable operation when the respective technology was just getting off the ground in the country.  

Interestingly, the tiny streets and bylanes of Amritsar make a case for the seemingly punny electric passenger three-wheelers over their wider and mightier looking counterparts with IC engines. This is not just the case with Amritsar, which is one of the bigger cities in India, but with many other cities – smaller Tier 3 cities were earning potential and purchasing power is less. The electric passenger three-wheelers and electric cargo three-wheelers finding higher acceptance in smaller cities as they beat the conventional auto rickshaws in operating costs per day and per month, it should not come as a surprise that that electric vehicles have been witnessing a strong growth. The basis of operating costs per day and per month is driving a shift towards electric and hybrid vehicles in both the commercial and personal domain. In the personal vehicle domain, it is the electric two-wheelers that are leading the charge.  

In 2022, they witnessed strong growth in India in particular – to the tune of a threefold sales increase almost. The official data for 2022 shows that Indians bought 27.8 billion EVs since January 2023 at an average of more than 90,000 EVs per month. Amit Bhatt, Managing Director for India, International Council of Clean Transportation (ICCT), expressed, “Smaller cities have the potential to become strong drivers of India's clean energy revolution. The adoption of EVs in these cities can reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to the ongoing nationwide efforts to combat air pollution and climate change. Transitioning to EVs in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities will also help in lessening India’s dependence on fossil fuels, cutting down on import bills, and reducing air pollution. This shift will create a self-reliant and sustainable energy ecosystem that will contribute significantly to the country's economic growth.”  

“The adoption of EVs in smaller cities will create new business opportunities and job opportunities in sectors such as manufacturing, supply chain, and charging infrastructure. This, in turn, will drive the economic growth and development of these regions. Wide-scale participation of Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities in India’s EV transition will help greatly in creating a greener nation. To ensure that this happens, it is essential to address challenges such as the lack of charging infrastructure; the need for greater awareness among consumers; and the need to develop local supply chains and manufacturing capabilities for EVs,” he added. 

Sharif Qamar, Associate Director and Area Convenor, Transport and Urban Governance Division, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), reckoned, there are seven areas of focus for accelerating adoption of EVs across different geographies – institutional and policy readiness; infrastructure readiness; technology readiness; economic readiness; social readiness; environmental readiness; and innovation readiness.
“It is an incredibly steep technology curve that the industry has traversed in the past 6-7 years. This has enhanced the comfort, trust, and reliability of the EV ecosystem in the eyes of consumers, for all vehicle segments – three-wheelers, four-wheelers, buses, and small commercial vehicles – albeit at different levels. As the penetration of renewable energy in the power grid increases, the efficacy of EV technology in dealing with well-to-wheel emissions will be higher and its contribution to climate goals greater,” he explained.  

As per the official estimates by ICCT, an ambitious vehicle electrification pathway – under which EVs could reach 95 percent of all new vehicle sales by 2040 – can help in reducing tailpipe emissions by 18-50 percent, depending on the pollutant. Other than the factor of operating costs, the rise in EVs in India is also influenced by central government incentives and policies, including the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles scheme, state-level EV policies, declining costs of EV batteries, technology advancements and growing investments by domestic and international players in EV manufacturing and charging infrastructure.

Image source: @ImrajAhmed9

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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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