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

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

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.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

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.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

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.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

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.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!