General Motors has joined Pacific Gas & Electric Company's (PG&E) residential Vehicle-to-Everything pilot programme, offering qualifying GM Energy home energy products at discounted prices to eligible consumers in Northern and Central California.

In order to increase overall grid resiliency, GM Energy is collaborating with utilities such as PG&E to take advantage of GM's bidirectional EV charging technology, which enables compatible GM EVs to restore power to homes during blackouts and assist the grid by helping in balancing energy demand in the future. Participants in PG&E's residential Vehicle-to-Everything pilot programme can save up to USD 4,500 on eligible GM Energy home devices, including the GM Energy V2H Bundle or Home System, that allow bidirectional charging. Additionally, customers that participate in scheduled backup power events and stay enrolled until the completion of the pilot programme may be eligible for extra incentives.

The programme's charging data will be used by PG&E and GM Energy to assess how bidirectional technology may benefit consumers and promote grid resilience, as well as to assist in the expansion of bidirectional technology initiatives in California. The 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV, 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV, 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV, 2024 Cadillac Lyriq EV, 2024 GMC Sierra and 2025 Cadillac Lyriq EV are among the GM EVs that are eligible for the programme at the time of debut. GM expects to shortly expand the programme to include all 2025 EV models.

Wade Sheffer, Vice President, GM Energy, said, "For Northern California customers looking to take more control of their home energy, this programme with PG&E represents a great opportunity. For utilities, legislators, customers and others, this pilot is an opportunity to see the full value of our V2H technology beyond just providing power to a home during power outages. This can be a tool that helps overall grid resiliency and showcases the unique advantages of EVs while, in the future, may even reduce the overall total cost of EV ownership."

Mike Delaney, Vice President, Utility Partnerships and Innovation, PG&E, said, "PG&E is leading the way to enable vehicle-grid-integration technology creating a path for EVs to power customer homes, ultimately benefiting all Californians. We are proud to continue leading this electric renaissance as we collaborate with automakers and some of the world's top innovators to pioneer bidirectional charging technology where EVs have the potential to offer greater reliability, resiliency and cost savings."

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.

Hyundai Motor Company today teased the INSTEROID, a playful take on a ‘dream car’. The design concept is based on its popular INSTER sub-compact electric vehicle (EV) and aims to strengthen the emotional connection with the Hyundai brand.

Combining the words ‘INSTER’ and ‘STEROID’, the name captures the fun and muscular character of this concept automobile, which is based on the INSTER production model. With significant sales in both Europe and Korea after its June 2024 worldwide premiere, INSTER has emerged as a popular EV. With its racing game-inspired look, wheel arch air vents, 21-inch wheels, a noticeable rear spoiler and diffuser and Signature Pixel LEDs, the INSTEROID enhances the production model's appearance. The company plans to unveil the INSTEROID ‘dream car’ to the public in early April 2025.

Benglauru-based electric vehicle manufacturer Ola Electric has commenced deliveries for its S1 Gen 3 scooter portfolio across India. The S1 Gen 3 portfolio includes the flagship S1 Pro+ along with S1 Pro and S1 X.

The S1 Pro+ comes with two battery options 5.3kWh and 4kWh and is powered by a 13kW motor, which comes with claimed top speed of 141 kmph and 128 kmph respectively with a brisk acceleration of 0-40 kmph in just 2.1 and 2.3 seconds. The S1 Pro has a claimed range of 320km (IDC), while the 4kWh S1 Pro+ comes with claimed 242km (IDC). The e-scooter has four riding modes – Hyper, Sports, Normal and Eco – and gets dual ABS and disk brakes in front and rear

Ola Spokesperson, Ola Electric said, "The overwhelming response to our S1 Gen 3 scooters reaffirms our commitment to accelerating India's transition to electric mobility. We're excited for our customers to experience the superior performance, enhanced safety features, and improved efficiency that the Gen 3 portfolio offers."

The company claims the Gen 3 platform now sports a mid-drive motor and chain drive for optimised performance and reliability and an integrated MCU (Motor Control Unit) for better range and efficiency. Compared to the previous generation e-scooters, the Gen 3 offers 20 percent increase in peak power, 11 percent cost savings and 20 percent higher range.

Ola Electric shared that the Gen 3 platform also comes with category-first dual ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) and patented brake-by-wire technology for e-scooters.

On the other hand, the S1 Pro is powered by an 11 kW mid-drive motor, offers 4kWh and 3kWh variants with top speeds of 125 kmph and 117 kmph. It has a claimed range of 242 km and 176 km (IDC) respectively. Both accelerate 0-40 kmph in 2.7 seconds, featuring four riding modes – Hyper, Sports, Normal and Eco – plus single ABS and dual disc brakes. Available in Porcelain White, Industrial Silver, Jet Black, Stellar Blue and Midnight Blue, the S1 X+ flagship matches the 4kWh S1 Pro’s 125 kmph speed and 242 km range, adding new seat foam, sporty decals, a 4.3-inch display, a front disc brake, and colour options like Passion Red.

The S1 X, aimed at value-conscious buyers, comes in 4kWh, 3kWh and 2kWh variants with a 7kW motor, hitting claimed top speeds of 123 kmph, 115 kmph and 101 kmph, and ranges of 242 km, 176 km and 108 km (IDC). These accelerate 0-40 kmph in 3.0, 3.1 and 3.4 seconds, with a 4.3-inch display, decals, improved seating and four riding modes, available in five colours. The new Roadster X series starts at INR 74,999, with the Roadster X+ 4.5kWh at INR 104,999 and the 9.1kWh model (4680 Bharat Cell) at INR 154,999, offering a 501 km range.

Montra Electric’s e-SCV Division, Tivolt Electric Vehicles has inked a strategic collaboration with Steam-A. The understanding will see the OEM integrate Steam-A’s Iris EV charging management suite into Powerdock its EV charging network.

This will enable a seamless and reliable charging operation for Montra Electric, where it will leverage advanced software to get real-time operational insight, AI-driven predictive maintenance and seamless EV roaming capabilities. Steam-A will bring to the table AI-enabled predictive failure management system, which will maximise charger uptime and network availability.

A standout feature of Iris is its industry-first AI-enabled predictive failure management system, seamlessly integrated with a comprehensive asset and workflow management suite. This innovation significantly reduces operational costs while maximizing charger uptime and network availability. Additionally, the platform delivers deep analytical insights into network performance, facilitating continuous service enhancements and business growth.

Saju Nair, Chief Executive Officer, Tivolt Electric Vehicles, said, “We are excited to join hands with Steam-A. Our vision at Montra Electric is to drive electrification in commercial logistics and empower customers to transition to electric mobility with confidence. By integrating Steam-A’s Iris platform into our Powerdock network, we are strengthening our commitment to innovation and customer-first solutions. This collaboration will drive greater EV adoption while delivering a seamless and effortless experience for our customers.”

Vishwanath Surendiran, Co-Founder, Steam-A, said, “We are thrilled to partner with Montra Electric on their journey of making mobility more sustainable. Earning the trust of such a longstanding organization fills us with pride and a heightened sense of responsibility. We will go all out to deliver industry-leading standards of reliability and customer experience.”