As India pursues a goal to drastically reduce greenhouse gases through efforts like a shift to zero carbon emission vehicles that also lead to the elimination of dependence on imported fuels, even imported battery cells, the first impact report of Taiwan-based Gogoro is out. It outlines some very interesting and important factors on battery electric two-wheelers and battery swapping technology, stopping short of how green electricity could be harness over a grey source to ensure a greener well to wheel journey. 

Highlighting Gogoro's progress in sustainability and ESG, the first impact report categorically outlines how its swapping and smart scooters have been successful in enabling a transformation to sustainable urban transportation. The company's Founder and CEO Horace Luke mentions that ten years ago few were contemplating the urban energy and transportation transformation necessary to address in the wake of the plight cities were facing because of air pollution and other negative effects of climate change. Our first impact report highlights this and the progress we have made in our ESG initiatives, in-turn outlining our future intentions, he adds. 

Drawing attention how the report summarises his company’s commitments and progress in four key strategic areas of cleaner planet, safety and resilience, responsible business and social impact, Luke avers that these four areas are key to our success in achieving smarter, cleaner and safer cities. 
With nearly two million customers and 400 million battery swaps to date, Gogoro has established an open 360-degree ecosystem, which is AI-powered and cloud-connected to deliver the most accessible urban energy solution. The system is constantly learning, adjusting and optimising smart batteries and swapping stations to enable a variety of smart city solutions. 

Stating how the battery swap technology and smart scooters have made a positive impact with the help of key statistical data in terms of fossil fuel consumption reduction, CO2 emissions reduction, particulate emission reduction and employment generation, the first impact report also highlights how cities in Asia and Africa, where two-wheelers are used for daily commutes, are benefitting.  With the battery swapping system paid particular attention to because it allows users to refuel their electric scooters quickly and easily, the first impact report states that the system or technology creates the potential to integrate renewable power into electricity grids through virtual power plants and demand response programmes. 

In 2022, Gogoro began purchasing renewable energy in Taiwan to further reduce the amount of scope 2 emissions caused by its manufacturing, retail operations and battery swapping service, according to the first impact report. With a long-term goal of achieving 100 percent renewable energy, in 2022, it achieved 40 percent renewable energy in its factory operations and at two retail stores.

Gogoro And Hero Group
Hero MotoCorp, which began deliveries of its first Vida V1 electric scooter in select cities in India starting with Bengaluru, announced in 2021 that it has entered into a strategic partnership with Gogoro to establish a battery swapping JV that will bring the Taiwanese company's industry leading battery swapping platform to the Indian market. The Indian two-wheeler major also announced that the two companies will collaborate to build electric two-wheelers in India that are branded as Hero and powered by Gogoro network. 

Drawing attention to Gogoro's hyper-efficient battery swapping network receiving the 2020 Frost & Sullivan Company of the Year award for the Global Swappable Battery Electric Scooter Market, sources aware of the development mentioned that Hero MotoCorp would benefit from Gogoro's knowledge and experience to drive a beneficial arrangement in the electric two-wheeler market that is also being encouraged by the government. Citing that there are hurdles like an electric two-wheeler attracting 5 percent GST and a battery attracting 18 percent GST, they added that these are being followed up on and would soon hopefully be sorted. 

Encouraging battery swap with a favourable policy structure
While Gogoro may be keen to carve out a good pie of the Indian market with its intelligent battery swapping technology, India's homegrown company, Sun Mobility, may not be any less in its ability to deliver on the same front. At Auto Expo 2023, it showcased an AI enabled smart battery swapping system and smart battery packs in line with the government's encouragement to develop an efficient EV ecosystem and bring about a shift to lower the CO2 emissions that Indian cities seem to battle with. Cities like Mumbai, which have until now not figured among the top polluted cities in the world, seem to be getting there with high particulate, NOx and CO2 emissions. 

While the high amount of construction activity and a change in wind currents may be the contributing factor, the fact that the number of two-wheelers in the megacity have risen in the last one or two decades is an indication that a transition to EVs will contribute to lowering of emission levels to an extent. An ability to generate electricity needed to fuel these many numbers of electric two-wheelers would also need to come from a greener source rather than from lignite burning thermal plants that would mean a mere shift of pollution from cities to rural areas where most thermal plants are. 
 

Gogoro partnership with Maharashtra Government

The Indian State of Maharashtra announced a strategic energy partnership with Gogoro Inc. and Belrise Industries (erstwhile known as Badve Engineering Ltd) to establish an unprecedented battery-swapping infrastructure in January 2023. The two companies in association to the respective state government plan to build a smart energy infrastructure that is open and accessible and establishes battery swapping and smart battery stations as a leading source for mobility and energy storage. The deployment is also expected to accelerate job growth throughout the smart energy, electric vehicle and sustainability value chain. It is expected to foster smart electric vehicle manufacturing and assembly too.  

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Epsilon CAM, the cathode materials business of Epsilon Group, has entered customer validation testing for its Gen 3.0 Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) Cathode Active Material with battery cell manufacturers across the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and the United States.

The material, launched in April 2026, records a discharge capacity of 159 mAh/g and an electrode density of 2.51 g/cc or higher. These metrics match performance benchmarks established by Chinese producers, who have historically supplied the majority of LFP cathode materials to international markets.

Epsilon CAM plans to construct a manufacturing facility with an annual capacity of 20,000 tonnes per annum (TPA) by 2028, with targets to expand output to 100,000 TPA. The expansion aims to position the company as an alternative supplier of cathode active materials outside of China.

Vikram Handa, Managing Director, Epsilon Group, said, "The global battery industry is entering an era where technology leadership must be complemented by resilient and diversified supply chains. The advancement of our Gen III LFP cathode material into customer validation with large global cell makers shows our commitment to providing cell manufacturers with high-performance, globally competitive and supply chain-resilient cathode solutions."

Product engineering for the material is conducted at Epsilon CAM's Cathode Technology Centre in Moosburg, Germany. The research hub operates alongside a 250 TPA pilot manufacturing facility and holds 149 patents in cathode chemistry, materials science and process engineering.

The non-Chinese origin of the technology and its manufacturing processes complies with United States Prohibited Foreign Entity (PFE) regulations regarding battery material provenance. This compliance provides automotive original equipment manufacturers and cell producers with a supply chain option that aligns with North American and European regulatory frameworks for electric mobility and energy storage products.

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E3 Electric.AI, a Bengaluru-based electric mobility startup, has officially entered the passenger scooter segment with the launch of the E3 TRION, a vehicle positioned as India’s first artificially intelligent electric scooter. The company unveiled the model as a new category contender, combining human-centric design with predictive intelligence and a modular architecture that enables continuous learning and adaptation over time.

The E3 TRION is built on the proprietary TRIAXISFRAME modular platform, which supports both portable and fixed battery configurations. This scalable architecture allows for multiple variants, namely the C1 with a removable battery, the C1x offering an IDC range of 165 kilometres from a three-kilowatt-hour pack and the C2 variant that achieves a top speed of 82 kmph and accelerates from 0 to 40 kmph in six seconds in Sport mode.

Central to the scooter’s intelligence is the E3 COMMANDCENTER, which includes the proprietary intelligent IoT core and cloud-based monitoring systems. This setup continuously tracks each connected vehicle, predicts potential failures before they occur, enables proactive servicing and delivers over-the-air software updates. With each ride, the system accumulates data to refine its responses, creating an evolving ownership ecosystem aimed at increasing rider confidence.

The rider interface is managed through the TRIPSENSE Intelligent Cockpit, featuring a five-inch INSIGHT DISPLAY that pairs with a smartphone for a unified experience. The system provides navigation, charging insights and AI-powered alerts, while the broader suite of over 100 intelligent functions includes a 10-second diagnostic health scan, predictive reports, a smart trip planner with charger locator, remote battery monitoring, dashcam capability, SOS assistance and geo-fencing.

Practical usability for Indian families remains a key focus, with the scooter equipped with 14-inch TRAKWHEEL wheels for improved grip and stability across varied terrains. The vehicle also features IP67 weather protection, safeguards against voltage fluctuations and the LIGHTIQ intelligent lighting system with dual projector LED headlamps and signature rear lamps. Ergonomics are addressed through ERGORIDE principles, optimising six contact points for natural visibility and comfort, while combined storage across the boot, floorboard and glove box totals up to 52 litres.

Powertrain options include a 2.3-kilowatt-hour portable VOLTPORT battery and a three-kilowatt-hour fixed battery, both using durable LFP chemistry and engineered for up to eight years of real-world use. The high-efficiency PMSM hub motor incorporates ROTORING and a detachable rim for faster servicing. Available in six colour options with various accessories, the E3 TRION is priced at an introductory ex-showroom Bengaluru rate of INR 109,999 for the C1x and INR 119,999 for the C2 variant.

Sanjeev P, Founder & CEO, E3 Electric.AI, said,"E3 Trion isn't an electric scooter with an app bolted on. It is built with AI at its core, human centric engineering and a modular future-ready platform. Every problem that's held Indian families back from going electric – range anxiety, safety, service, cost – is something we designed around from day one. We didn't want to build just another electric scooter; we set out to build an electric scooter where predictive intelligence is core to the architecture. The E3 Trion has been crafted keeping Indian families in mind, where daily commuting demands reliability, practicality and peace of mind. By making the technology adaptive and the experience intuitive, we want everyday travel to feel smoother and more dependable. This is a meaningful step towards mobility that's not only efficient but genuinely aligned with what modern Indian riders expect."

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VinFast Auto India has inaugurated its 60th retail outlet, a new 3S dealership in Patna, Bihar, marking the company’s first foray into the eastern state. The facility, established by Patliputra Motors Private Limited and led by Harsh Raj, is strategically positioned on NH-30, Bypass Road, to serve as a key access point for regional customers. This milestone comes just one year after the automaker opened its first Indian showroom, underscoring the rapid scaling of its commercial footprint.

Spanning 11,500 square feet, the Patna facility adheres to VinFast’s global retail standards and integrates vehicle sales, after-sales services and customer support within a single premises. A 3,000-square-foot modern showroom allows visitors to interact with the electric vehicle lineup, while dedicated professional teams manage the entire ownership journey. The one-stop destination is designed to handle everything from initial discovery and purchase to ongoing maintenance and care.

The expansion into Bihar reflects VinFast’s deliberate strategy to penetrate tier 2 and tier 3 markets alongside major metropolitan hubs, with Patna serving as a critical gateway to eastern India. The company remains on track to reach 75 dealerships across more than 60 cities by the end of 2026. Beyond retail growth, VinFast is concurrently bolstering its domestic ecosystem through local manufacturing, charging infrastructure and strategic partnerships to support India’s sustainable mobility transition.

The company’s premium electric SUVs, the VF 6 and VF 7, have achieved 5-star Bharat NCAP safety ratings and come with comprehensive benefits, including roadside assistance, three years of complimentary maintenance, and warranties up to 10 years or 200,000 kilometres. The seven-seater VF MPV 7 offers a 517-kilometre ARAI-certified range and fast-charging capability. Customer incentives include the Value Assured Programme for buyback guarantees, complimentary charging on the V-Green network until 2029 and a ‘Trade Gas for Electric’ initiative to facilitate the switch from internal combustion engine vehicles.

Tapan Ghosh, CEO, VinFast India, said, “We are delighted to mark the milestone of 60 dealerships in India while establishing VinFast’s presence in Bihar for the first time. This marks an important step in our growth journey and opens up new opportunities in a promising market in eastern India. VinFast remains committed to building a strong retail and after-sales network and accelerating the adoption of green mobility across the country.”

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Bengaluru-based electric two-wheeler manufacturer River Mobility has closed a USD 120 million Series C funding round comprising equity and venture debt.

The funding round was led by Elev8 Venture Partners and Claypond Capital, with equity participation from Singularity AMC, Anicut Capital, 360 ONE Asset, JIF Capital and HDFC AMC. Existing investors including Yamaha Motor Corporation, Al Futtaim Group, Mitsui & Co., Alteria Capital, Innoven Capital and Stride Ventures also participated in the round.

The company plans to utilise the capital to expand manufacturing capacity at its factory, construct a greenfield production facility, introduce products in the utility vehicle segment and support margin expansion and EBITDA targets.

River Mobility launched its Indie model in 2023 and operates over 75 retail locations across India, with plans to expand to 350 stores by March 2028.

At present, the company says its monthly EV sales have reached 5,000 units.

Aravind Mani, Co-Founder & CEO, River Mobility, said, "This funding marks an important milestone in River's journey. The confidence shown by both our existing and new investors reinforces our belief that there is tremendous opportunity to build India's first utility and design based mobility brand. This capital gives us the ability to accelerate our product roadmap, expand our manufacturing footprint and presence across the country."

Navin Honagudi, Managing Partner, Elev8 Venture Partners, said, “The electric two-wheeler market in India is entering a defining growth phase, driven by strong consumer adoption, improving economics, and increasing demand for differentiated products. River stands out for its sharp product thinking, exceptional execution capability, and a highly differentiated positioning in the market. Aravind, Vipin and the team have built a brand that resonates deeply with consumers looking for brilliant design, utility and durability. We believe River is well-positioned to emerge as one of the defining EV companies from India.”

Sekhar Garisa, Managing Director, Claypond Capital, said, “River has combined disciplined execution and thoughtful product differentiation to rapidly grow and garner customer love in a competitive market. We are excited to support the team as they scale further while contributing to the country’s energy transition and domestic manufacturing ambitions.”

Hajime Jim Aota, Chairman of Yamaha India Group, said, “River’s focus on building vertically integrated electric vehicle technology platform has been a key driver of its success. Yamaha are proud to see the progress made by River so far and are excited about being part of the next phase of growth.”

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