iCreate (International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Technology), an innovation-based start-up incubator, announced the winners of the EVangelise ’22 on Wednesday. This was the second edition of EVangelise, an EV innovation challenge. iCreate states that the aim of EVangelise’22 has been to put India on the global EV innovation map by identifying clean, low cost, innovative technologies that solve the industry's critical problems. It took place over six months, during which start-ups and EV innovators from 23 states and UTs showcased their solutions for real-life challenges in the EV industry under three themes – vehicle traction, energy storage and vehicle infrastructure.

iCreate claims that upon technical evaluation, market relevance and implementation strategies, Gyrodrive Machineries, C Electric Automotive Drives and Fasmho Energy Systems were awarded the top three positions in the TRL>4 category, respectively. Cancrie, Vijigi Energy and INTAKT EV Hybrids bagged the top three positions in the TRL<4 category, respectively, states iCreate.

Commenting on the achievement, Eshan Dhar, CTO of Gyrodrive Machineries and the winner of EVangelise’ 22, said, “We are overwhelmed to be chosen as the winner of EVangelise’22. We believe that our innovation on magnet-free switched reluctance motors will be the future of the EV industry. This eliminates the need for rare earth materials that are detrimental to the environment and make India Atmanirbhar, as these motors can be manufactured domestically. I express my heartfelt gratitude to the iCreate team for mentoring us throughout the challenge and giving us a platform to showcase our innovation to some of the best minds in the industry. EVangelise’22 has proved to be a launchpad for aspiring entrepreneurs like us, and moving forward, we hope to work with the team at iCreate more closely to co-create solutions for the EV industry.”

Ratheesh Nair, CTO of C Electric Automotive Drives, the second-place winner of EVangelise’ 22, stated, “We are thrilled on being awarded the second position at EVangelise’22. Our innovation on indigenous electric drive components enables Indian electric vehicle makers to customise their motor controllers as per their requirements, while also reducing costs by 40 percent. EVanglise’22 has been instrumental in showcasing this to top industry leaders, and we have already received multiple orders. Advanced discussions with some more manufacturers are on.”

Six winners across two categories – TRL> 4 and TRL<4 – received cash prizes of INR one million, INR 0.75 million and INR 0.5 million, respectively. Six consolation prizes worth INR 0.3 million were also awarded, according to iCreate. The top three winners with TRL>4 also received INR 5 million as incubation support, subject to agreed terms and conditions to each to take their ideas to market.

Congratulating the winners, Avinash Punekar, CEO of iCreate, said, “Having completed two successful editions, EVangelise has grown to become India’s largest and most awaited EV innovation challenge for innovators and start-ups. The enthusiastic response received for EVangelise’22 from industry leaders, such as Dr Piyush Desai, Co-founder and Vice President, Turntide Technologies; Chintan Vaishnav, Mission Director, Atal Innovation Mission, Chair Startup 20 Engagement Group; and Srinivas Kudligi, GM, Aditya Auto Products And Engineering, highlights the potential of Indian innovators in solving pressing challenges for the global EV industry. We, at iCreate, are proud to partner with them in their journey and position India as a knowledge superpower in the EV space. I congratulate the winners of EVangelise’22 and look forward to working together to take their solutions to market.”

As per iCreate, EVangelise’22 has seen participation from 1,160 participants, including students, individual innovators, researchers and institutions, who have created promising solutions in the areas of battery safety and EV infrastructure. During the course of the bootcamp and the finale, innovators pitched directly to industry leaders and explored strategic partnerships. Industry leaders who supported, engaged and provided guidance to the innovators at the EV innovation challenge included BPCL, Mahindra Logistics, Tata Stryder, JOY ebike, Turntide Technologies and Rotomag to name a few, according to the start-up incubator.

iCreate claims that the finale also saw distinguished speakers share insights and learnings with the innovators. The speakers included Chetan Maini, Co-Founder of Sun Mobility; Dr Piyush Desai, Co-Founder of Turntide Technologies; Chintan Vaishnav, Mission Director, Atal Innovation Mission and Chair of the Startup 20 Engagement Group; and H K Mittal, Chairman, Startup India Seed Fund Committee.

Digital lending platform Revfin has strengthened its management with the appointment of three senior executives as part of its FY2026 strategy, targeting INR 7.5 billion in disbursements and 5x growth over the past two years. The company also expects to cross INR 20 billion in cumulative disbursements since inception.

The new appointments include Abhinandan Narayan, Chief Business Officer – New Business, Monish Vohra, COO – Operations & Collections and Anirudh Gupta, Chief Finance & Strategy Officer. The appointments the company shared aligns with its focus on ‘People, Process, Profitability.’

Furthermore, Revfin has outlined its ambition to finance 24,000 EVs in FY2026. Till date, it claims to have financed over 85,000 EVs across 25 states, with 75 percent of borrowers from marginalised communities. Cumulatively, its driver partners have covered 1.6 billion electric miles and earned over USD 400 million.

In FY2025, the company grew its L5 EV loan book by 1,700 percent, supported by a partnership with Bajaj Auto and expanded collaborations with logistics firms. The L5 segment remains a key focus as a replacement for ICE vehicles in urban transport.

Sameer Aggarwal, Founder & CEO, Revfin, said, “The last financial year was a volatile one for the EV industry, but the excitement and energy within the sector remain undiminished. At Revfin, we are deeply convinced that intracity and small commercial vehicles must – and will – transition 100 percent to electric within the next three years. The opportunity is here and now. It’s time to set bold targets and pursue hypergrowth over the next two years. At this critical juncture, the right leadership becomes essential to realizing our ambitions. With the strong momentum we’ve already built, we’re confident the journey ahead will be even more rewarding. We’ve entered 2025 with a sharp focus on what truly matters: People, Processes, and Profitability. These latest leadership hires are a natural extension of that focus and our commitment to scale with purpose.”

Ahmedabad-based clean energy company Matter has launched its flagship electric motorcycle – the Aera, in Bengaluru at an introductory price of IRN 179,000 for the first 500 customers, post which it will be available at INR 188,000. The company has started taking pre-registrations for the e-motorcycle at INR 1,999.

Furthermore, the company has also announced that its first Experience Hub will come up at BTM Layout, which will showcase its tech prowess and philosophy firsthand.

The Matter Aera is claimed to be the world's first electric motorcycle with manual gears – 4-speed transmission, 3 ride modes that delivers 12 unique ride combinations. It features a 7-inch Smart Touchscreen Dashboard, onboard charger and liquid cooled powertrain. The e-motorcycle has a claimed IDC range of up to 172km, a zero to 40 kmph in 2.8 seconds, dual disc brakes with ABS, telescopic front fork and dual rear suspension.

Mohal Lalbhai, Founder & Group CEO, Matter Energy, said, “There’s no better city to lead this journey than Bengaluru—where innovation isn’t just an idea, it’s a way of life. Every lane, every rider here resonates with purpose and progress. The Aera isn’t just a bike – it’s the 22nd Century motorbike. It delivers the thrill of a rocket and the practicality your pocket loves. With our in-house developed Hypershift manual gearbox, liquid-cooled powertrain, and connected tech, AERA brings together performance, emotion, and sustainability like never before.”

The Kia EV3 has won the prestigious ‘2025 World Car of the Year’ award at the globally renowned 2025 World Car Awards ceremony, held during the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS).

A jury of 96 distinguished worldwide automotive journalists from 30 nations assessed the 2025 World Car Awards. With the EV3's triumph, Kia has now won six World Car Awards since 2020. The EV3 has a dramatic, forward-thinking design and a creative, useful interior that makes the most of available space, comfort and utility. The EV3 can charge from 10 to 80 percent in 31 minutes and has a segment-leading range of up to 375 miles (around 603 kilometres). While Kia's AI Assistant, advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) and Over-the-Air (OTA) upgrades improve the ownership experience with cutting-edge technology, the vehicle's creative interior design maximizes room, comfort and accessibility.

Ho Sung Song, President and CEO, Kia, said, “It is an immense honour for everyone at Kia that the EV3 has been awarded the 2025 World Car of the Year title. This award highlights Kia’s global leadership in providing design-led, technologically advanced, sustainable mobility solutions and how the EV3’s class-leading attributes redefine the user experience for customers worldwide.”

The Hyundai INSTER sub-compact EV has won the prestigious 2025 World Electric Vehicle award at the globally renowned 2025 World Car Awards ceremony, held during the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS).

With this recognition, Hyundai Motor Company has dominated one or more World Car Awards categories for the fourth year in a row. Hyundai Motor's commitment to developing EV technology and sustainability is highlighted by the 2025 World Electric Vehicle award, which also acknowledges INSTER's exceptional value in the EV market. The finalists were chosen by a sealed-ballot jury consisting of 96 international automotive journalists from 30 different countries. On 16 April 2025, the winners were revealed at the 2025 NYIAS. With its unique design, remarkable driving range and state-of-the-art technology, INSTER is the market leader in the sub-compact EV sector. A 10- to 80-percent charge can be made in around 30 minutes thanks to INSTER's quick charging technology, and the 49-kWh long-range variant has a range of up to 370 kilometres.

José Muñoz, President and CEO, Hyundai Motor Company, said, “The Hyundai INSTER has been a winner with customers since we introduced it. It’s very gratifying that the experts on the prestigious World Car Awards jurors feel the same way. The combination of compelling design, range, enjoyable driving characteristics, intuitive infotainment and technology that customers appreciate is emblematic of Hyundai’s approach of delivering exceptional value to our customers. The fact that our global portfolio is successful both commercially and critically speaks to the hard-working people throughout the Hyundai value chain who are delivering some of the best vehicles on the road today. Thank you to all the jurors for your service to this great industry.”