Bengaluru-based alternative energy company Ola Electric has launched Ola Shakti, its first residential Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) solution, marking the company's entry into the BESS market. The company estimates the BESS market is currently valued at INR 1,000 billion and is projected to grow to over INR 3,000 billion by 2030.

The company expects its annual Gigafactory consumption for the BESS market to scale up to 5 GwH in the next couple of years, exceeding its automotive consumption.

Powered by Ola's indigenous 4680 Bharat Cells, Ola Shakti is said to be India’s first residential BESS that is fully designed, engineered and manufactured domestically. Ola is leveraging its existing cell technology, Gigafactory infrastructure and distribution network to scale rapidly without new capital expenditure (Capex) or research and development (R&D) spending.

Product Details

Ola Shakti is available in four battery configurations with introductory pricing for the first 10,000 units: 1.5 kWh at INR 29,999, 3 kWh at INR 55,999, 5.2 kWh at INR 119,999 and 9.1 kWh at INR 159,999. Reservations for the product begin today for INR 999, with deliveries scheduled to start on Makar Sankranti 2026.

The system's features include:

• Efficiency: Delivers efficiency of up to 98 percent and has zero running and maintenance costs.
• Safety: Delivers automotive-grade safety and is fully weatherproof with IP67-rated batteries.
• Functionality: Features instant 0 ms changeover time, operates across a wide input voltage range of 120V-290V and offers real-time control and data-driven management for customers.

Bhavish Aggarwal, CMD, Ola Electric, said: “India doesn't face energy shortage; it faces an energy storage opportunity. With Ola Shakti, we are turning that opportunity into energy independence. We have built world-class battery and cell technology for electric mobility. Ola Shakti extends that innovation to homes, helping them store and use clean energy intelligently. Ola Shakti is a natural next step for us as we leverage our existing 4680 cell technology, Gigafactory production capabilities, and nationwide Ola network as a ready sales and distribution backbone – ensuring rapid scale without any incremental investment."

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Charge_iN by Mahindra and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) have signed a strategic agreement to develop electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure at HPCL retail outlets across India. The collaboration aims to utilise HPCL’s national fuel station network to increase the availability of public charging points for electric four-wheelers.

HPCL currently operates over 24,400 retail outlets and has installed more than 5,400 charging stations under its HP e-Charge brand. The new stations established through this partnership will exclusively feature 180 kW dual gun chargers, designed for high-speed charging.

The deployment is intended to support the transition to green transportation in India, currently the third-largest automotive market globally. The agreement focuses on building an ultrafast charging network to improve reliability and reduce charging times for EV users.

The partnership aligns with the government's objective of strengthening public EV infrastructure. By integrating chargers into existing fuel stations, the companies aim to provide a platform for nationwide expansion and seamless access for drivers.

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Electric mobility startup Bijliride has detailed plans to expand its franchise network to more than 25 Indian cities. Operating under a Franchise Owned–Franchise Operated (FOFO) model, the company aims to onboard 30 franchise partners by March 2027 and scale its fleet to between 10,000 and 15,000 electric two-wheelers within the next 18 months.

The expansion the startup claims is projected to drive 150 percent growth in fleet operations. Bijliride has identified several urban mobility markets for this phase, including:

• Tier 1 Cities: Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kolkata.
• Emerging Hubs: Hyderabad clusters, Jaipur, Patna, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, and Kochi.
• Logistics Centres: Nagpur, Indore, Surat, and Visakhapatnam.

The strategy targets demand from logistics operators, gig economy platforms and urban commuters.

Under the FOFO structure, local partners own and manage the fleets while Bijliride provides the technology infrastructure. This includes real-time vehicle tracking, battery management protocols, and rental management systems.

The partners have to commit to a minimum of 50 electric two-wheelers to begin with, an initial investment of around INR 1.4-1.6 million, with a projected breakeven in approximately 15 months under stable fleet utilisation. The startup also assists partners with driver onboarding and connects fleets with demand from local delivery businesses and gig platforms.

Shivam Sisodiya, CEO and Co-Founder, Bijliride, said, “Electric mobility demand in India is growing rapidly, particularly among gig workers and last-mile delivery operators. At this stage, our focus is disciplined scale. The FOFO model allows us to grow responsibly by partnering with local entrepreneurs who understand their markets while leveraging our technology platform and operational systems. This structure enables us to expand faster while ensuring fleets are managed efficiently on the ground.”

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It’s been sometime that Donut Lab has been working on producing a battery that will address the challenging needs of EVs better than other batteries have been able to do. Claiming to be the world’s first solid-state battery ready for production vehicles measured in independent testing conditions, the company has released its third test result that dispels any suspicions that the battery would be a supercapacitor rather than a battery.
The results measure the properties of its solid-state battery, evaluating its ability to retain charge when not in use. Available for download on its site, the third and most recent test follows two other tests that looked at charging speed (the test was conducted by Technology Re) using two passive cooling configurations and evaluation of capacity performance of the battery cell in hot conditions (by the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland). 
The test measuring the battery’s ability to retain charge even when not in use was carried out using a simple research setup. It was connected at room temperature to the research laboratory’s battery tester, which repeatedly measured the cell voltage every 10 seconds. Like the previous test that measured battery performance at very high temperatures, this test also began with a 1C capacity test, demonstrating that the cell was precisely the same as the other test examples.
 
After the capacity test, the battery cell was charged to approximately 50 percent charge and left connected to the battery tester for ten days. The cell was then discharged to measure the remaining energy capacity. The results show that the battery cell voltage stabilises during the first 10 hours after charging. Over the next nine or so days, the voltage curve continues to stabilise. A capacity test at the end of the test period confirmed that the voltage drop corresponds to the amount of energy in watt-hours.
The Donut Battery behaved in the test exactly as a battery should. If the test had been performed with a supercapacitor, the charge would have fallen linearly much faster during the same time period.
“Since we unveiled the Donut Battery, there has been a lot of speculation and theories about whether it is a supercapacitor. In all its simplicity, this test proves that it is a battery. Supercapacitors charge and discharge quickly, but they also lose their charge quickly when not in use. The Donut Battery behaves like a battery and can maintain a charge for significantly longer,” confirmed Ville Piippo, CTO, Donut Lab.
After the third test mentioned above, Donut Lab has carried out a special test to measure battery performance in a battery pack using the Verge TS Pro motorcycle that charges in less than ten minutes, making it the world's fastest-charging electric motorcycle.
 

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PepsiCo India has announced the expansion of its green logistics network through three integrated initiatives aimed at reducing supply chain emissions. The centrepiece of the rollout is the launch of a dedicated EV Green Corridor on the Kosi-Pataudi route, developed in partnership with Kalyani Powertrain, a subsidiary of Bharat Forge.

The Kosi-Pataudi corridor will utilise eight 32-feet single-axle re-powered electric container trucks. This initiative is expected to cover approximately 480,000 electric kilometres annually. The model incorporates dedicated charging infrastructure, route optimisation and vehicle customisation to support linehaul freight.

Beyond the corridor, the company has implemented the following measures:

• Distributor Electrification: More than 400 distributor-linked vehicles have been converted to electric three-wheelers and four-wheelers for last-mile delivery.
• Urban Logistics: Over 80 CNG vehicles have been deployed in the National Capital Region (NCR) through logistics partners to lower the environmental footprint of urban distribution.

The initiatives were inaugurated in the presence of Laxmi Narayan Chaudhary, Cabinet Minister for Sugar Industry and Cane Development, Government of Uttar Pradesh. The project involves a ‘Partnership of Progress’ approach, coordinating with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), finance providers and logistics firms including Vayudoot Road Carriers and New Trishul Transport Services.

Jagrut Kotecha, CEO, PepsiCo India & South Asia, said, "At PepsiCo India, sustainability is embedded in how we operate and grow. The launch of the EV Green Corridor on the Kosi-Pataudi route, together with the electrification of our distributor fleet and CNG deployment in NCR, reflects our commitment to building a supply chain that is cleaner, more efficient, and future-ready. Through our Partnership of Progress approach, we have brought together the right partners across technology, logistics, infrastructure, and finance to make this a reality. We believe this kind of ecosystem collaboration is what it takes to drive lasting change, not just for PepsiCo, but for the sector."

Pankaj Sonalkar, MD, Kalyani Powertrain, said, “This initiative demonstrates how electric vehicle technology can be effectively integrated into commercial logistics operations when supported by strong ecosystem collaboration. At Kalyani Powertrain, we remain committed to developing innovative and reliable mobility solutions that enable businesses to transition toward cleaner, more efficient transportation while supporting India’s broader decarbonization goals.”

Laxmi Narayan Chaudhary, added, “Initiatives like these reflect how industry can grow while remaining mindful of the environment. The Government is strongly focused on promoting electric mobility and encouraging cleaner modes of transportation, and this initiative is well aligned with that vision.”

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  - NEW TRISHUL TRANSPORT March 18, 2026 21:21 PM

  Great initiative and futuristic approach of pepsico and it’s team, Green india clean india.

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