Sun Mobility, one of the leading battery-swapping solution company, has introduced what it claims is the world's first modular battery-swapping technology for Heavy Electric Vehicles (HEVs).  In partnership with Bengaluru-based, Veera Vahana, a leading bus manufacturer, Sun Mobility has launched India’s first 10.5-metre battery-swappable buses for intercity and mofussil routes at Prawaas 4.0, an international conference organised by Bus & Car Operators Confederation of India (BOCI). The technology will be able to support all vehicles of Veera Vahana.

Sun Mobility states that electrifying commercial fleets, especially heavy vehicles, is crucial for cutting emissions, improving air quality, and boosting the overall efficiency of the transportation sector. Its Smart Battery solution can be adopted for light, medium and heavy trucks and buses, ranging from 3-tonne to 55-tonne Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). 

The battery-swapping technology is expected to help reduce the upfront cost of the e-buses by 40 percent, thus making it financially attractive. Furthermore, it reduces operational costs of fleet operators by up to 20 percent, while increasing uptime and higher utilisation of buses owing to the swift swapping process of under three minutes. The compact and light form factor of the battery ensures higher payload-carrying capacities. 

At present, buses and trucks form about five percent of the total vehicle population but contribute about 50 percent of the tailpipe emissions. Interestingly, 90 percent of the commercial vehicles segment is privately owned and given this sector is not subsidised, battery swapping can drive an additional 30 percent increase in EV adoption and play a vital role in achieving India’s goal of zero carbon emissions in heavy commercial vehicles. 

Ashok Agarwal, CEO – HEV, Sun Mobility said, "Sun Mobility has revitalised HEVs by overcoming major obstacles for bus operators such as high entry cost of ownership, exacerbated by inadequate HEV financing, extended downtime from lengthy charging periods, and significant strain of rolling out charging infrastructure. Our partnership with Veera Vahana marks a significant milestone as we introduce India’s first modular swapping technology that will provide a practical and cost-effective solution for operators, enhancing efficiency, and reducing operational costs.” 

K Srinivas Reddy, MD, Veera Vahana said, “As one of the fastest-growing bus manufacturers in India, Veera Vahana has been setting new benchmarks in quality and innovation of transportation. We are proud to partner with world pioneers in battery swapping and leverage indigenous innovation and engineering potential to develop truly world-class electric mobility solutions.”

Chetan Maini, Co-Founder & Chairman, Sun Mobility said, "Over the past 7 years, Sun Mobility has been leading the charge in revolutionising the electric mobility sector, particularly with our solutions for the two- and three-wheeler segments. Our latest innovation for HEVs will disrupt the commercial vehicle sector and accelerate the electrification of this crucial segment, vital to the cargo and passenger transportation industry."

"We are thrilled to pioneer this alongside Veera Vahana and confident that it will unlock a multi-billion dollar opportunity for OEMs, fleet operators, and financiers, and position India as a global pioneer and leader in transportation electrification models," added Maini.

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The Volvo EX30 has secured the Good Design Award for 2025, further cementing its status as a celebrated electric vehicle. This compact SUV distinguishes itself through Scandinavian design philosophy prioritising sustainability, achieving the lowest carbon footprint of any electric Volvo through innovative use of recycled and natural materials. The Transportation category award recognises excellence in design, innovation, and sustainability.

Since its summer 2023 debut, the EX30 has become an instant classic and the company’s first small SUV, expanding the electric portfolio while attracting new customer segments. With nearly 200,000 units sold and a driving range extending to 475 kilometres, the model has demonstrated considerable market appeal. Recent updates have further refined the vehicle following its successful launch.

The design challenge involved creating a premium, accessible electric vehicle with high sustainability performance. Designers fundamentally rethought conventional approaches, guided by a principle of achieving more with less. By maximising component functionality and reducing material requirements, they diminished environmental impact while increasing interior spaciousness and managing costs. This philosophy preserved classic Volvo principles of design, safety and sustainability while making them accessible to a wider audience.

Despite its compact dimensions, the EX30 maintains the confidence and Scandinavian simplicity characteristic of larger Volvo models. Its proportions maximise interior versatility through wheels positioned at the corners with equal overhangs, creating a long wheelbase and planted stance. The vehicle retains essential SUV qualities including versatility, elevated seating position and robust visual presence.

The Good Design programme, established in 1950 by the Chicago Athenaeum, stands among the world’s most respected design accolades. It annually honours products demonstrating aesthetic quality, functional excellence and social responsibility, criteria the EX30 fulfils comprehensively.

The Good Design Award 2025 represents the latest recognition for a model that has accumulated numerous major honours, including World Urban Car 2024, The Sun Car of the Year 2023, Red Dot Best of the Best Award 2024, Car Design Award 2024 and Top Gear Magazine Eco Warrior of the Year 2023. These accolades collectively affirm the EX30’s successful integration of sustainability, accessibility, and distinctive design.

Rekha Meena, Head – CMF Design, Volvo Cars, said, “We are honoured to see our small electric SUV recognised by the jury. The EX30 is designed to be our most sustainable car to date, without compromising on the premium experience and safety that our customers expect. Small yet mighty, the EX30’s smart Scandinavian design projects confidence, maturity and versatility while making it instantly recognisable as a Volvo.”

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Volkswagen has reached a key milestone in its transition to electric mobility, having now delivered two million all-electric vehicles to customers worldwide. The two millionth car, an ID.3 manufactured at the Zwickau plant, was recently handed over to its new owner, Kirsten Vormbrock, during a ceremony at the Transparent Factory in Dresden. This achievement reflects a journey that began in 2013 with the introduction of the e-up! and has since seen the continuous expansion of the company’s all-electric portfolio. Alongside the current ID. family, the total also includes pioneering models like the e-up! and the e-Golf.

Several models have played a decisive role in reaching this milestone. The ID.3, with around 628,000 deliveries, was the first vehicle built on the modular electric drive matrix (MEB) and made electric mobility accessible to a broad audience in the compact class when it launched in 2020. An upgraded version of this model is expected soon. The ID.4 has been a major growth engine, with approximately 901,000 units sold, and has significantly strengthened the brand’s presence in key global markets, including China and United States. More recently, the ID.7, of which around 132,000 have been delivered, expanded the lineup into the upper mid-range segment with a saloon and estate, showcasing advancements in range, efficiency and comfort.

The handover in Dresden also underscores the evolving role of the Transparent Factory. With series production now concluded there, the facility is shifting its focus entirely to the visitor experience. New attractions, including theme islands and production demonstrations, aim to offer an authentic glimpse into the manufacturing process. Last year, approximately 3,500 vehicles were delivered to customers at this location, the vast majority of which were electrified. This makes it the brand’s second-largest national delivery centre, where the emphasis is on fostering brand loyalty through personalised handovers and thorough vehicle introductions. Customers can also arrange test drives of various ID. models in Dresden, while the nearby Zwickau plant, which produced around 212,000 electric cars last year, remains a cornerstone of production. These combined efforts have helped Volkswagen secure a leading position in the electric vehicle market across Europe and establish itself as a top-tier manufacturer globally.

Martin Sander, Volkswagen Board Member for Sales, Marketing and After Sales, said, “We laid the foundations for electromobility early on and are driving our transformation to an all-electric future with clear strategic priority. Our strong market position, particularly in Germany and Europe, confirms the attractiveness and competitiveness of our electric portfolio.”

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Delhi-NCR-based electric vehicle company Omega Seiki Mobility (OSM) has introduced its RAGE+ Tipper electric three-wheeler with Hydraulics at Municipalika 2026, priced at INR 450,000 (ex-showroom).

The EV is designed for use by municipal corporations, urban local bodies and government sanitation departments. It is part of the Business-to-Government (B2G) segment, aimed at supporting waste management in high-density urban zones.

OSM has already supplied over 200 electric garbage tippers across India and maintains an order book of 500 vehicles. The company plans to deploy 1,000 tippers in the 2026–27 financial year.

The RAGE+ Tipper is engineered for the operational cycles required by civic authorities. It features an all-metal body and a hydraulic tipping mechanism to facilitate waste unloading. The e-three-wheeler has a claimed range of 250 km on a single charge. It features 15 kWh battery pack, 500 kg load-carrying capacity, IP67-rated charger for weather resistance and comes with 5 years or 200,000 kilometres warranty.

The transition to electric fleets for waste collection is supported by national sustainability targets, such as the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. These vehicles are intended to lower operating costs and reduce noise and carbon emissions in city environments compared to internal combustion engine alternatives.

Vivek Dhawan, Chief Strategy Officer, Omega Seiki, said, “Municipal mobility is at the heart of India’s sustainability journey. The RAGE+ Tipper reflects our commitment to building robust, zero-emission solutions tailored specifically for urban sanitation needs. With the longest range in its category and an industry-leading warranty, we are enabling municipalities to adopt electric mobility with confidence and long-term economic viability.”

Ashhar Idris, VP – Sales, Omega Seiki, added, “Our focus has been to engineer a product that delivers operational reliability and superior value for government partners. The RAGE+ Tipper not only reduces fuel and maintenance costs but also ensures uninterrupted daily operations with its large battery pack and durable metal body. Municipalika 2026 provides the perfect platform to demonstrate how OSM is driving practical and scalable electric solutions for cities.”

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Zaggle Prepaid Ocean Services has launched a closed-loop CNG fleet card programme in partnership with Adani Total Gas (ATGL). The technology platform was introduced during a CNG drive in Ahmedabad, organised by ATGL and Hyundai Motor India to promote fuel adoption and mobility.

The programme utilises a SaaS and payment infrastructure to manage transactions across the CNG ecosystem. As part of the launch, ATGL presented the Zaggle CNG Benefit Card to Hyundai India and new car owners, providing refuelling benefits of up to INR 15,000 over one year.

The solution integrates real-time vehicle validation via the Parivahan database and uses Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to authenticate vehicle and transaction details. The platform supports split-payment functionality, allowing for the utilisation of incentives during fuel purchases.

Key features of the platform include:

• Fleet Management: Virtual accounts for funding and real-time limit management for operators.
• Payment Hardware: Android mPOS deployment and Tap & Pay prepaid cards at ATGL outlets.
• Analytics: Dashboards for administrators and fleet owners providing real-time data.
• Onboarding: Automated systems for OEMs and retrofitters to add vehicles to the fleet network.

The closed-loop framework ensures that incentives are redeemed strictly within the ATGL ecosystem, intended to drive recurring spend and improve governance.

Dr Raj P. Narayanam, Founder & Executive Chairman, Zaggle, said, “Our collaboration with ATGL reflects Zaggle’s evolution into a technology-led ecosystem enabler. By integrating compliance architecture, real-time validation and structured incentive management within a closed-loop framework, we are not only digitizing fuel payments but also building a scalable platform that supports India’s transition toward cleaner and more efficient mobility. At Zaggle, we remain committed to empowering customers with smart financial solutions that complement sustainable lifestyle choices.”

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