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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Delhi-NCR-based electric vehicle battery swapping organisation Battery Smart has announced that it has become the first company in India to complete 100 million battery swaps across its network for electric two- and three-wheelers.

The achievement comes five years after the company’s founding. Battery Smart claims it currently operates approximately 70 percent of the battery-swapping infrastructure in the country.

To mark the achievement, the company has launched an INR 100 million Driver Welfare Fund 2026, which is designed to provide insurance, financial protection and skill development for approximately 100,000 electric vehicle (EV) drivers. The fund also includes referral programmes, free swaps and community inclusion initiatives.

Pulkit Khurana and Siddharth Sikka, Co-Founders of Battery Smart, said, “Crossing 100 million swaps is a landmark for EV adoption in India, not just for us. It demonstrates the potential of battery swapping to make clean mobility accessible, affordable, and inclusive at scale. Each swap represents a choice, a driver choosing clean mobility over combustion, assurance over anxiety and improved uptime over long waiting hours. This achievement belongs to our community of drivers, battery swap station partners, OEM collaborators, investors, and policymakers who believed that battery swapping could succeed at scale in India.”

The company’s ecosystem includes over 5,000 women drivers and 250 women partners. Its technology utilises IoT-enabled batteries and real-time monitoring to enable predictive maintenance and minimize downtime for drivers in the gig economy.

“Looking ahead, the Driver Welfare Fund reinforces our commitment to the community that made this possible. As we continue to grow, we remain focused on strengthening India’s EV mobility backbone, powered by smarter IoT batteries, more efficient station operations, and robust safety systems. This milestone is just the beginning, and together, we are building the future of clean mobility for India,” added Sikka.

Going forward, Battery Smart intends to expand into 100 additional cities by 2026. The company’s roadmap involves deploying more swap stations and increasing daily swap capacity to meet demand from commercial operators. Planned investments include safety systems and IoT intelligence as the company continues to work with regulators and industry stakeholders.

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Ola Electric has announced the commencement of mass deliveries of its 4680 Bharat Cell-powered vehicles. The S1 Pro+ 5.2 kWh is the first product to be powered by the company’s indigenously manufactured 4680 Bharat Cell battery pack, which delivers more range, better performance and enhanced safety.

With its own battery packs in the vehicles, Ola Electric is now India's first company to fully own the battery pack and cell manufacturing process in-house.

The S1 Pro+ 5.2 kWh is powered by a 13 kW motor, offering acceleration of zero to 40 kmph in just 2.1 seconds. It comes with an impressive 320 km range (IDC with DIY mode).

The S1 Pro+ features four riding modes (Hyper, Sports, Normal and Eco) and also offers enhanced safety with category-first dual ABS and disk brakes in the front and rear. It also gets enhanced ergonomics and comfort, a two-tone seat with supportive foam, body-coloured mirrors, a die-cast aluminium grab handle, rim decals and an expanded colour palette comprising Passion Red, Porcelain White, Industrial Silver, Jet Black, Stellar Blue and Midnight Blue.

“The excitement for S1 Pro+ has been phenomenal. Deliveries are now in full swing, and customers are proudly riding India’s first scooters powered by our own 4680 Bharat Cell. This is a big moment, not just for Ola, but for India’s journey towards becoming a global EV hub. With the national rollout starting soon, we are now ready to take this breakthrough product and technology to every corner of the country,” an Ola Electric spokesperson said.

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CATL and Stellantis broke ground on a EUR 4.1 billion battery plant in Figueruelas, Spain, on 26 November. The 50:50 joint venture will produce lithium-iron-phosphate battery cells and targets an annual production capacity of 50 GW/h.

The project, which is Spain’s largest battery factory, is backed by over EUR 300 million in EU funds, with production expected to start in late 2026.

According to unions, around 2,000 Chinese workers will help construct the site, a point of contention with local authorities and residents. Also, 3,000 Spanish staff are to be hired and trained later.

Spanish authorities and residents have voiced concerns about job opportunities for local workers and potential strain from the influx of foreign employees. CATL Vice President Meng Xiangfeng said earlier in November the company needed experienced technicians to build and fine-tune production lines, with plans to train local workers to take over operations gradually.

David Romeral, Director General of CAAR Aragon, a network of automotive businesses in the region, said: “We don’t know this technology, these components – we’ve never made them before. They’re years ahead of us. All we can do is watch and learn.”

The regional government is organising work permits for arriving workers while seeking to attract battery supply chain companies to Aragon. Some Chinese technicians and managers have already arrived, with several hundred more expected by year-end and nearly 2,000 by the end of next year.

CATL’s approach contrasts with its Hungarian site in Debrecen, where it hired mostly locals to build its European plant. However, a lack of local workers caused production to be delayed from late 2025 into mid-2026. The Figueruelas facility will serve as CATL’s third European manufacturing operation, alongside the Hungarian plant and one in Germany.

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