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.

Lectrix EV has unveiled a new e-scooter NDuro at an attractive price point of INR 60,000 ex-showroom in India. The vehicle boasts of a sleek and sporty appearance and is aimed at urban users.

Laced with 42-litres of boot space – claimed to be the largest in is class – and flaunting a robust build quality, the e-scooter comes with ‘battery-as-as-service’.

The INR 60,000 price tag of the vehicle limited to the first 1000 customers only, as per the company statement, the NDuro has a top speed of 65 kmph and an ability accelerate from 0 to 40 kmph in 5.1 seconds.

With a tested gradeability of 16-degree (with single rider), the e-scooter could be had with a 2.3 kWh battery delivering an IDC range of 90 km or with a 3.0 kWh battery delivering a range of 117 km.

With smart ‘connectivity’ features such as an efficiency bar, hill hold, tracking, emergency SOS, detailed ride analytics and real-time theft alerts, the electric two-wheeler is supported by the presence of the company in over 120 cities through more than 200 dealer partners as well as over 200 service.

The company has already deployed 10,000 batteries as a service, mentioned Pritesh Talwar, President, Lectrix EV, He emphasised that the brand has 15,000 scooters and 30,000 three-wheelers on the road and is catering to more than a dozen B2B clients.

Regarding the new scooter, Rakesh Malhotra, Founder, SAR Group (of which Lectrix EV is a part), mentioned that the NDuro reflects our commitment to innovation and sustainability.

“It is a bold step toward the future of mobility. We wanted to launch an E2W that empowers consumers and redefines how we navigate our cities. NDuro does that. It surpasses expectations by offering a perfect balance of style, performance, and experience. As the urban landscapes evolve, NDuro will stand out as a statement of innovation. It is built for those who value both form and function,” he added.

Zypp Electric, one of India’s leading electric vehicle-as-a-service platforms, has achieved a new milestone of completing 20.5 million zero-emission deliveries.

The company stated that the quick commerce market in India valued at around USD 60 billion to USD 70 billion is seeing substantial growth. It is expected to further grow by USD 25 billion and USD 55 billion by 2030. Zypp Electric is enabling last-mile delivery partners to embrace electric vehicles enabling higher earnings for them and also help reduce carbon emissions.

Zypp Electric claims that its delivery partners accounted for almost 15-20 percent of all quick commerce orders delivered in the Delhi-NCR region.

It has inked strategic partnerships with companies such as Zepto, Blinkit, Big Basket Now, and Instamart. Its fleet of EVs have helped reduce 2.5 million kilograms of carbon emissions.

The company claims during the recent festive season, top earners of Zypp Delivery Pilots have earned nearly INR 99,949 per month.

Akash Gupta, Co-Founder & CEO, Zypp Electric, said, “I remember when we had our first meeting with all our amazing quick commerce partners Zepto, Blinkit, BB Now and Swiggy Instamart, we were sure that this sector will revolutionise the delivery market. This achievement is not just a number; it signifies our relentless pursuit of sustainability in quick commerce. At Zypp Electric, we believe that quick and sustainable logistics is the future of e-commerce. Our partnerships have shown that we can break the myth that speed and sustainability are mutually exclusive. As we move forward, we are excited to lead the charge in making electric deliveries the norm in India, and I would personally cherish delivering the 21st million delivery landmark myself with my leadership team.”

JBM Group, a leading player in the commercial vehicle and component manufacturing space, has signed a strategic partnership with Singapore-based Keppel for decarbonisation and green mobility.

The partners will focus on decarbonising urban infrastructure, provide unique and customised solutions for electric mobility and electric waste (e-waste) management. As part of the understanding, Keppel will brings its leading-edge capabilities in integrated clean energy, electric vehicle (EV) charging and resource circularity solutions.

On the other hand, JBM Group will leverage its expertise in electric vehicles, EV aggregates and key auto systems. They will joint develop projects focussing on e-mobility, Battery Energy Storage Systems and e-waste solutions. Furthermore, they will also look at setting up EV charging networks, e-mobility hubs and  resource recovery facilities.

The agreement was done at the 29th Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Partnership Summit 2024 in New Delhi, India. The MoU was signed in the presence of Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Government of India by Nishant Arya, Vice Chairman, JBM Group and Cindy Lim, CEO, Keppel’s Infrastructure Division.

“India and Singapore share a long-standing and robust partnership that was recently elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Singapore in September 2024. This significant step enhances collaboration in sustainability, advanced manufacturing, digital technology and green energy,” said Goyal

“At the 29th CII Partnership Summit, I am pleased to witness landmark agreements between Keppel and leading Indian corporations. These collaborations align with India's priorities, including the energy transition and the India Cooling Action Plan, fostering innovation and paving the way for economic growth and a sustainable future for both nations. This augurs well as our countries celebrate the 60 years of diplomatic relations in 2025,” he added.

Nishant Arya said, “This strategic partnership with Keppel marks a significant step forward in our commitment to advancing the global energy transition and decarbonisation goals. The combined synergies of two global leaders joining hands, with JBM’s expertise in e-mobility, renewables and green manufacturing and Keppel’s innovative solutions in infrastructure and sustainability, we aim to deliver transformative outcomes in clean energy and electro-mobility domains. Together, we will pioneer solutions that shall redefine the global sustainability landscape towards creating a zero carbon and resilient future for our communities.”

Cindy Lim added, “India's electricity demand is rapidly rising on the back of its growing economy, urbanisation and electrification. Through forging partnerships with leading partners like JBM Group, Keppel is uniquely positioned to participate in and contribute meaningfully towards India’s sustainable development. We look forward to working with our esteemed partner to deliver differentiated and impactful decarbonisation and sustainability solutions to help meet the net-zero commitments of both India and our customers.”

Ather Energy Limited, a pioneer in the EV two-wheeler industry in India, has opened its first experience centre, Ather Space, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in line with its international expansion strategy.

With this expansion, Ather has now added Sri Lanka as its latest international market after establishing a successful connection with Nepal in November 2023. The new experience centre will display Ather’s flagship scooter, the Ather 450X, to Sri Lankan customers, where they can test ride and purchase the electric scooter.

Evolution Auto Pvt Ltd, a joint venture between Sensei Capital Partners, Atman Group and Sino Lanka Private Limited, will head the new experience centre. In addition to managing sales, service operations and network growth as Ather's national distributor in Sri Lanka, Evolution Auto will also be setting up Ather grid fast-charging stations all throughout the nation. This strategy seeks to provide a smooth consumer experience while promoting EV adoption.

Ravneet Singh Phokela, Chief Business Officer, Ather Energy Limited, said, “We are thrilled to enter our second international market, Sri Lanka, where we are starting our sales with the Ather 450X. We believe that the Ather 450X, with its emphasis on performance, is fit for the Sri Lankan market. Its acceleration, manoeuvrability and ride handling allow riders to easily navigate city routes and diverse terrains. The EV industry in Sri Lanka is still in its nascent stages, and we are excited to be a part of their journey as the industry continues to grow. Sri Lanka is an important part of our global expansion plans and in the following years, we will continue to seek opportunities in other international markets.”

Dhiren Kundanmal, Director, Evolution Auto Pvt Ltd, said, “We are thrilled to open the first Ather Experience Centre in the heart of Colombo. This centre symbolises our commitment to innovation and sustainability in mobility. Here, we invite everyone to experience the cutting-edge Ather electric scooters, engage with the Ather technology and become a part of a greener future. We believe that the journey towards sustainable transportation begins with the right experience, and we are excited to share it with the vibrant community of Colombo.”