TVS Motor Company recently launched its connected passenger electric three-wheeler named King EV Max in Kolkata for the eastern market. Equipped with a high-performance 51.2V lithium-ion LFP battery, the vehicle delivers a top speed of 60 km/h with three driving modes – ECO (40 km/h), City (50 km/h) and Power (60 km/h) to suit varied commuting needs. The vehicle accelerates from 0-30 km/h in just 3.7 seconds and boasts a gradability of 31 percent, ensuring seamless operation on inclined surfaces. Additionally, its water wading depth of 500 mm enhances reliability in challenging weather conditions.

A 179-km range on a single charge makes the King EV MAX an efficient choice for daily transport. The battery supports fast charging, reaching 80 percent in just 2 hours and 15 minutes, while a full charge takes 3 hours and 30 minutes. This ensures minimal downtime for fleet operators and individual users alike.

The L5 segment passenger vehicle comes with LED headlamps and tail lamps for improved visibility and safety. Additionally, the Bluetooth-enabled TVS SmartXonnect system allows users to access real-time navigation, vehicle alerts and diagnostics directly from their smartphones, enhancing operational efficiency and fleet management.

Prioritising passenger comfort, the vehicle features a spacious cabin and ergonomic seating for a smooth and comfortable ride. Its durable construction and well-designed interior make it a standout option for urban commutes.

The company is also set to enter the L5N cargo segment with plans to launch a vehicle within Q4FY25. Commenting on the development, Commercial Mobility Business Head Rajat Gupta told Motoring Trends, “The company is expanding its footprint in the electric three-wheeler space by introducing a cargo variant designed for commercial applications. The L5N classification refers to three-wheeler trucks intended for cargo transportation, whereas the L5M category is designated for passenger vehicles. With this strategic move, TVS aims to strengthen its presence in the electric mobility sector, catering to both passenger and logistics markets.”

Alluding to how TVS leveraged its strong automotive design and manufacturing capabilities in the King EV Max, he noted, “One of the key strengths of TVS is its customer-centric approach, which the company calls ‘Living with Customers’. This methodology involves closely engaging with end users to understand pain points, which are then directly addressed in product development. As a result, the latest TVS three-wheeler EV incorporates industry-first features, making it more advanced, efficient and user-friendly.” 

“A standout feature is the 26 connected functionalities integrated into the vehicle’s digital cluster, setting a new benchmark in the segment. Additionally, TVS has introduced the first Bluetooth-connected three-wheeler, enhancing fleet management and driver convenience. In terms of energy efficiency, TVS leads the category with an optimised 17.4 kWh energy consumption, maximising range while ensuring superior cost savings,” he added.

The vehicle has a localisation level of 65-70 percent and is being manufactured at the company’s Hosur plant, which has an annual production capacity of 250,000 units. While there is no pre-filled order book, demand is driven by daily retail sales, allowing the company to maintain a flexible supply chain. Given the modular nature of its production setup, the manufacturer can quickly scale up output to meet rising market demand, informed Gupta.

Currently, the installed EV production capacity stands at 5,000 units per month, utilising the same manufacturing line for internal combustion engine models.

The vehicle is now available at select dealerships in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi and West Bengal with an ex-showroom price of INR 295,000. The vehicle is backed by a 6-year/150,000 km warranty, along with round-the-clock roadside assistance for the first three years.

Alluding to efforts in battery recyclability, Gupta noted, “We acknowledge that battery recyclability is a critical aspect of EV adoption, especially as the Indian market has seen significant growth in two-wheeler and three-wheeler electrification over the past five years. While an estimated battery lifespan ranges between of four to five years, real-world performance often exceeds this range. However, with evolving battery chemistries and new advancements, recyclability remains a work in progress.” 

“Currently, we source battery cells from Korea and the company is actively evaluating solutions for recycling and second-life applications, recognising that as EV adoption accelerates, end-of-life battery management will become increasingly important. While a concrete roadmap for battery recycling has yet to be finalised, the company is committed to developing a sustainable approach in the near future,” he added.

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Flying Flea, the electric mobility brand from Royal Enfield, has expanded its retail network in India by launching operations in Hyderabad. Following its initial rollout in Bengaluru, where registered vehicles have accumulated over 100,000 kilometres, Hyderabad becomes the second Indian market for the brand.

The expansion includes four touchpoints across Hyderabad, comprising one company-owned store in Erragadda and three dealer partner locations operated by Taurus Motors in Vanasthalipuram, Bolt Motorcycles in Hi-Tech City and SVR Motors in Kondapur. The network utilises a hub-and-spoke operational structure, designating the Erragadda facility for technical support while the partner locations handle routine service and sales operations.

The brand's initial offering, the Flying Flea C6 electric motorcycle, is priced at INR 279,000 ex-showroom or INR 199,000 under a Battery-as-a-Service model. The vehicle is offered in three colour options: Storm Black, Flea Green, and Parachute White, with roadside assistance provided across retail channels.

The retail launch in Hyderabad follows Flying Flea's international expansion into European and UK markets, including retail locations in Paris, Barcelona, Berlin, Rome and London.

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Zomato and Blinkit, operating under parent company Eternal, hosted the third edition of EV Bazaar at the KD Jadhav Stadium in New Delhi to promote electric two-wheeler adoption among delivery partners.

The event drew participation from 2,500 delivery gig workers and over 20 original equipment manufacturers and ecosystem partners, showcasing more than 30 electric two-wheeler models alongside vehicle rental, financing and charging solutions.

The event included addresses by Mahmood Ahmed, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and Jitender Patil, Head of the EV Cell at the Transport Department of Maharashtra.

As of 30 September 2026, over 200,000 delivery partners across the Zomato and Blinkit platforms operate electric two-wheelers. During FY2026, electric vehicles completed 228 million deliveries across both platforms, avoiding an estimated 9,926 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

Mahmood Ahmed said, “The electrification of the transportation section is a critical contributor to India’s energy security and air pollution control. The adoption of EVs by delivery partners is important to accelerating the transition since charging, swapping and servicing networks will expand for the industry and benefit other users as well. I appreciate this proactive initiative by Zomato and Blinkit to further the gig ecosystem’s shift to electric mobility and enabling a better future for India.”

Anjalli Ravi Kumar, Chief Sustainability Officer, Eternal, said, “For our delivery partners, the performance of their bike is critical to their ability to earn efficiently. Delivery may only be one of their many responsibilities on the same day. That makes the move to electric a practical and financial question as much as an environmental one. EV Bazaar gives delivery partners a place to evaluate their EV bike purchase options by directly interacting with companies who build, rent, finance and charge EV bikes. We thank each of them for being part of the third edition.”

To facilitate vehicle access, the companies operate a 'Rent a vehicle' feature within their delivery partner mobile applications, enabling workers to lease electric two-wheelers and locate charging and battery-swapping stations within assigned delivery zones. Over 23,000 delivery partners utilised the rental feature in fiscal year 2026. Additionally, Zomato Local Services launched an owned electric vehicle rental fleet in June 2025, deploying over 1,500 electric two-wheelers across Delhi and Chennai by March 2026.

Sheetanshu Tyagi, Co-Founder and CEO, EMO Energy, said, “EMO Energy brings advanced batteries and 20-minute charging together to keep last-mile vehicles moving. With Zomato and Blinkit, we are enabling riders to charge faster, operate with zero downtime, and have greater vehicle availability.”

During the event, three delivery partners received new electric two-wheelers and one partner was awarded a one-year rental sponsorship from the network in recognition of operational performance and participation in platform electrification initiatives.

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Jio-bp, the operating brand of Reliance BP Mobility, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with electric vehicle leasing platform Vertelo to develop charging infrastructure and financial solutions for electric buses and trucks in India.

The partnership combines Vertelo's commercial vehicle leasing platform with Jio-bp's fast-charging network across urban centres and highway transport corridors.

As per the agreement, both entities will explore providing fleet operators with turnkey charging infrastructure projects, preferential charging rates and location tracking for charging hubs. The initiative aligns with the Government of India's PM E-DRIVE program, which promotes zero-emission commercial transport adoption.

Sarthak Behuria, Chairman, Jio-bp, said, "India's transition to electric mobility is no longer a question, it is happening quickly. At the heart of this transformation are commercial fleets - buses and trucks that keep our people, cargo, and economy moving every day, often covering the longest distances and the toughest routes. At Jio-bp, we believe EV charging infrastructure is a critical part of national infrastructure and our partnership with Vertelo marks an important step towards building the charging backbone needed to cater to the demands of this transition."

Akshay Wadhwa, CEO, Jio-bp, said, "Jio-bp pulse has been built on a simple promise - accessible, reliable, high-uptime EV charging wherever needed. With Vertelo, we are bringing that same reliability to commercial fleets, which have distinct needs shaped by routes, battery capacities and operating patterns. This MoU lets us address those needs directly, while exploring practical charging and financing solutions for fleet operators. Together, we aim to make reliable charging more accessible for electric buses and trucks."

Sandeep Gambhir, CEO, Vertelo, said, "Commercial vehicles cover far more kilometres than passenger cars, which makes them the segment where electrification delivers the greatest environmental return, and where charging access matters most. Jio-bp has built meaningful infrastructure along the major corridors our customers operate on. This collaboration will help connect more cities and communities across the country while reinforcing Vertelo’s status as a trusted enabler of EV adoption through its ecosystem play through leasing and financing solutions along with creating the necessary infrastructure to facilitate the same."

The collaboration addresses charging access, battery performance management, and capital expenditure barriers for commercial fleet operators transitioning from internal combustion engine vehicles.

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Pune-headquartered electric vehicle company Kinetic Watts and Volts, a subsidiary of Kinetic Engineering, has entered into a retail financing partnership with IDFC FIRST Bank to provide credit options across its dealership network.

The arrangement enables customers at Kinetic EV dealerships to access loan options, interest rates and instalment plans, subject to eligibility criteria. Ground teams from IDFC FIRST Bank will collaborate directly with dealership staff to process applications at the point of sale. The initiative coincides with the expansion of Kinetic EV’s retail footprint, which currently comprises over 65 operational sales, service and spare parts facilities in India.

Ajinkya Firodia, MD, Kinetic Watts and Volts, said, "For many customers, choosing an electric two-wheeler is not just about selecting the right product, but also about finding a purchase option that works for them. Our partnership with IDFC FIRST Bank gives customers greater choice at the point of purchase and strengthens the support available across our dealership network. With quick financing options, attractive EMI plans and exciting offers for eligible customers, we want to make the overall purchase journey simpler and more convenient. As we continue to expand our presence across markets, we look forward to making the journey towards electric mobility more accessible for more customers."

The tie-up leverages the bank's branch and operational network to support dealership sales in multiple regional markets. The companies are also developing customer schemes and promotional offers that will be announced at a later date.

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