Leading electric vehicle (EV) solutions provider Urja Mobility has announced the launch of its B2C battery leasing programme, which will target e-rickshaw drivers in 10 strategically selected cities. The programme aims to address the financial challenges associated with battery ownership by converting high upfront costs into affordable monthly payments and is consistent with India's wider electric mobility and environmental aims, notably the goal of fully electrifying commercial three-wheelers by 2030.

In order to provide drivers access to better Lithium-Ion batteries – which have longer life cycles, need less maintenance and have better thermal performance than conventional Lead Acid options – the business has launched a ‘Smart Opex Model’ as part of the initiative. Over a period of 12 to 24 months, drivers must pay a monthly leasing amount. The driver receives ownership of the battery at the conclusion of the lease, giving them a dependable energy source for more than five years. Drivers will also have access to digital tools that streamline the management process by offering real-time information regarding leasing data and battery performance.

Agra, Lucknow, Ayodhya, Varanasi, Kanpur, Prayagraj, Siliguri, Guwahati, Bhubaneswar and Puri are the 10 cities that are part of the first phase. These areas were chosen to allow drivers to optimise asset utilisation due to their high rates of EV adoption and substantial tourist traffic. Urja Mobility intends to inform consumers about the advantages of moving to lithium-ion batteries in order to achieve its ambitious target of onboarding 50,000 e-rickshaw drivers. This programme highlights the long-term financial and environmental benefits of implementing contemporary battery technology, while more than 75 percent of the market is still dependent on lead acid solutions.

In order to guarantee smooth operations, Urja Mobility has set up service facilities in each of these locations. These centres offer end-to-end assistance, which includes installation, maintenance and troubleshooting, and ensures that vehicles are operational for at least 26 days a month. Smart, technologically enhanced batteries with sophisticated Battery Management Systems will also help drivers. This system ensures dependability and safety by monitoring battery health, anticipating any problems, and maintaining peak performance via the use of data analytics and artificial intelligence.

Pankaj Chopra, Founder and CEO, Urja Mobility, said, "This initiative represents a significant step forward in making electric mobility accessible and affordable for e-rickshaw drivers. By providing a cost-effective, reliable and sustainable battery solution, we aim to empower drivers and contribute to India’s vision for a greener future."

Ergon Labs, a start-up working on electric vehicle powertrain technologies has inked a strategic partnership with Delhi-NCR-based EV maker Omega Seiki to supply its cutting-edge Integrated Power Converter (IPC), which combines an on-board charger and motor controller into a single unit.

As per the understanding, Omega Seiki has placed an order worth INR 500 million to Ergon Labs for supply of IPC in its L5 electric three-wheelers. The partnership also includes a strategic investment by Uday Narang, Founder and Chairman, Omega Seiki, who will join the Ergon Labs' Advisory Board.

Ergon’s IPC is claimed to offer 30 percent (17 degrees) gradeability, with peak torque operation extended from the industry-standard 1 minute to 3-5 minutes.

Around 50 percent faster charging, which allows the EV to get a range of over 50 km in under an hour using any standard 15A socket. Upto 30 percent lower system cost compared to conventional separate on-board chargers and motor controllers. This leads to significant reduction in wiring harness complexity.

The partners have announced that the first commercial deployment of 2,000 units is planned across India in FY26, starting with the L5 Passenger segment — a rapidly growing market fuelled by aggregators like Rapido, Ola and Uber, and increasing adoption in metro cities and regional centres.

They are also jointly developing a high-performance L5 Cargo electric vehicle capable of handling over 500 kg payload with 30 percent gradeability, targeting diesel vehicle replacement in markets such as Kerala and the North East.

Ashwin Ramanujam, CEO, Ergon Labs, said, “This partnership with Omega Seiki is a pivotal milestone in Ergon’s mission to bring breakthrough innovations in light EV powertrains to market. OSM’s vehicles will see meaningful improvements in gradeability, payload capacity and charging reliability – all enabled by deep component integration at both hardware and software levels. This moment represents the culmination of three years of relentless product development by our engineering team. More importantly, it sets the stage for our next major innovation: one-hour home charging for two-wheelers, launching in 2026.”

Uday Narang, added, “After over three decades of bold investments across global financial markets, I returned to India with a mission to drive environmental and economic impact through engineering-led innovation. Omega Seiki was born out of that vision. My investment in Ergon is a continuation of this commitment. From my first conversation with Ashwin to witnessing their technology’s performance first-hand, it was clear that Ergon brings world-class engineering to India’s EV ecosystem. I’m excited to partner with this exceptional team and bring their breakthrough product to market.”

European auto major Stellantis aims to introduce a new set of electric vehicles developed with its Chinese partner – Leapmotor, in India by end-2025, according to a Reuters report.

The revelation was made by Tianshu Xin, head of China operations for Stellantis and CEO of its joint venture, Leapmotor International on the sidelines of Auto Shanghai 2025. He said, “With the size of the automotive market, India certainly has a lot of potential as well. We're accelerating entering into the Indian market.”

The report further stated that Xin acknowledged the fact that while India was a potentially huge market for Leapmotors, but it would be difficult to make a profit in the country.

At present, Stellantis operates a manufacturing facility in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, where it produces gearboxes and engines. It has also set up a software and technology centre in Bengaluru to support its domestic and global products. It currently sells the Jeep and Citroen vehicles in India.

On the other hand, Leapmotor has a portfolio of models across mini hatchback, sedan saloon and SUVs.

Following up to media reports, Stellantis India has confirmed the development. 

Shailesh Hazela, CEO & Managing Director, Stellantis India, said, "We’re excited to announce the entry of Leapmotor brand in India, thereby strengthening our commitment to the market. We already have a strong presence in India with our Jeep and Citroën brands, and we deeply understand the strategic importance and immense potential that the Indian market holds. Globally, Leapmotor is redefining electric mobility with a strong focus on innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction. We look forward to bringing premium EVs to India's upwardly mobile consumers—vehicles that redefine modern driving with cutting-edge technology, comfort, and sustainability."

Charge Zone, a leading electric vehicle charging company, has announced that it has attained a major milestone by expanding its network to over 13,500 charging stations. This, the company claims, makes it the largest EV charging platform in the country.

It attributed the growth to its strategic OCPI-based roaming partnerships with leading EV infrastructure players, including Statiq, Bolt, Kazam, Pulse Energy, Chargemod, ElectreeFi, Evnnovator and others. These partnerships have allowed the company to offer a unified, interoperable EV charging ecosystem for its customers.

Kartikey Hariyani, Founder & CEO, Charge Zone. “At Charge Zone, our vision has always been to build more than just a network – we’re creating the digital backbone of India’s EV ecosystem. Reaching 13,500 charging stations is a defining moment, not just in terms of scale, but in what it represents: a truly interoperable and tech-driven infrastructure that simplifies the EV experience for everyone. Whether you're an individual commuter or a fleet operator, our goal is to make charging as seamless, reliable, and accessible as possible. Through collaborative partnerships and deep tech integration, we’re laying the foundation for a clean mobility future that’s connected, intelligent, and built for the next generation of transportation in India.”

Currently, the Charge Zone network sees over 8,000 daily users, with its mobile app seeing over 250,000 downloads. The company shared stated that almost 70 percent of India’s EV customers have used Charge Zone app at least once in their EV journey.

At present, the company’s EV charging network includes 3.3kW, 7.4kW and 10kW charging options for city use, DC fast chargers ranging from 30kW to ultra-fast 360kW for faster charging speeds.

The world of e-mobility in India is constantly witnessing newer players, one of which is Ryoto Electrix. With scooters manufactured in Greater Noida, this company has ventured into the production of ‘Made in India’ electric vehicles, deriving capital infusion from VKL-JVK Group. Ryoto Electix’s products, showcased at the recent Ride Asia EV Expo in Bharat Mandapam, cater to the requirements of both rural and urban customers.

The word ‘Ryoto’ is being used as it denotes a dragon-like person in the Japanese language. It is used to symbolise power, strength, courage, and good fortune, all of which help drive the company. Over a period of 5 years, Ryoto has developed stylish and colourful iCAT-approved electric scooters that can be customised as per the needs of e-conscious riders wanting innovation and efficiency.

Sandeep Ralhan, CEO, Ryoto Electrix, said, “Quality is one of the main driving forces for our products. We are offering low-speed vehicles and have tied up with GoDogit to provide insurance on every vehicle.”. Further, he added that EMI’s are available for all the scooters, to be paid over a period of 18 months.

Among the company’s models, Giga is a popular one that looks similar to the popular Honda Activa. While Fowler is a Double Light model, Bright is available with a Single Light. Two-wheeler dealers have the option to choose between exclusive CKD Container deals and bulk deals.

With regards to future plans, Sandeep Ralhan talked about the plan to come up with a company-owned charging station under the name Volt. Apart from expanding the dealership network, he expressed excitement towards the launch of high-speed vehicles in the next 2 months. Ryoto has appointed 80 dealerships across Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi NCR, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana.