Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) operator Yulu has announced that it has achieved more than three million battery swaps through its ‘Max Network’. Yulu invested early-on in creating technology and on-ground infrastructure needed to perform battery swapping operations at scale, the company said in a release. The company claimed it is the largest shared EV player with over 10,000 EVs on the road. Its operations are powered by ‘Max Network’. 

Over the last three years, Yulu has continuously invested in building its product, technology and ecosystem for shared usage in Indian conditions and context, the release said. The Max Network is a energy infrastructure with high-capacity back-end charging stations and a network of swapping stations.  

Amit Gupta, CEO and Co-founder, Yulu, said, “Completing three million swaps as India’s largest Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) is a great milestone, and in a way, it's just the start. As the largest player in shared EV mobility, Yulu has always thought of mobility and energy together and hence has focused on building both of these in tandem, right from the start. The Max Network is an AI-powered and IOT-enabled, intelligent network that allows us to run our operations in an automated and efficient manner. We believe 2022 is a defining year for India’s EV market & Yulu is well-positioned to lead this transition. Yulu’s energy infrastructure, the Max Network, will grow in line with our mobility growth plan of reaching a fleet of 100,000 vehicles by end 2022, and thus enable 3 million swaps every month. 

"The policy, announced by the finance minister in the Union Budget 2022, will focus on developing a complete framework to encourage battery swapping, including regulatory, operational, and technological factors.
As a company with deep experience in operating shared mobility on the ground, Yulu is actively contributing to the policy discussions with policymakers and key government offices and we hope to collaborate with them to create a policy roadmap that will help accelerate and scale up the infrastructure for EVs and shared mobility in the country." 

The Max Network uses Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to predict and fulfill battery requirements across its network, based on demand patterns and trends. (MT)

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A groundbreaking multi-year pilot program is set to launch in Tokyo this September, deploying over 150 battery-swappable commercial electric vehicles (EVs) and 14 modular battery swapping stations across the city. The ambitious initiative marks a collaboration between Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC), Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, Ample and Yamato Transport. The aim is to drastically reduce vehicle downtime and accelerate Japan's decarbonisation goals.

The Tokyo project significantly expands on a successful smaller pilot conducted in Kyoto last year. The fleet will include MFTBC's eCanter light-duty trucks and Mitsubishi Motors' Minicab EV, specifically targeting commercial delivery operations. Yamato Transport, Japan's largest shipping and logistics group, will be the first major customer, focusing on last-mile deliveries. Ample, an American battery swapping company, will provide the battery swapping technology and manage the installation and operation of the swapping stations.

This initiative is a direct response to Japan's ambitious climate targets: a 46 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 2013 levels by 2030, and carbon neutrality by 2050. With the transportation sector contributing approximately 19 percent of Japan's total CO2 emissions in 2022, electrifying commercial fleets is a critical strategic priority. The project is supported by the Tokyo Metropolitan Environment Public Corporation.

A core objective of the program is to achieve battery swapping times of just five minutes, minimising disruption to commercial operations. Unlike traditional charging, Ample's system is fully automated, allowing drivers to remain in their vehicles. These compact, rapidly deployable stations offer a practical solution for high-utilisation fleets in dense urban environments like Tokyo. Future plans also include utilising these stations to provide grid services, such as storing renewable energy, further bolstering their environmental impact.

This collaboration builds on prior successful partnerships, including a 2024 pilot in Kyoto that involved Yamato Transport, MFTBC and Ample. That demonstration validated the operational benefits of battery swapping and its ability to support diverse vehicle types and brands simultaneously. The Tokyo expansion not only scales up operations but also welcomes Mitsubishi Motors, a pioneer in the commercial EV segment, as an additional automotive partner.

The consortium's ultimate goal is to showcase battery swapping as a viable solution for the demanding real-world needs of commercial EV operators and to establish a robust infrastructure for commercial battery swapping across Japan's largest city. The project remains open to welcoming additional automakers, fleets and logistics operators interested in joining this transformative effort.

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Pune-headquartered alternative fuel commercial vehicles manufacturer Blue Energy Motors has delivered LNG-powered heavy-duty trucks to Inland World Logistics.

These LNG-powered trucks are claimed to offer 30 percent lower CO2 emissions and thus not only contribute to lower tailpipe emissions but also lower operational costs.

With this, Blue Energy Motors has over 800 LNG trucks plying on Indian highways, which have enabled over 50 million kilometres. This translates to almost 14,000 tonnes of CO2 reduction.

Anirudh Bhuwalka, CEO, Blue Energy Motors, said, “We are proud to lead India’s clean trucking revolution and partner with visionary companies like Inland who share our commitment to sustainable growth. Our trucks offer a powerful alternative to diesel, with significantly reduced emissions and a lower total cost of ownership. This reflects our commitment to enable cleaner mobility at scale—fleet by fleet, region by region.” 

Praveen Somani, Managing Director, Inland World Logistics, said, “We believe that the future of logistics lies in green mobility, and transitioning to LNG is a crucial step in that direction. Blue Energy Motors stood out for us - not just for their product innovation, but for their clear commitment to making sustainable trucking viable and accessible. These trucks align with our vision of reducing our carbon footprint while ensuring efficiency and performance on long hauls.”

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The Kia EV3 has secured the highest possible ‘Very Good’ grade in Euro NCAP's assisted driving test. The test focused on the model's Highway Driving Assist 2 (HDA 2) system, which combines real-time driver monitoring, adaptive cruise control and lane centring.

In the ‘assistance competence’ and ‘safety backup’ categories, the EV3 received scores of 74 and 88 out of 100, respectively. The vehicle achieved the highest rating with a total score of 162 points, making it the first car from both Kia and the Hyundai Motor Group to receive this grade. By aiding the driver in a variety of real-world situations, such as changing lanes, maintaining lane position at different speeds and stopping if the driver becomes unresponsive, the EV3's HDA 2 strikes a balance between a high degree of vehicle assistance and driver involvement, according to Euro NCAP. In addition to providing exceptional safety backup, the model provides ‘very good’ highway assistance.

With the adaptability and affordability to be the primary vehicle in the home, Kia's EV3 is a high-volume electric vehicle designed specifically for the compact SUV market. The 2025 World Car Awards have crowned the vehicle the 2025 World Car of the Year. In the UK, the car has also received other honours, including ‘UK Car of the Year 2025’ at the UK Car of the Year Awards and ‘Best EV Crossover’ at the TopGear.com Electric Awards 2025.

Pablo Martinez Masip, Vice President Product and Marketing of Kia Europe and COO of Kia Connect Europe, said, “This excellent outcome reflects Kia’s commitment to delivering advanced technologies that enhance driver convenience and passenger safety. The EV3’s performance in the Euro NCAP assisted driving test draws attention to the capabilities of Highway Driving Assist 2 and serves as a milestone for Hyundai Motor Group.”

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On World Environment Day, CHARGE ZONE, India’s largest electric vehicle (EV) charging network, unveiled ‘Shwa’, a groundbreaking public art project that redefines EV Supercharging stations as cultural landmarks. By integrating large-scale murals into charging hubs, Shwa blends sustainability, community engagement and creativity, transforming functional spaces into open-air galleries that inspire climate action.

Each mural, created in partnership with both well-known and up-and-coming Indian artists, offers a distinct perspective on a sustainable India that is firmly anchored in regional aesthetics, local tales and messages of optimism for the environment. The project begins with striking murals painted by renowned artist Rahul Kumawat in Karjan, Gujarat, and Suryapet, Telangana. Meaningful interaction with the art and its underlying environmental issues is made possible by the thoughtful placement of these enormous artworks at CHARGE ZONE's Supercharging stations, where visitors usually spend longer time.

Each artwork has a discrete QR code that connects to the recently built Shwa website (shwa.chargezone.co.in), adding an interactive element. With its high-resolution photos, artist biographies and the backstories of each piece of art, this digital platform functions as a living archive. In order to make the sustainability discussion more widely available, the website also emphasises themes of climate resilience and local history while offering downloadable media materials.

Kartikey Hariyani, Founder & CEO, CHARGE ZONE, said, “EV charging stations are a gateway to the future of mobility and with Shwa, we’re using them to tell stories that matter. We’re starting with just three murals across our Supercharging stations, but in the next six months, we aim to bring this experience to 10–12 more sites. Over the next five to six years, our ambition is to create a few hundred such installations across the country. This is not just about infrastructure, it's about sparking emotional connection and climate consciousness through art that speaks to everyone. I am thankful to our young team of millennials and GenZ for conceptualising and seeding the process from idea to execution.”

Devbrat Hariyani, Project Shwa Head, CHARGE ZONE, said, “Infrastructure should serve more than just function, it should inspire. With Shwa, we’re creating spaces where culture, community and climate intersect. These murals are invitations to slow down, to think and to feel. Over time, as hundreds of these works bloom along our highways, we hope to create an evolving living archive that’s open to everyone.”

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