Q: India is the first country outside of Europe where you are operating. Why this entry?

Jha: The Indian market is different from the Nordic and European markets, and it is the first country outside Europe, where Fortum entered the electric vehicle charging space in 2017. We have integrated a couple of Indian chargers into our system and this enables us to deploy ‘Made in India’ chargers to our network. This will give our customers the freedom to choose the chargers, their availability, price and other benefits.

Fortum established its first charging station in New Delhi in 2017. Its services in India include owning charging infrastructure, operating other’s charging infrastructure network using Fortum’s own cloud-based charging system and selling Fortum’s proven off-the-shelf cloud system to other operators to manage charging infrastructure in the B2B segment. 

Q: How do you see and predict the EV market in India?

Jha:  India will benefit from the global growth of EV technologies and can reach a maturity stage faster than in other countries. As Tesla did for the US market, start-ups in India are poised to promote the adoption of EVs. Free from any legacy baggage, they are able to offer pure electric vehicles as is evident on the road, particularly in the two and three-wheeler sector. Traditional OEMs also are trying to hold on to their market share. Hyundai has taken the lead by introducing Kona. The electric version of Maruti cars can be seen on the road though in test mode. More than ten models of electric vehicles are slated for launch in the next 12-18 months. Tata Motors has announced plans to introduce more models of the electric variant. Mahindra promises to launch KUV 100 and SUV 300 with the electric powertrain. With India poised to become the third-largest auto market in the world, none of the players would like to miss this great opportunity.

With more and more renewable energy being fed into the grid, the use of EVs will provide the flexible load to balance the system. 

Q: What are the fundamental differences between India and Europe in terms of vehicle requirements and charging infrastructure?

Jha: India and Europe share a common requirement in the automobile space. India generally follows the European automotive emission norms as Euro 6. Europe started the EV journey with high voltage system cars like Nissan Leaf, which warrants a different set of chargers to offer good customer experience. Starting from 50kW DC chargers, Europe has moved to high power charging capacity of 350kW in DC mode which brings down the charging time to about 10 minutes for a 150-200km range. On the AC side in public charging, it has a network of 22kW chargers which offer semi-fast charging to most of the vehicles. The 3.3 kW AC chargers are generally deployed at home and parking places.

India, on the other hand, has a different vehicle composition. Most of its EVs are two and three-wheelers which have a different kind of charging need. They are currently dominated by lead-acid batteries. In the four-wheeler passenger car segment also, India started with a unique product. The available cars are on low voltage battery system, which requires a different set of chargers – 15/20 kW power in DC mode. They need longer charging time than their counterparts in Europe where a car with almost double the size of battery can get charged in nearly half the charging time than in India. Now, a few OEMs have started selling high voltage system cars which would require 50kW charging infrastructure. 

Another significant difference between Europe and India is the need for public charging. Most of the European countries have single-family low-rise homes with garage whereas Indian cities like Delhi have mostly unorganised street parking. This fundamentally alters the need of charging infrastructure in India. While in Europe home charging would be dominating, India will need public charging as the dominant mode.

Q: Charging infrastructure and time is probably the biggest hindrance in the adaptation of EVs in India? How do you find opportunities in this area?

Jha: Three major interdependent stakeholders influence the evolvement of EVs in any country. They are: automobile manufacturers, battery manufacturers, and charging infrastructure providers. Given the limited use of e-vehicles in India now, the infrastructure for the same is also at a very nascent stage. The lack of sufficient infrastructure could be the most common reason for the range concern that directly affects the consumer behaviour and potential of EV sales in India. However, from the operators’ point of view, it is difficult to invest in charging infrastructure without an existing demand for charging services.

India will need ubiquitous public charging networks. India needs millions of charging points once all cars sales happen on the electric platform. This offers huge opportunity for both the private and the public sectors. However, considering the space constraint and inadequate electricity infrastructure, setting up such a massive network of public charging will be a demanding task. Government support will be required in making locations available for this purpose if we have to roll out a good network of charging stations. 

For EVs to be acceptable, consumers have to be assured of the availability of charging stations like fuel stations for ICE vehicles. A robust charging station network would give them confidence, and that would work as a pull effect on OEMs. 

Q: India is a vast country. How are you going to identify and target the regions or pockets where EV adaptation will be faster?

Jha: As it happens with any new technological product, initially EV will be adopted by innovators or early adopters. We expect that these vehicles will be adopted mostly in cities with the highest per capita income. We operate now in five cities: Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad. We have 66 DC public charging points. Since the launch of our DC fast-charging stations in Hyderabad, we have seen positive adoption of electric vehicles by customers. We have more than 900 registered users, and more than 1500 customers have downloaded our mobile app. These are smart chargers which are unmanned and give freedom to the consumer to charge their vehicles at the location of their choice, and at their convenience.

Q: Do you think public utility places would play a more prominent role in increasing the number of EV charging stations? Could you highlight Fortum India’s partnership with Indian Oil?

Jha: We provide our bit in creating reliable and smart charging infrastructure. Our first DC fast public charging station in Hyderabad came up at IOC COCO retail outlet at Begumpet. We are operating 16 charging points at eight retail outlets of IOC in Hyderabad. We demonstrated our capability of operating smart chargers by unveiling the charging of Mahindra e2oplus remotely from Hotel ITC Kakatiya, Hyderabad, using Fortum Charge & Drive Mobile App.

Q: How many EV charging stations has Fortum India set up so far, and what is the immediate target?

Jha: Fortum has made 66 DC Fast charging points operational in Delhi-NCR, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Ahmedabad. Fortum Charge & Drive also offers a cloud solution to EV charging service providers and infrastructure investors.

Recently, we have established India’s first public charging network of 50 kW DC chargers at dealership locations of MG Motors. Any car owner can access these stations if the car is compatible with CCS/CHAdeMO standards. We are continuously evaluating opportunities across the country.

Q: How do you see the role of the stakeholders such as charging station infrastructure manufacturers, energy companies and operators in the growth of EV adoption?

Jha: Each stakeholder has a role to play in EV adoption in India. It is important to note that it is the vehicle and its battery system which determines the charging infrastructure need, not otherwise. The charging standards or capacity of chargers or time of charging, and everything is dependent on the design of the battery and its management system adopted by the OEMs. Charging manufacturers and operators follow the demand. In charging ecosystem, manufacturer caters to the supply side by offering his product which can be put to use by charge point operators at strategic locations. Energy distribution companies also have a critical role to play. EV charging, particularly public charging in DC mode, requires high capacity which might need augmentation of electricity infrastructure. Energy to Charge Point Operators (CPOs) should be provided at a reasonable price so that end-consumers can charge their vehicles at affordable prices. Efforts of all these stakeholders have to get aligned.

Q: What have been the ground-level challenges for Fortum India?

Jha: Access to a suitable location and electricity supply is a major challenge. The number of EVs initially will be less, so also the business for the Charge Point Operators. It will be more challenging if CPOs have to pay rent for the space or bear any upfront cost on electricity infrastructure. So it is expected that these two parts would be taken care of by the government or partners to make EVs affordable for the customers.

Q: Being in the EV charging station space, what do you expect from the government?

Jha: For the manufacture of EVs and the growth of the industry, the government introduced the FAME scheme. It would also support the manufacturing of advanced batteries which will accelerate the adoption of EVs by bringing down the cost of the battery. Tax reduction is a significant boost for the consumer as it would push the EV price to inch towards ICE vehicle price. 

Creating a robust and smart charging network should be the focus. Although through FAME-II the government has called for proposals on the setting up of 1000 electric vehicle charging stations in the country, this is not enough. Consumers would like to have charging points at their preferred locations, time, and price to avoid range anxiety. This requires a robust, ubiquitous, and friendly charging network of stations. As charging takes more time than gasoline refuelling, the consumer would like to find a charging station in an exciting place where he would feel happy to spend time while the vehicle gets charged.

We have to add lakhs of charging points year after year if in future all vehicles sold are electric. This would require access to space, which is scarce, particularly in urban areas. Augmented electricity infrastructure would be needed at the local network level even though at the national level this will not be significant. So if the government finds some ways to offer space and upgrades electricity connections on the plug-and-play mode to CPOs it will give a boost to the creation of charging infrastructure. 

EV charging would be a different proposition. Unlike oil and CNG, this has interdependency of battery and electricity. Appropriate communication is needed between battery and charger, and charge and grid, to ensure safety and reliability to the vehicle and grid. This necessitates that charging infrastructure must be smart. This would also warrant a smart grid. What is needed is a greater and urgent push towards upgradation and strengthening of both electricity and charging infrastructure. (MT)

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Bengaluru-headquartered engineering R&D company L&T Technology Services (LTTS) has been certified at Caterpillar’s 2025 Supplier Excellence Recognition (SER) event. This marks the second consecutive recognition for LTTS following its initial certification in 2024.

The recertification highlights LTTS's delivery, quality standards and its relationship with Caterpillar in the Mobility segment.

As a strategic supplier, LTTS provides engineering services that support Caterpillar and its customer base. LTTS has worked on Caterpillar’s sustainability goals and has driven engineering innovation and operational performance.

Alind Saxena, Executive Director and President of Mobility and Tech at L&T Technology Services, said, “This recognition means a great deal to all of us at LTTS. Being SER-certified two years in a row is a testament not just to our team’s dedication, but also to the strength of our relationship with Caterpillar. We deeply appreciate Caterpillar’s support and the trust placed in us. Our pledge is to continue raising the bar, adding value, and delivering engineering excellence in everything we do.”

Caterpillar's recognition is awarded to suppliers who meet criteria in areas including quality assurance, timely delivery, innovation and alignment with the company’s values.

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Aptiv, a global technology firm, has announced its Gen 8 radar technology, designed to meet the demands of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). The radars, powered by Aptiv’s antenna and silicon design, deliver the performance and resolution needed to support Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)–driven ADAS functions.

The Gen 8 radars are intended to allow hands-free driving in complex city environments, providing perception at a lower cost. Both front-facing and corner radar units represent a step forward in how vehicles sense their surroundings, offering reliable performance across real-world conditions.

The same core technology also powers the new Aptiv PULSE Sensor, a solution that combines radar and camera data to improve perception around the vehicle. By integrating ultra short-range capability with a surround-view camera, PULSE is claimed to be able to replace up to four ultrasonic sensors, improving detection accuracy while reducing system complexity and cost for vehicle manufacturers.

Javed Khan, Executive Vice-President and President of Software, Advanced Safety and User Experience, Aptiv, said, “Aptiv pioneered radar technology in production vehicles more than two decades ago, and today, we’re once again setting the pace. Our Gen 8 Radars mark a major step forward in the journey toward intelligent, software-defined vehicles – delivering all-weather reliability, 4D perception and deep environmental awareness that enable global automakers to safely and cost-effectively scale to higher levels of automation.”

Backed by over 25 years of radar technology experience, Aptiv’s Gen 8 radars use proprietary software and hardware, introducing improvements in performance for a broader range of driving solutions across challenging weather and lighting. The radars enable new driving scenarios – such as Navigation on Autopilot (NOA) – in complex environments like city streets and car parks, due to an expanded field of view.

The key features of Aptiv’s Gen 8 radar technology include –

• Forward Radar: Offers long-range detection beyond 300 metres with fine 4D angular resolution, allowing improved classification of static objects. This system delivers a 30 percent performance increase and doubles the vertical field of view compared to its predecessor.
• Dual-Mode Corner Radar: Improves the range performance of the previous generation by increasing the vertical field of view’s (FOV) resolution, providing capability in close-range, low-speed scenarios such as frontal automatic emergency braking (AEB) and automated parking. Compared to the prior generation, horizontal discrimination improved by 25 percent and vertical discrimination is now possible.

The Gen 8 radars aim to deliver detection, precision and adaptability. Aptiv claims it offers scalable solutions, including a large increase in object detection count and superior accuracy for target detection and tracking, even in high dynamic range environments. It also supports AI-powered systems by delivering high-quality sensor data to machine learning models.

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United States-based Edge Energy, a developer of patent-pending energy conversion technology for electric vehicle fast charging, has announced a strategic investment from Germany-based PRETTL Mechatronics & Actuators (PMA), a leading mechatronics solution supplier for the automotive, electronics and energy sectors.

The funding round includes an equity investment and working capital. This partnership will support Edge Energy’s expansion of access to EV charging and utilise PMA’s manufacturing and electronics capabilities.

Edge Energy’s EdgeEV Power Source is claimed to allow fast EV charging without expensive three-phase power upgrades, offering deployment up to six times faster than traditional methods. The technology allows businesses and fleet operators to install DC Fast Chargers in various locations, supporting EV uptake.

PMA’s U.S. subsidiaries provide capabilities in coil winding, encapsulation and automated assembly, serving industries like automotive and energy.

Shaun Shuler, CEO, of Edge Energy, said, “We’re thrilled to partner with PMA, whose electronic and manufacturing expertise aligns perfectly with our vision for accessible EV charging.”

Johannes Prettl, CEO, PMA Group, said, “Edge Energy’s innovative EV charging solutions complement PMA’s commitment to sustainable technologies. We are excited to partner with Edge Energy on their next stage of growth.”

The investment combines Edge Energy’s technology with PMA’s electronics and manufacturing capabilities, aiming for growth for Edge Energy.

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Tata Technologies has announced a partnership with Synopsys, a provider of engineering solutions, to accelerate the shift towards Software-Defined Mobility (SDV). The collaboration aims to accelerate the development, verification and validation of automotive electronics systems, helping Original Equipment Manufacturers address the complexity of SDVs.

The collaboration will combine Tata Technologies’ expertise in vehicle engineering with Synopsys’ virtualisation solutions to enable the deployment of electronics digital twins (eDTs).

The companies have already worked with a leading European luxury OEM in a pilot engagement, delivering a blueprint to transition the manufacturer's existing electrical/electronic (E/E) architecture to a next-generation software-defined design. Pilot programmes with other major OEMs are also underway across North America, Europe and India.

The joint effort will focus on major SDV domains, including ADAS, powertrain, chassis, infotainment and electrification. Key areas of focus include:

• Shift Left Enablement: Developing virtual prototypes and simulation models for early software bring-up.
• Analysis: Using Synopsys tools for performance, power, safety, and reliability analysis for faster ECU development cycles.
• Verification: Providing embedded systems and software verification and validation services aligned with ISO 26262 and ASPICE standards.

Sriram Lakshminarayanan, Chief Technology Officer, Tata Technologies, said, “The digital shift is redefining the future of mobility, and our partnership with Synopsys is a purposeful step towards realising a future led by software-defined innovations. As OEMs move to new ways of working, there is a growing demand for engineering and digital services. Together, we are empowering OEMs to deliver safer, smarter, and more sustainable vehicles that enhance the human experience and accelerate the industry’s transition to a software-defined future.”

Tom De Schutter, Senior Vice-President, Product Management & Markets Group at Synopsys, said, "The complexity of SDV systems requires a new level of collaboration across the automotive ecosystem. By bringing together our world-class digital twin, verification, and IP platforms with Tata Technologies’ engineering expertise and global delivery, we are enabling OEMs to accelerate development, validation and delivery of complex software- and AI-defined vehicles. The collaboration is a great example of how the automotive ecosystem is coming together to accelerate innovation while reducing risk and time to market in a dynamic mobility landscape.”

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