3W EV fleet operator, 3eco Systems, and advanced battery-tech and deep-tech start-up, Log9 Materials, have announced a strategic collaboration to deploy 2,000+ InstaCharged heavy duty Shakti 8 Cargo (S8Ci) EVs across India over the next 18 months. The vehicles’ deployments will be initiated from Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai and then extended to other metro cities. 3eco Systems claims that these Commercial Electric Vehicles (CEV) will be catering to e-commerce and hyperlocal logistics players such as Amazon, Flipkart, Big Basket, etc. 3eco Systems states that it and Log9 are on a shared mission of electrification and digitisation of the last-mile logistics segment. Their partnership will also aim to accelerate the setting up of fast-charging infrastructure across the cities of operations in the longer run.

Shakti 8 Cargo (S8Ci) EVs by 3ev Industries is an L5 CEV that has been designed to serve last-mile logistics use-cases. As per 3eco Systems, it comes with a range (on full charge) of 130 km and a payload capacity of 580 kg, besides having several other superlative high-performance features. InstaCharged by Log9's RapidX batteries, the cargo EV can be charged from 0 to 100 percent in less than 35 minutes.

3eco Systems states that In India, the last-mile logistics sector is anticipated to increase by 900 percent to $9 billion by 2025. This is largely driven by the e-commerce industry. For intra-city logistics, three-wheeler cargo vehicles are fast becoming a preferred choice for last-mile deliveries, with EVs winning in this segment due to lowest operating cost and highest efficiency, 3eco Systems states. And this is exactly where the collaboration between Log9 and 3eco Systems comes in and can prove to be a game changer, according to 3eco Systems.

Sharing his views, Peter Voelkner, MD, 3eco Systems, said, “3eco serves the widest list of enterprise customers as a dedicated EV fleet operator in India, currently with operations in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Coimbatore and Mumbai. We take a holistic approach to understanding the complete value-chain before we enter a market or customer engagement. We analyse the bottlenecks, operating challenges and other efficiency issues, then work with our strategic partners, like Log9 Materials, to design solutions for greater productivity based on our operating capabilities. After jointly optimising the services using our platform, we unlock substantial benefits for the customers and the communities in the form of higher cost savings and service improvement.”

3eco Systems claims that e-retail logistics is a growing industry that is solving the niche problems for India’s booming e-commerce players. Traditional logistics providers face challenges of offering comprehensive last-mile services for online retailers. According to 3eco Systems, this poses issues such as delayed deliveries, poor last-mile delivery management (particularly of returned items) and insufficient real-time tracking, among others. The partnership between Log9 and 3eco will be attempting to overcome these issues.

Speaking of the strategic partnership, Kartik Hajela, Co-founder and COO, Log9 Materials, said, “The last mile logistics sector has finally come of age and has started manifesting its impact on the Indian economy. With customers today flocking to e-commerce platforms for A to Z, the industry today calls for technologies that empower fleet operations to deliver on time, every time. Our RapidX batteries have earned their repute for the fastest charging batteries in India and have created a benchmark for safety across sectors. We are proud to see our RapidX batteries form an integral part of 3eco’s fleet operations and are certain that our rapid charging technology would ensure higher utilisation of the EVs across multiple use cases, thus creating a positive impact on the bottom line of partners, such as 3eco Systems.”

Karan Kadaba, Director, 3eco Systems, added, “At 3eco, our operations are managed and optimised for maximum utilisation over the day, often operating 1.5 shifts in a 24-hour period, which boosts the vehicles’ revenue generating potential. Our vehicles have smart electronics integrated with the 35-minute charging capability enabled by the RapidX Log9 batteries to give us maximum flexibility to optimise performance, utilisation and cost of operations. Our collaboration with Log9 will allow the customers to have complete advantage of 3ev’s top-tier performance in terms of range, acceleration, braking, as well as multiple points of telemetry for real-time tracking. Access to real-time and targeted data drives our consistent improvement to check all the sub-standard metrics and adopt positive outliers as system-wide best practices. We have plans to expand to eight more tier-1 and 2 cities over the next 12 months.”

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Eicher Trucks and Buses, part of VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV), has completed a journey from Kashmir to Kanyakumari using its Eicher Pro X EV.

The record verified by the India Book of Records (IBR), saw the electric vehicle cover over 4,000 kilometres in 6 days under loaded conditions. The run commenced in Srinagar on 20 January 2026 and concluded in Kanyakumari on 26 January 2026, traversing the Himalayas, plains and the Deccan Plateau.

Throughout the expedition, the vehicle utilised public chargers located via the MyEicher App. An adjudicator from the India Book of Records accompanied the truck to monitor route compliance, load, distance and charging stops. The mission served as a demonstration of electric vehicle endurance across diverse altitudes and climates to validate the technology for logistics corridors.

The journey was intended to show that electric commercial vehicles can operate beyond short-haul deliveries. By maintaining performance across hilly and coastal routes, the Pro X EV aimed to establish total cost of ownership (TCO) benefits and maintenance predictability for fleet operators. The successful completion of the route suggests that current charging infrastructure can support long-haul electric freight movement.

Vinod Aggarwal, MD & CEO, VE Commercial Vehicles, said, “For more than four decades, Eicher trucks and Buses have earned customer trust through leadership in fuel efficiency and application-specific engineering. The record-setting performance of the Eicher Pro X reinforces our unwavering focus on application excellence, reliability, and performance, anchored in robust product development and manufacturing capabilities, and enabled by a customer-centric, pan-India commercial and dealer network. I commend the entire Eicher team for achieving these well-deserved records”.

SS Gill, Chief Commercial Officer, VE Commercial Vehicles, said, “By covering the K2K route with a loaded Pro X EV, Eicher Trucks & Buses has proven that electric mobility is no longer restricted to short-haul, ‘last-mile’ deliveries. We are not just setting records, but through the strength of our service network and extensive dealer set-up, we are demonstrating that our EV technology is commercially viable, reliable, and has the range to serve as the backbone of India’s green logistics corridors”.

Abhishek Chaudhary, SVP – SCV Sales & Marketing, VE Commercial Vehicles, said, “The Eicher Pro X EV was put to the ultimate test – covering over 4000 kilometres across diverse climates and challenging altitudes. With this recognition from the India Book of Records we’ve moved beyond our own stringent testing benchmarks to real-world validation - Demonstrating that Eicher Pro X EV is a dependable partner for logistics movement across varied operations in India”.

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Montra Electric, the electric medium and heavy commercial vehicle business of the Murugappa Group, has become the first manufacturer in India to receive certification for heavy-duty electric trucks under the government's PM E-Drive Scheme.

To mark the achievement, the company delivered a Rhino 5538 EV 6x4 Tractor trailer to UltraTech Cement. The handover took place in the presence of Arun Murugappan, Chairman of Montra Electric and Sathia Raj, Chief Procurement Officer of UltraTech Cement.

The PM E-Drive scheme includes a budget of INR 5 billion specifically for electric trucks, providing a benefit of up to INR 960,000 per vehicle for the Rhino 5538 EV. This incentive is intended to lower operating costs and reduce exposure to fuel price volatility for fleet operators in the logistics, mining, and manufacturing sectors. The Rhino 5538 EV range is designed for Indian conditions and is available in 6x4 and 4x2 variants.

The Rhino 5538 EV 4x2 variant features a 282 kWh LFP battery that produces 380 HP and 2000 Nm of torque. It offers a range of approximately 198 km under standard test conditions and supports six-minute battery swaps. These specifications suit the vehicle for high-utilisation applications in ports, steel plants, and cement logistics.

H D Kumaraswamy, Union Minister for Heavy Industries, said, "The PM E-Drive scheme is a testament to the growing prowess of Indian innovation in the heavy-duty electric vehicle segment. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are committed to decarbonizing our logistics and making India a global hub for EV manufacturing. Electric trucks are pivotal to our Net Zero goals, and by fostering a self-reliant ecosystem through such certifications, we are driving the spirit of Atmanirbhar Viksit Bharat. We are very happy to see our Prime Minister’s vision coming to life with the 1st PM E-Drive certified heavy duty electric truck from 'Montra Electric' getting delivered today."

Arun Murugappan, Chairman, Montra Electric, said: “Decarbonising freight is one of the most critical challenges in India’s energy transition. We are grateful to the Government of India and our Prime Minister Narendra Modi for introducing forward-looking and progressive policy frameworks such as the PM E-Drive Scheme, which represent a welcome and transformative step in accelerating this shift, particularly in heavy commercial vehicles where emissions intensity is high. At Montra Electric, we are proud to contribute to this national mission by delivering technologically advanced, reliable, and scalable electric M&HCV solutions that can drive meaningful and lasting change in India’s mobility ecosystem.”

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Chartered Speed and EKA Mobility have received a Letter of Confirmation of Quantity (LOCQ) to deploy 1,750 electric buses in Bengaluru under the PM E-Drive Scheme. This allocation accounts for approximately 39 percent of the city's total planned induction of 4,500 electric buses. The initiative is part of the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation effort to expand its network in line with the decarbonisation roadmap of the Government of India.

The partnership combines the operational services of Chartered Speed with the vehicle manufacturing and technology of EKA Mobility. Operational protocols for the fleet include maintenance, battery monitoring, and driver training. Chartered Speed has stated its intention to transition 25 percent of its total fleet to electric power by Fiscal 2027.

The deployment aims to support public transport infrastructure in the region through investments in charging and maintenance facilities. Bengaluru is currently expanding its electric transport capacity to meet state mobility targets. The project focuses on providing urban transport solutions for the city's commuter base while reducing the carbon footprint of the public system.

Sanyam Gandhi, Whole-Time Director, Chartered Speed, said,  “Bengaluru is a key mobility hub in India, and electric buses are part of the efforts to build a cleaner and more efficient public transport system. The PM E-Drive allocation strengthens Chartered Speed Limited’s long-term commitment to sustainable mass mobility. As one of the early adopters of e-mobility, we aim to convert around 25% of our fleet to electric by Fiscal 2027, supported by strong infrastructure investments to deliver commuter-centric services aimed at lasting socio-economic impact.”

Rohit Srivastava, Business Head & Chief Growth Officer, EKA Mobility, added, “The PM E-Drive initiative is a powerful enabler of India’s electric mobility vision, and Bengaluru’s large-scale adoption of electric buses sets a strong benchmark for urban transport transformation. At EKA Mobility, we are proud to partner with Chartered Speed and contribute to Bengaluru’s journey towards a more sustainable urban future. It is not just about scale, but about creating cleaner mobility solutions, quieter streets, and a better daily commute for millions.”

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Suzuki Motor Corporation and its subsidiary, Suzuki R&D Centre India (SRDI), have inaugurated the Banas Suzuki Biogas Plant in Bhukhala, Gujarat. The facility, which opened on 18 January 2026, is the second such plant following the Agthala site that commenced operations in December 2025.

The plant is designed to process up to 100 tonnes of cow dung per day to produce approximately 1.5 tonnes of biogas. This output is equivalent to the daily fuel requirements of 850 compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles. In addition to fuel production, the facility will sell organic fertiliser generated as a byproduct of the process.

The project is part of an agreement signed in September 2023 between SRDI, the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and Banas Dairy. The partners have agreed to construct a total of five biogas plants in the region. The Bhukhala site covers an area of 27,000 square metres and forms a component of Suzuki’s strategy to support carbon neutrality in India.

The use of biogas serves as a carbon-neutral alternative for CNG vehicles, which currently represent 20 percent of the Indian passenger car market. Beyond emission reductions, the initiative is intended to improve energy self-sufficiency and increase rural income through the purchase of cattle waste from local farmers.

The opening ceremony was attended by Acharya Devvrat, Governor of Gujarat and Shankar Chaudhary, Chairman of Banas Dairy and Speaker of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly. Representing Suzuki was Kenichiro Toyofuku, Managing Officer and Executive General Manager of Biogas Operations.

The company stated that it will continue to develop its biogas business to contribute to national growth and environmental targets. The operation is expected to create jobs within the district while providing fuel for high-demand vehicle segments.

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