Toyota made a splash in India recently by showcasing a flex-fuel hybrid vehicle. This amounted to a logical step in its efforts to highlight its work in the area of alternative fuel technologies soon after it supplied the Union Transport Minister, Nitin Gadkari, with a hydrogen fuel cell car. The year 2022 has been a year of much action and words in the area of alternative fuels in India. The Brazilian Ambassador to India, d. Andre Aranha Correa Do Lago, said in his speech at the recent SIAM Annual Convention that Brazil and India are the two largest sugarcane producers and have the potential to produce enormous amounts of ethanol. “Brazil will work with India on flex-fuel technology, sustainable aviation fuels, second generation ethanol, hybrid flex-fuel vehicles, fuel cells etc.,” he averred. 

At the same event, Gadkari mentioned that through innovation, science, research, technology and entrepreneurship, the auto industry should convert knowledge to fuel and devise alternative fuel technologies. Stating that the petroleum product import is amounting to INR 16 trillion and is a challenge for the country, he averred, “I am happy to see good growth of electric vehicles across segments. Around 1.5 million EVs have been registered and the overall sales figure is up by 162 percent. The sales growth of electric two-wheelers is 425 percent, electric three-wheelers is 75 percent, electric four-wheelers is 230 percent and electric buses is 1,600 percent. The number of new start-ups in the domain is 250.” In October 2022, Chinese electric automaker BYD announced the launch of its second electric vehicle in India in the form of an electric SUV called the Atto 3. It will commence sales starting January 2023. 

As electric vehicles continue to gain strength across segments, it is the two-wheeler segment that seems to gain in sales numbers the most. No surprise then that Taiwanese electric two-wheeler major Gogoro is expected to launch electric scooters in India soon. The company has been having a tie-up with Hero MotoCorp in India for some time now and the two are said to be working on developing a battery swapping technology that is suitable for the local and regional requirements. Hero MotoCorp and Gogoro are not the only ones; there are other companies too – like Sun Mobility – that are already working on battery swapping technology. 

With the need for smart grids and a battery charging infrastructure growing as part of the thrust towards alternative fuel technologies to achieve net-zero carbon emissions, the question being asked is: which alternative fuel technology will finally triumph with efforts being made in various areas and directions? A portion of the auto industry is betting on hydrogen as the ultimate alternative fuel. Another portion of the industry is betting on flex-fuel and other alternative fuel technologies, including various gases like LNG and CNG. 

With countries like Russia banking on gaseous fuel as a means to reduce carbon emissions since they are available in abundance there, it is countries like India, which imports 85 percent of the fuels, that needs to find out what it has in abundance and select as the alternative fuel of choice, mentioned an industry expert from Europe. He added that a unique alternative fuel technology from India could actually lead to a global breakthrough and help mobility advance in a new direction altogether. With the possibility of such a disruption always present, the current situation is looking a bit unorganised with a variety of alternative fuels being taken into consideration. 

On one hand, CNG stations are being increased and commercial vehicle operators are taking to it, while on the two-wheeler level, it is the electric vehicle technology that is gathering pace. The most diverse are the efforts at the passenger car level, where Maruti Suzuki and Toyota seem to look at hybrid and flex-fuel, whereas the ones like BYD, MG and Tata Motors are looking at electric to go net-zero carbon. The investment in BS VI technology, which promised water at the tailpipe through emissions cleaner than the air, is yet to fructify for some or many automakers and the call for rapid development in alternative fuel technologies is being summoned. 

With sustainability being the mantra as the auto industry in India sees good days after a prolonged slowdown, the high inflation and resulting steep increase in vehicle prices is already threatening to spoil the party. A point of worry being that if the work on alternative fuel technologies is affected as inflation is likely to bite harder in 2023, the need to keep global temperatures from rising above the 1.5-degree Celsius mark stays. The auto industry is expected to contribute the most and also ensure sustainable, affordable and desirable mobility at the same time.  A tightrope walk beckons as the mantle of alternative fuel technologies can’t be abandoned. 

One thing is clear that what holds for India is what India has in abundance. Like Russia has gas, India could do well in developing technologies that can create gas from waste and other means available locally in abundance. Rather than politicising city waste that is often dumped just outside the city, it will serve if it could be turned into fuel to power automobiles as well as industrial furnaces and other machines. Afterall, despite all the efforts in electrification and other alternative fuel technologies, roughly 95 percent of the vehicles that continue to sell the world over are still powered by IC engines!

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Pune-headquartered alternative energy vehicle manufacturer Blue Energy Motors (BEM) has launched its electric heavy-duty truck, which is equipped with battery swapping technology.

The truck was unveiled by the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, at Blue Energy Motors’ Chakan facility in Pune. Fadnavis also inaugurated, what is claimed to be India’s first electric corridor from Mumbai–Pune, which is the first step in a plan to electrify national highway corridors over the next three years.

What’s more, Blue Energy Motors has signed an MoU with the Maharashtra government to set up a new facility with a capacity of 30,000 trucks, backed by an investment of INR 35 billion. The automaker has received strong demand for its e-trucks and has signed MoUs for over 10,000 units.

The new e-truck is designed for Indian conditions and follows the success of Blue Energy Motors’ LNG-powered fleet. It features an unlimited range with battery swapping, the highest payload in its category and Advanced Mobility Intelligence. The launch also introduces India’s first Energy-as-a-Service model for heavy-duty trucks.

Devendra Fadnavis, said, “This launch showcases Maharashtra’s leadership in sustainable innovation. Blue Energy Motors’ Made-in-India Electric Truck with Battery Swapping Technology, along with the Mumbai–Pune corridor, India’s first highway to go electric aligns seamlessly with the nation’s vision for Atmanirbhar Bharat and for a greener, self-reliant future. I applaud their efforts in advancing both environmental sustainability and industrial growth”.

Anirudh Bhuwalka, Founder and Managing Director, Blue Energy Motors, said, “We believe that this is the beginning of the EV Revolution in India for heavy-duty trucks. Our electric truck delivers unlimited range through battery swapping, highest payload in its category and Advanced Mobility Intelligence for fleet reliability. The Mumbai–Pune corridor is the first step in building a nationwide network of sustainable logistics, driving India’s green freight future forward. With our Energy-as-a-Service model, we’re redefining fleet economics offering reduced upfront capital cost, lowest TCO with highest payload, minimal charging downtime and making it well-to-wheel green with renewable energy.”

Also read: Montra Electric Launches 55-Tonne Rhino E-Truck, Unveils Battery Swap Technology Too

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Bengaluru-based electric vehicle manufacturer Simple Energy has partnered with Amazon India and Flipkart to make its electric scooters available online.

The collaboration will allow customers to browse, book and receive doorstep delivery of its electric scooters, the Simple One Gen 1.5 and Simple OneS. The move is intended to simplify the buying journey and expand the company’s reach into Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.

Furthermore, Simple Energy is also offering discounts on both models as part of Amazon India’s Great Indian Festival and Flipkart’s Big Bang Diwali sale.

Customers can avail up to INR 16,434 off through various bank and card offers, including discounts on HDFC Bank and Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Cards on Amazon India’s Great Indian Festival.

While Flipkart customers can get a flat discount of INR 7,500 on the Simple One and INR 5,000 on the Simple OneS, with potential additional savings using SBI and Flipkart Axis Bank cards. A 12-month no-cost EMI option is also available.

Suhas Rajkumar, Founder & CEO, Simple Energy, said, “Diwali symbolises progress and new beginnings, making it the perfect moment to advance our mission of democratising electric mobility. Through our partnership with Amazon India and Flipkart, we are expanding our reach across India, including Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities and offering a seamless, tech-first purchase experience that makes EV ownership simpler and more accessible than ever.”

At present, Simple Energy operates 57 showrooms across India and plans to expand its retail operations to include 150 new stores and 200 service centres across the country by FY 2026.

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Kinetic Watts & Volts, the electric vehicle division of the Kinetic Group, has opened its first exclusive 3S dealership in Pune, India.

The new facility is spread across 1,400 sqft, is located at Tingre Nagar, Pune and is owned and operated by Ravindra Sharad Bhelke. Additionally, a dedicated 1,050 sqft service facility, ‘Kinetic Lab,’ has been set up nearby in Dhanori to ensure aftersales support.

Ajinkya Firodia, Vice-Chairman & Managing Director, Kinetic Watts & Volts, said, “This is a proud and defining moment for Kinetic as we inaugurate our first exclusive EV showroom in India. Pune has always been special to us, it’s where our legacy began and now, where our EV journey takes shape. This launch represents not just a retail milestone, but the beginning of a new chapter in accessible, aspirational, and sustainable electric mobility for India.”

The new Kinetic EV range reimagines the iconic Kinetic DX as a family-friendly electric scooter. The line-up includes two variants: Kinetic DX and Kinetic ZX (formerly DX+).

Both models are powered by a 2.6 kWh Range-X LFP battery, which the company states offers up to four times longer life than NMC-based scooters.

The Kinetic DX is priced at INR 111,499 (ex-showroom, Pune) and Kinetic ZX (formerly DX+) is priced at INR 117,499 (ex-showroom, Pune).

Key features of the scooters include K-Coast regenerative braking, reverse assist and hill-hold assist, along with three ride modes: Range, Power, and Turbo. The ZX variant adds smart connectivity via the Telekinetic app, which provides real-time ride data, geo-fencing and intruder alerts. It also includes My Kiney Voice Alerts and a Kinetic Assist switch for CRM connection.

Ravindra Bhelke, Dealer Principal, Kinetic EV Vishrantwadi, said, “Becoming the first Kinetic EV dealer in India is both an honour and a responsibility. I have grown up seeing the trust people have in the Kinetic name, and now I am proud to bring its electric future to Pune. With this showroom and our dedicated service centre, our goal is to give every customer a premium, transparent and reliable experience, whether they are buying their first EV or upgrading from a traditional scooter.”

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Oben Electric, an Indian electric motorcycle manufacturer, has announced plans to expand its presence in Gujarat with 10 new showrooms and service centres set to open in 2026. The expansion will cover Ahmedabad and other cities including Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot and Jamnagar.

At present, the company operates a showroom and an Oben Care service centre in Memnagar, Ahmedabad. The expansion follows the response to the company’s city commuter model, the Rorr EZ Sigma.

Sagar Thakkar, Co-Founder & CPO, Oben Electric, said, "The positive response we have received for Rorr EZ Sigma reinforces our belief that urban commuting is evolving towards electric motorcycles designed to meet the needs of daily commuters. Rorr EZ Sigma delivers effortless performance and the right balance of power, practicality, and connectivity for everyday riding. The encouraging response from customers in Gujarat has further strengthened our commitment to expand across key cities like Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot and Jamnagar, as we work towards making EV motorcycles more accessible for riders across the country.”

The Rorr EZ Sigma priced from INR 129,000, is available in 3.4 kWh and 4.4 kWh variants. Key features include – up to 175km range, top speed of 95 kmph, three ride modes – Eco, City, and Havoc. It uses the company’s patented LFP battery that is claimed to provide 50 percent higher heat resistance and a 2x lifecycle. It also gets features like reverse mode and a 5-inch TFT display with navigation and smart alerts.

At present, Oben Electric has over 50 showrooms nationwide and aims to reach 150 showrooms and service centres by the end of the fiscal year.

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