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!

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

French automotive major Renault Group has announced the unification of its electric vehicle charging activities and related services under the single brand name – Plug Inn. Replacing the previous operations managed under Mobilize Beyond Automotive, the new brand is intended to simplify the Group's charging ecosystem as electric mobility scales across Europe.

The consolidation brings three core divisions under the new banner:

• Plug Inn Fast Charge: An ultra-fast charging network featuring stations with power outputs up to 320 kW.
• Plug Inn Powerbox: A bidirectional charging solution integrated with vehicle-to-grid (V2G) services.
• Plug Inn Charge Pass: A payment solution providing access to charging infrastructure throughout Europe.

The name change commences with fast-charging stations in France this April, with other services transitioning by the end of the year.

The network currently allows compatible vehicles to recover 400 km of range in approximately 15 minutes. Renault Group has set a target to operate 93 stations by end-2026. These stations are primarily located at Renault dealerships near major road axes and are accessible to electric vehicles from all manufacturers.

Facilities at these sites include 24x7 maintenance, Plug & Charge compatibility and selected premium lounges equipped with Wi-Fi and workspaces. The Group reports a network reliability rate exceeding 99 percent.

Jerome Faton, VP Customer Experience & Energy, Renault Group, said, “Our priority is to simplify every step of the electric experience for our customers by offering them a reliable, clear and scalable charging ecosystem. With Plug Inn, we are setting a structuring milestone: an infrastructure designed to support, on a large scale, the ramp-up of zero-emission mobility in Europe. Beyond a change of name, Plug Inn embodies a strong industrial and technological ambition: to create a reference standard, harmonise the charging experience, and support the acceleration of electric vehicles by focusing on service quality, transparency and trust. This is how we will help make the transition to all-electric mobility a simple, seamless and accessible reality for everyone.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Trev Mobility, an electric vehicle (EV) mobility platform, has raised INR 36.5 million in an angel funding round from its existing user base. The company intends to utilise the capital to increase its vehicle fleet and scale operations across the Delhi-NCR region, including Gurgaon, Noida, Faridabad and Ghaziabad.

Launched in January 2024, the platform operates a fleet of 100 EVs featuring models from BYD and MG Motor. The company provides services for airport transfers, rentals and outstation travel, reporting that 75 percent of bookings are processed through its mobile application.

It has completed over 45,000 trips, with a claimed 55-60 percent repeat user rate. Its all-electric vehicle fleet focusses on premium chauffeur services.

The start-up has also integrated AI-powered dashcams for in-ride security and driver accountability.

The funding follows a period of growth in India's electric mobility sector. Trev Mobility positions itself at the intersection of luxury and accessibility, focusing on vehicle maintenance and hospitality standards. The company's strategy involves expanding into urban use cases as national EV adoption increases.

Naveen Gupta, Founder, Trev Mobility, said, “Seeing our own customers invest in Trev is a powerful validation of the trust we’ve built and the experience we deliver every day. This funding allows us to double down on our core strengths – immaculately maintained vehicles, high standards of hospitality, and a reliable, premium ride experience. Our goal is to build a service that feels less like a cab and more like your own personal car. With 100 EVs now on the road, 4 cities covered, and 40,000 rides delivered, we are just getting started on our mission to make premium electric mobility accessible to every Indian commuter.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

PeakAmp, a battery circularity and resource recovery firm, has entered into a partnership with Pacto Power to manage battery waste across its operations. The agreement focuses on the collection, logistics and recycling of units, alongside ensuring Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) compliance.

Under the terms of the partnership, PeakAmp serves as the exclusive partner for end-to-end battery waste movement. The collaboration aims to transition battery waste through authorised channels to improve material recovery and reduce leakage into informal networks.

The key areas of collaboration include establishing systems for the documented movement and disposal of battery waste for traceability. Second-life applications by developing uses for batteries beyond their initial vehicular or industrial lifespan. Research into new lithium-ion battery production.

The partnership reflects a shift in the sector towards integrating traceability into waste management systems as battery volumes increase.

Aditya Sudhanshu, Co-Founder & COO, PeakAmp, said, “As battery usage continues to grow, it becomes important to manage battery waste in a responsible and compliant way. Our partnership with Pacto Power helps us ensure smooth collection, recycling, and compliance management across the entire battery lifecycle. We look forward to building a more transparent and efficient battery waste ecosystem together.”

Manoj Kushwaha, Director, Pacto Power, added, “Partnering with PeakAmp marks an important step in strengthening our commitment to responsible and compliant battery lifecycle management. As we continue to scale our operations, ensuring proper handling of battery waste and meeting EPR obligations becomes critical. PeakAmp’s structured approach to collection, recycling, and compliance will help us build a more transparent, efficient, and sustainable system. We also see strong potential in collaborating on second-life applications and advancing lithium-ion battery innovation together.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Ultraviolette, the Bengaluru-based electric vehicle manufacturer, has announced a strategic alliance with Elektrorider, appointing the firm as its official importer and distributor for Hungary and the Danube region. The agreement covers six markets – Hungary, Croatia, Slovakia, Romania, Slovenia and the Czech Republic, expanding Ultraviolette’s European footprint to 19 countries.

Under the partnership, Ultraviolette will introduce its performance electric motorcycles, the F77 MACH 2 and F77 SuperStreet, to Central Europe. The expansion utilises Elektrorider’s existing retail infrastructure in electric motorcycles, scooters and e-bikes.

Narayan Subramaniam, CEO & Co-Founder, Ultraviolette, said, “We are excited to partner with Elektrorider to introduce the Ultraviolette brand in Hungary and Central Europe. This alliance marks a pivotal milestone in our global expansion as Ultraviolette moves beyond India into some of the world’s most discerning motorcycling markets. With a strong foothold already established across 12 European countries, Ultraviolette is poised to accelerate worldwide growth following successful launches in these demanding countries. To riders across Hungary and Central Europe, we seek to bring Aviation based design, unmatched capability and performance, along with future-forward technology that redefine the motorcycling experience with every Ultraviolette ride. Guided by this vision, we are confident that this partnership will establish a world-class Ultraviolette ecosystem, right from product experience to aftersales support. This is only the beginning, and we are excited and confident of the journey ahead.”

Attila Pavuk, COO, Elektrorider, added, “We are equally excited and proud to introduce Ultraviolette to Hungary and the Central European market and go ballistic with the brand’s both visually striking and technologically cutting-edge performance motorcycles. At Elektrorider we represent a lifestyle built around performance, freedom, adventure, and reliability. With deep roots in the CEE market, we combine data-driven insight with real riding experience; we don’t guess but listen and analyse. We understand this region because we live here, ride here, and build meaningful partnerships with brands that share the same high standards, such as Ultraviolette. To motorcycle enthusiasts throughout Hungary and Central Europe, this alliance merges India’s high-tech offer, bold design, exceptional capability, and forward-looking technology with European riding expectations that elevate the electric experience to the next level. With this vision at the core of our partnership, this marks the start of an exciting journey, and we couldn’t be more enthusiastic about what lies ahead.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!