Ather Energy launched its new family-oriented scooter, the Rizta, alongside its first smart helmet, the Halo, at a ‘Meet Rizta’ event in Kolkata. The event offered attendees a firsthand look at the Rizta and a chance to explore Ather's experience zones, showcasing the brand's technological advancements and design philosophy.

“Our 450 series scooters, known for their performance, have been well-received by Kolkata customers," said Chief Business Officer Ravneet Singh Phokela. “With the Rizta, we're catering to the family scooter segment as it boasts a comfortable and spacious seat, ample storage and safety features, making it ideal for families. It offers a smooth ride experience and easy navigation through Kolkata's busy streets and narrow lanes,” he added.

Ather established itself in the local market with high-performance models like the 450X and 450S. Rizta marks the company's foray into the family two-wheeler market. It comes in two models namely, Rizta S and Rizta Z, with three variants. Both models feature a 2.9 kWh battery, while the top-tier Rizta Z model is equipped with a 3.7 kWh battery.

The 2.9 kWh variants offer a predicted IDC range of 123 km, while the 3.7 kWh variant provides an impressive 159 km range. The Rizta S is available in three monotone colours, while the Rizta Z is offered in seven colours including three monotone and four dual-tone options.

All variants share a top speed of 80 kmph and offer two riding modes namely, Zip and SmartEco. Rizta inherits several ride-assist features from the 450 series including MagicTwist (throttle-controlled acceleration and deceleration), AutoHold (scooter hold on slopes) and reverse mode.

The electric scooter boasts one of the largest and most comfortable seats in the market and offers 56 litres of storage space, including a 34-litre underseat capacity and an optional 22-litre frunk accessory. The large floorboard provides ample leg space for the rider.

Taking cognisance of safety, Rizta has been equipped with SkidControl, a proprietary traction control system that optimises motor torque to prevent slippage on low-grip surfaces. Additional safety features include fallsafe, an emergency stop signal, theft and tow detection and a ‘Ping My Scooter’ function.

Ather has a strong presence in India with over 200 experience centres nationwide including four in West Bengal. Additionally, they boast over 1900 fast-charging stations (Ather Grids) across the country with 27 currently operational in West Bengal.

Ather also showcased the Halo, a technologically advanced smart helmet featuring Harman Kardon audio. It boasts a seamless user experience with features like proprietary auto-wear detection technology, wireless charging and handlebar controls for music and calls. The Halo helmet also features Ather ChitChat, enabling helmet-to-helmet communication between rider and pillion. It comes in two colours and sports a sleek, futuristic design.

All Rizta variants are eligible for Ather's optional five-year warranty programme called the Ather Battery Protect, which extends the battery warranty to five years or 60,000 km. This programme covers battery failures and guarantees a minimum of 70 percent battery health after five years.

For home charging, the Rizta S and Z with a 2.9 kWh battery come with a 350W Ather portable charger. The top-end Rizta Z with a 3.7 kWh battery gets the new 700W Ather Duo charger.

Rizta S with a 2.9 kWh battery starts at INR 111,469 (ex-showroom Kolkata), while Rizta Z with 2.9 kWh and 3.7 kWh batteries are priced at INR 126,469 and INR 146,469 (ex-showroom Kolkata), respectively. 

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Ahmedabad-based electric two-wheeler brand Avore Electric launched its first electric motorcycle – the Avore Electric EX at prices starting at INR 124,999 (ex-showroom).

The e-motorcycle is available in three variants – the EX 2S, EX 2 and EX 1. The model range was developed over three years using the company's indigenous AVORE Source technology stack and AVR vehicle platform. The development process involved over 120 intellectual property filings across nine vehicle systems, including the battery management system, motor controller, onboard charger and operating system.

The EVs use a rare-earth-free Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) with peak power output ranging between 7.5 kW and 10.5 kW depending on the variant, while all three models produce 250 Nm of peak wheel torque.

The EX 2S attains a claimed top speed of 114 kmph, whereas the EX 2 and EX 1 reach top speeds of 100 kmph. The powertrain utilises an integrated motor and swingarm structure to manage chassis balance and weight distribution.

The EX 2S and EX 2 carry IDC-certified range ratings of 260 km and 255 km respectively, while the EX 1 carries an IDC-certified range rating of 160 km. All variants include a 1500W onboard charger compatible with standard 5A and 15A domestic sockets, charging the battery from 20 per cent to 80 percent in two hours and reaching a full charge in a claimed four hours. The battery pack is homologated by NATRAX, and the battery management system is validated by ICAT.

Software systems integrated into the platform include the AVORE SENSE operating system, an artificial intelligence (AI) companion named Avore Synapse and an automatic manual gear mode. The platform complies with AIS 156 and AIS 038 safety standards and underwent 100,000 km of road testing alongside 2,500 hours of dynamometer testing prior to commercial introduction.

Priyank Rakholiya, Founder, Avore Electric, said, "We dedicated three years to research, development, testing, and validation before the launch of the EX so as to ensure class-leading engineering and innovation. We are ensuring global-levels of safety and performance, while pushing the frontiers of Indian-developed electric mobility technology stacks that deliver reliability, consistency, and economic viability. Our goal is to improve adoption and accessibility to world-class electric mobility solutions for every Indian and we are confident that the EX is just the start of our journey towards that direction."

Bookings for the EX series have opened on the manufacturer's website at an initial reservation amount of INR 799, with customer deliveries scheduled to begin in two months. The battery pack is supplied with a 5-year or 60,000 km warranty.

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Energy In Motion, a provider of integrated electric mobility solutions for long-haul freight transportation, has executed an agreement with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation to establish and operate charging and battery swapping infrastructure for heavy commercial vehicles at retail outlets across India.

As per the understanding, Energy In Motion will deploy swap-and-charge hubs on freight corridors including Mumbai–Pune, Delhi–Jaipur and Chennai–Bangalore over the next 18 to 24 months. These stations will support vehicles such as the Ashwa 55-tonne e-tractor, providing battery exchange capability in 7 minutes.

Energy In Motion manages battery inventory and hardware, while Hindustan Petroleum Corporation provides space and utilities across its network of over 25,000 retail outlets.

Narendra Murkumbi, Managing Director, Energy In Motion, said, “Charging infrastructure succeeds or fails on reliability. Working with HPCL allows us to place charging and swapping where drivers already stop – sites with power, space, amenities, safety systems and staff on duty. Combining our battery and fleet expertise with HPCL’s nationwide retail network lets us build dependable swap-and-charge hubs on the corridors that carry India’s freight and to do it at the pace the transition demands.”

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Hero MotoCorp's electric mobility brand, VIDA, has made its international market entry into Nepal through a partnership with CG Motors.

The launch was announced by Kausalya Nandakumar, Chief Business Officer, Emerging Mobility Business Unit, Hero MotoCorp and Nirvana Chaudhary, Managing Director, Chaudhary Group.

The introduction features the VIDA VX2 Evooter range – comprising the VX2 Plus and VX2 Go variants – alongside the VIDA DIRT.E K3 youth off-roader. The VX2 Plus features a 4.4 kWh setup, delivering a 140 km range and a top speed of 90 kmph, while the VX2 Go uses a 2.2 kWh battery with a 75 km range. The DIRT.E K3 is an electric off-roader equipped with a 350W motor and app-based parental controls.

Kausalya Nandakumar said, “This launch marks a proud and defining moment as VIDA goes global. We are thrilled to take the very best of our engineering and design capabilities beyond India, starting with Nepal, a strategically crucial market where riders are quickly adopting smart electric mobility. The VIDA VX2 EVOOTER range and the VIDA DIRT.E K3 are built to redefine the future of mobility, and through our collaboration with CG Motors, we are ensuring that the Nepalese customers have access to premium, reliable, and technologically advanced riding experience.”

Nirvana Chaudhary added, “The entry of VIDA perfectly aligns with Nepal's shift towards sustainable mobility. By offering advanced electric products & solutions tailored for both, everyday commuters and the next generation of riders, this product launch redefines our two-wheeler landscape. CG Motors is proud to strengthen its partnership with Hero MotoCorp and partner with VIDA to drive our nation's green transition forward."

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Pune-headquartered electric commercial vehicle manufacturer EKA Mobility has announced that Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar, recently flagged off 15 EKA Mobility electric buses in Zanzibar. The commercial operations for the e-buses is scheduled to begin on 1 August 2026.

The deployment forms part of an initial order of 35 e-buses, with the fleet expected to expand to 150 units by the end of the year.

EKA Mobility is collaborating with Global Rapid Transport and the Zanzibar Social Security Fund to train local personnel in vehicle operations, maintenance and safety systems.

Vijay Yelne, President – Export Marketing & SCM, EKA Mobility, said, "The launch of Zanzibar's first electric bus fleet is a strong validation of EKA's technology and our ability to deliver world-class electric mobility solutions beyond India. It demonstrates that products designed and manufactured in India can successfully meet the evolving mobility needs of international markets. This is another step in taking Indian engineering to the world, and we see Africa as a key growth market in EKA's global expansion journey."

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