BASF and AM Green B.V. have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaboratively explore and develop commercial prospects in India for low-carbon chemicals manufactured entirely from renewable energy, as well as the accompanying value chains. The agreement was inked at the Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business 2024 in New Delhi, India.

As part of the MoU, both the companies intend to conduct feasibility studies on low-carbon chemicals production in India, including a joint evaluation of potential technologies. The collaboration also includes a non-binding letter of intent to purchase 100,000 tonnes of ammonia per year generated entirely using renewable energy, including electricity from pumped storage projects at AM Green's plants in various parts of India. This ammonia will comply with EU criteria for non-biological renewable fuels (RFNBO) outlined in the Renewable Energy Directive (RED III).

Dr Markus Kamieth, Chairman – Board of Executive Directors, BASF SE, said, “We are committed to the sustainable transformation of the industries we serve. We are convinced that India is the right place to explore low-carbon chemical production together with our partner AM Green.”

Mahesh Kolli, Group President, AM Green said, “We are delighted to partner with a global chemical leader like BASF to propel the green transformation in the industry. AM Green’s vision of deepening capabilities in downstream value chains of green molecules is core to this partnership with BASF. AM Green and BASF partnership envisages to cater to multiple chemical downstream and associated consumer industries by providing key green molecule feedstocks to produce chemicals, materials and products in the markets served by BASF.”

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Bengaluru-based electric vehicle company Oben Electric has launched the Rorr EVO motorcycle at a price of INR 99,999 for the first 10,000 customers and INR 124,999 post the introductory price.

The e-motorcycle, the company said features SmartIQ, an AI ride mode that monitors riding patterns to increase range by 15 percent. It can accelerate to 40 kmph in 3 seconds and has a top speed of 110 kmph.

The Oben Rorr EVO has a claimed range of 180 km and charges to 80 percent in 90 minutes. It features a 9 kW motor and a 3.4 kWh LFP battery, which comes an eight-year warranty.

The e-motorcycle has a 680mm seat and 10 litres of storage space. Safety features consist of a fall alert system and emergency assistance. A 5-inch display provides navigation and data, while the Oben app offers diagnostics and theft protection.

Madhumita Agrawal, Founder and CEO, Oben Electric, said, “Electric motorcycling in India is entering a new phase, where riders are no longer evaluating electric vehicles as alternatives, but as motorcycles in their own right. Rorr EVO is built on that belief. It is a no-compromise product designed to prove that electric can match and exceed the full spectrum of real-world riding, not selectively, but completely. Rorr EVO is built to make that shift tangible on the road.”

Bookings for the motorcycle are open for INR 777. Test rides and deliveries are scheduled to begin in June 2026 through 150 showrooms.

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Ohme has announced a new integration with Volkswagen Group Info Services AG, promising easier, smarter and more affordable home charging for electric vehicle drivers across six Volkswagen Group brands. The collaboration extends Ohme’s existing partnership with the Group in UK and Ireland, now offering a dedicated official application programming interface for all Ohme users.

This development allows EV owners to pair their vehicles directly with Ohme home chargers and access near real time readings of the car’s state of charge. Eligible models include those from Volkswagen, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Škoda, SEAT, CUPRA and Audi, ensuring broad coverage across the Group’s portfolio.

Already, more than 100,000 Volkswagen Group customers throughout Europe rely on Ohme to manage home charging. With the new system, these drivers will see their vehicle’s battery status displayed directly in the Ohme app, removing guesswork from the charging process and providing enhanced clarity regarding energy consumption and associated costs.

Lasse Schmidt van Hülst, Lead Sales & Key Account Management, Volkswagen Group Info Services, said, “We’re excited that Ohme is applying Volkswagen Group Charging Data to enhance its charging services. As home electricity tariffs across Europe become smarter and more dynamic, Ohme’s expertise and software means this new integration with Volkswagen Group Info Services AG comes at the perfect time for EV drivers.”

Peter McDonald from Ohme said, “We’re genuinely proud to be extending our partnership with Volkswagen Group Info Services AG in this way. Having direct access to the vehicle state of charge data means our customers get a truly hassle-free charging experience – the app does the hard work, automatically finding the cheapest times to charge. It’s a real statement of where Ohme is heading and underlines its commitment to giving EV drivers the best possible experience.”

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ChargeZone and TATA.ev have launched a co-branded Mega Charging Hub on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway, featuring a total capacity of 720 kW. Located at the Khalapur food mall, the facility is designed to support high-speed intercity travel on one of India’s busiest highway corridors.

The hub is the 75th installation under a strategic partnership between ChargeZone and TATA.ev, which aims to deploy over 100 such hubs across the country’s national highways. The Khalapur hub is one of the most powerful public charging installations in India, engineered to minimise wait times during peak travel hours. The facility can charge up to 10 electric vehicles at once. It features five dispensers with 10 charging points. In Boost Mode, it can deliver up to 360 kW for ultra-fast charging.

This launch contributes to ChargeZone’s national footprint of over 15,000 charging points. By positioning the hub at the Khalapur Food Mall, the partners aim to integrate vehicle charging into the existing travel routine.

EV Users will get access to diverse dining options, restrooms and retail facilities while their vehicles charge. TATA.ev customers are eligible for a 25 percent discount on charging tariffs at this station. The hub is open to all EV owners, supporting a wider ecosystem under TATA.ev’s ‘Open Collaboration 2.0’ framework.

Kartikey Hariyani, Founder & CEO, ChargeZone, said, “Highway charging is the backbone of intercity electrification, and that backbone needs to be built at scale and built right. The launch of the Mega Charging hub at Khalapur marks a significant milestone in our journey to build a high-power, future-ready EV charging network across India. With a 720 kW capacity, this installation sets a new benchmark for public charging infrastructure in the country. Our focus is on enabling fast, reliable, and seamless intercity EV travel, and this partnership with Tata.ev is a strong step in that direction as we scale across strategic national corridors.”

Vivek Srivatsa, Chief Commercial Officer, Tata Passenger Electric Mobility, added, “As leaders of India’s 4-wheeler electric revolution, at TATA.ev, we are striving to co-create a charging network that is fast, reliable, and accessible. With over 200 active TATA.ev Mega Charging Hubs live across the country, the launch of this new hub with ChargeZone at the Khalapur Food Mall – one of the most frequented pit-stops on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway – marks a key milestone in enabling seamless intercity travel for EV owners. We are confident that collaborations like these will play a defining role in making long-distance EV journeys dependable and convenient.”

The initiative is part of a broader mission by TATA.ev to introduce 500 Mega Charging Hubs and over 400,000 charging points by 2027. By focusing on high-speed corridors like the Mumbai–Pune Expressway, the collaboration seeks to eliminate range anxiety and accelerate the adoption of electric passenger vehicles in India.

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Pune-headquartered two-wheeler and three-wheeler major Bajaj Auto has announced a comprehensive overhaul of its Chetak electric scooter lineup, introducing a new ‘C Series’ nomenclature and integrating premium features like Google Maps as standard on its flagship models.

The portfolio is now categorised into three distinct tiers: C 35, C 30 and C 25, with the numbers corresponding to battery capacity (e.g., 3.5 kWh, 3.0 kWh and 2.5 kWh). This strategic move aims to simplify the range while elevating the technological standards of the ‘Fully Lifeproof’ brand.

Bajaj Auto has responded to consumer demand for higher speeds by increasing the top speed across the entire range. The C 35 Series top speed has increased from 73 kmph to 80 kmph, while motor output has also been bumped from 4.5 kW to 4.8 kW.

Similarly, C 30 Series top speed has increased from 63 kmph to 70 kmph. C 25 Series top speed increased from 55 kmph to 60 kmph.

Furthermore, the charging time on the C 30 01 sees a significant reduction in zero to 80 percent, which now takes 2 hours and 55 minutes as compared to approximately 4 hours earlier.

The highlight of the MY 2026 upgrade is the deep integration of navigation and software support. Based on user feedback, Bajaj Auto has integrated Google Maps for a more intuitive navigation experience.

Ride Modes (Sports and Eco) and Hill Hold Assist, which were previously part of the paid ‘TecPac’ add-on, are now standard across the C 35 and C 30 series.

The C 35 models now support Over-the-Air (OTA) updates, allowing for remote performance optimisations and feature additions without visiting a service centre.

Eric Vas, President, Urbanite Business at Bajaj Auto, said, "With the flagship C 35 01, we are delivering the full extent of these advancements — combining stronger performance, more intuitive connectivity through Google Maps, and the added convenience of riding modes and hill-hold now offered as built-in features."

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