BYD has launched the ‘world’s first high-performance’ sodium-ion BESS product using its proprietary form factor, the ‘Long Blade Battery cell’, claim industry sources. They point at an announcement by BYD Energy Storage’s UK and Ireland head Kai Wang. He, they mention, recently announced the launch of the ‘MC Cube-SIB ESS’ product.

The ‘Long Blade Battery’ as a proprietary form factor of BYD has a ‘CTS super integrated design’, making it the world’s first high-performance sodium-ion battery energy storage system (BESS). It has ultra-high energy density, exceptional safety standards and flexible module design, explain sources as they draw attention to the fact that the BESS has an energy storage capacity of 2.3 MWh and a nominal voltage of 1200-volts. The voltage range is from 800-volts to 1400-volts.

Leveraging to its advantage, the sodium-ion configuration of the ‘Long Blade Battery’ is found in natural abundance. This results – theoretically – in lower manufacturing costs compared to that of the lithium-ion batteries. Also, the sodium-ion batteries offer a higher charge/discharge rate. They have a broader operating temperature range, a longer cycle life and thus offer superior safety.

Image for representative purpose only.

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Pune-headquartered two-wheeler and three-wheeler major Bajaj Auto has started sales of its recently introduced Chetak C25 e-scooter across its showrooms in India. Following the model's unveiling earlier this week, the company has positioned the vehicle to target urban commuters. The scooter is priced at INR 91,399 (ex-showroom Delhi), with an introductory benefit of INR 4,299 available for the first 10,000 customers, bringing the effective price to INR 87,100.

The Chetak C25 features a 2.5 kWh battery providing a certified claimed range of 113 km. It is constructed with a metal body and a mono-body design intended for durability in city environments. Technical specifications include a 25-litre storage compartment, disc brakes, hill hold assist, and guide-me-home lighting. The vehicle’s proportions are designed for agility in dense traffic.

The introduction of the C25 completes the Chetak portfolio, which now includes the 30 and 35 Series. Bajaj is marketing the model to first-time electric vehicle buyers and households requiring a secondary scooter for short trips. Deliveries have commenced alongside the showroom roll-out in major cities.

The C25 is supported by the existing Chetak service network. The company noted that the launch and early-bird offer are intended to address customer interest in accessible electric mobility solutions that focus on reliability and ease of use.

The e-scooter maintains the brand's focus on material quality through its use of metal surfaces rather than plastic panels. It is engineered to align with daily commute patterns and offers various colour options. The mechanical framework is built to provide stability and a refined presence on the road while maintaining a compact footprint.

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Bengaluru-based clean tech company Indofast Energy has partnered Nexus Select Malls to introduce battery swapping stations within shopping mall premises. The initiative has commenced with the inauguration of Quick Interchange Stations (QIS) at Nexus Shantiniketan and Nexus Whitefield in Bengaluru.

This marks the first time such infrastructure has been integrated into the portfolio of India’s first Retail REIT. The partnership is designed to provide energy solutions for commuters, delivery partners and fleet operators by utilising high-footfall retail destinations.

Following the Bengaluru launch, the companies plan to expand the network to other cities, including Delhi NCR, Chandigarh, Hyderabad and Pune. The technology allows users of electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers to replace depleted batteries in minutes, addressing requirements for the last-mile delivery sector.

The swapping stations utilise an automated platform that supports multiple vehicle types. By placing these stations in malls, the companies intend to make electric vehicle (EV) charging as accessible as traditional retail services. The project aligns with broader efforts to embed sustainable mobility into urban infrastructure and reduce the time vehicles spend at stationary charging points.

Anant Badjatya, CEO, Indofast Energy, said, “Our collaboration with Nexus Select Malls represents a paradigm shift in how urban infrastructure can support the rapid adoption of electric vehicles. By integrating our state-of-the-art battery swapping technology directly into high-footfall retail destinations, we are not just providing convenience; we are creating an ecosystem where electric mobility becomes an effortless and integral part of daily life for millions of shoppers and commuters, and especially the thriving last-mile delivery ecosystem. We are incredibly proud to be Nexus Select Malls’ first battery swapping partner and look forward to a successful, rapid expansion across their extensive network. This partnership underscores our commitment to making battery swapping the default choice for urban transportation and accelerating India’s transition to sustainable mobility.”

Nilesh Singh, Senior V-P, ESG & Business Excellence, Nexus Select Malls, added, “As India’s first Retail REIT, Nexus Select Malls is committed to reimagining malls as future-ready urban ecosystems. Introducing battery swapping stations for the first time across our portfolio is a meaningful step in embedding sustainability into everyday consumer spaces. This initiative supports cleaner last-mile mobility while making greener choices visible, accessible and practical for millions of visitors who engage with our malls every day.”

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Kinetic Watts & Volts, the electric mobility division of the Kinetic Group, has formed a retail finance ecosystem through partnerships with Hero FinCorp, Bajaj Finserv and CleverPe.

The collaborations provide financing solutions for the Kinetic DX and DX+ electric scooter range, utilising traditional lending and digital payment technologies across the company’s dealership network in India.

The partnership combines the reach of established financial institutions with a fintech platform to offer EMI-based lending and digital credit options. This framework is designed to reduce upfront costs and simplify documentation for consumers. The move supports Kinetic’s strategy of market-by-market expansion as the company scales production and registration volumes.

The Kinetic DX range features the Range-X LFP battery architecture, which is engineered for safety and reliability. The scooters are designed to reference the brand's previous petrol models while functioning as modern electric vehicles. By integrating finance options directly at the point of sale, the company aims to address the requirements of urban consumers and first-time buyers.

Kinetic Watts & Volts is currently building its dealership footprint and after-sales infrastructure to support its long-term vision in the electric vehicle sector.

Ajinkya Firodia, Vice-Chairman & Managing Director, Kinetic Watts & Volts, said, “Access to convenient and trusted financing is fundamental to accelerating electric mobility adoption in India. By partnering with Hero FinCorp, Bajaj Finserv and CleverPe, we have built a comprehensive retail finance ecosystem that offers customers flexibility, choice and confidence. These collaborations support our strategy of opening markets one by one, while reinforcing the growing belief of leading financial institutions in Kinetic’s EV products and long-term vision.”

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NPCI Bharat BillPay (NBBL), a subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has introduced the ‘EV Recharge’ category on its Bharat Connect platform. The service allows electric vehicle (EV) owners to top up their charging wallets through a unified framework, addressing the fragmentation caused by multiple operator applications.

The integration follows a significant increase in EV sales, which grew from 50,000 in 2016 to 2.08 million in 2024, according to NITI Aayog. As India targets a 30 percent share of electric vehicles in total sales by 2030, the demand for accessible charging infrastructure has risen. As of August 2025, the Ministry of Power reported 29,277 public charging stations across the country.

The new category enables users to manage balances for networks such as Tata EZ Charge and Zeon Charging through Bharat Connect-enabled applications and websites. The platform supports various payment modes, including UPI, cards, net banking and digital wallets. The API-driven infrastructure provides instant transaction confirmations and digital records for all users.

The initiative is designed to improve the discoverability of charging services and provide ecosystem participants with access to a broad digital network. By centralising wallet recharges, NBBL seeks to remove the need for customers to navigate different platforms for different charging providers.

Noopur Chaturvedi, MD & CEO, NBBL, said, “As electric mobility becomes central to India’s transport landscape, offering a dependable solution for EV wallet recharges is essential. To meet this need, we have integrated the service into Bharat Connect’s robust and expansive biller network, leveraging its reach and interoperability to ensure a unified experience for EV users across the country. The ‘EV Recharge’ category is built for scalability, and convenience and will continue to evolve alongside India’s growing EV adoption.”

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