FET, MRIIRS and Electric One Mobility Private Limited have collaborated to launch the Centre of Excellence for Electric Vehicle Technology.  

Dr. Prashant Bhalla, President, MREI, together with Amit Das, Founder & CEO, Electric One Mobility Pvt. Ltd, inaugurated the Centre of Excellence for Electric Vehicle Technology and signed the Memorandum of Understanding.  

Dr. Sanjay Srivastava, Managing Director MREI & Vice Chancellor, MRIIRS; Dr. IK Bhat, Vice Chancellor, MRU; Dr. Pardeep Kumar, PVC & Dean FET, MRIIRS and Dr. Naresh Grover, PVC & Dean Academics, MRIIRS were also present for the grand launch. 

Incepted with a single-minded objective, the Electric Vehicle Center of Excellence (COE) in association with Electric One Mobility Pvt Limited is aimed to educate, engage and elevate students to be future-ready in a changed EV environment, a release said. 

Looking at the huge potential demand of professionals, Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies (MRIIRS) has included an honors programme in Mechanical Engineering with a specialisation in Electric Vehicle as a part of their regular programme. The programme includes topics such as lithium and sodium-ion battery components, motors and their controls, battery chargers, methods of charging, motor torque requirement & calculations, battery charging stations, battery swapping stations, and electric power trains. 

The Induction of the programme was done by the launch of the Electric Vehicle Centre of Excellence (CoE) in association with Electric one Mobility Pvt. Limited. 

Dr. Bhalla, said, “In our existence of 25 Years, Manav Rachna has always taken the lead in adopting new technologies, and we are now getting into a new dimension with the launch of the Centre of Excellence. The EV sector has received tremendous response and support from users and governments around the world and with our PM’s vision, EV is going to open new career opportunities in the country. This CoE in association with Electric One Mobility is going to integrate new modules in the existing curriculum. With industry players adopting the EV technology; as academic institutions we are truly focused on delivering the right skills set to our students and with this venture, we definitely hope for greater avenues.” 

Das said, “The core focus on the battery technology driving an EV is a major behavioural change. Inhouse adoption of EV is very important and Manav Rachna is the first University to take this step where Internship Opportunities and Job offers with Electric One and partner companies is our main agenda. Top EV manufacturers in the country are now looking for young, talented and innovative professionals and the Centre of Excellence will prove to be a strong foundation for young professionals who aspire to work in the EV industry. We also wish to empower the faculty to enhance their corporate programme for Ph.D. in the future.” 

The other dignitaries present at the inauguration were Dheeraj Tripathi, Co-Founder & COO, Electric One Mobility Pvt. Limited; Sushma Tripathi, Program Head, SkillNextIndia; Satyendra Pal, Founder & Managing Director, Jeetsons Electric Vehicles Pvt Limited; and Harish Sharma, Co-Founder & Director, Jeetsons Electric Vehicles Pvt Limited. 

Certification and curriculum-based experiential programme at the centre will cater to the much-needed skills amongst students for the ever-growing futuristic industry segment of electric vehicles. It will provide tremendous professional and academic opportunities in the coming years and most importantly, this programme will strengthen India’s EV Vision, the release said. 

In the first Phase Electric Vehicle Center of Excellence (COE) will be offering two programmes - Skill Next Programme (for skill enhancement in the area of EV) and Specialised Programme on EV for B.Tech undergraduates. During the second Phase, short term training programmes will be introduced for Industry Professionals, consultancy services will be provided and research projects supported by government schemes will be taken up. 

Electric One's “Skill Next" is strategically backed by 20 plus Indian OEMs and supported by German Research Institutes and Innovation Centres.  

The Centre of Excellence will be focused on two core areas like Training and Research. Various upcoming programmes at the centre will offer a plethora of options for students like Certifications, Curriculum-Based Credits, Live Projects and Startup Opportunities & Funding along with great career and higher education opportunities, the release added. (MT)

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American electric vehicle manufacturer Lucid Group has announced a revised model lineup for its Lucid Gravity SUV in Europe. The updated structure consists of four trim levels: Gravity Touring, Gravity Touring Plus, Gravity Grand Touring and Gravity Grand Touring Ultimate.

The EV maker has expanded standard equipment across all variants, which sees the DreamDrive 2 Premium driver assistance package included as standard, featuring High Beam Assist, Lane Departure Protection, Blind Spot Display and 3D Surround View Monitoring.

From the Touring Plus level upward, vehicles feature a 7-seat layout alongside additional cabin equipment including power rear side window sunshades, soft-close doors, a heated steering wheel, heated windscreen wipers and heated second-row seating.

Lawrence Hamilton, President of Europe, Lucid, said, “The updated Lucid Gravity lineup gives European customers a clearer way to choose the SUV that best fits their needs. With more technology, comfort and convenience features included as standard across the range, Gravity offers an even stronger combination of space, performance, efficiency and advanced technology.”

The entry-level Gravity Touring features an 89 kWh battery pack, delivering an output of 418 kW and a WLTP combined range of up to 545 kilometres. Pricing in Germany starts at EUR 94,900, with monthly leasing rates beginning at EUR 949 including VAT. The Gravity Touring Plus incorporates the seven-seat configuration and interior features, starting at EUR 99,900 in Germany or EUR 999 per month on lease.

The higher-specification Gravity Grand Touring utilises a 123 kWh battery, producing 617 kW to achieve a claimed zero-to-100 kmph acceleration time of 3.6 seconds and a WLTP range of up to 739 kilometres. This trim includes massage seating, 230V power package and faster charging capabilities. Prices in Germany start at EUR 119,900, with leasing from EUR 1,199 per month.

At the top of the range, the Gravity Grand Touring Ultimate incorporates the DreamDrive 2 Pro suite, air suspension, rear-wheel steering, a 22-speaker audio system, and leather upholstery, starting at EUR 147,500 or EUR 1,475 per month on lease. Orders for all four variants have opened, with customer deliveries across European markets scheduled to begin in autumn 2026.

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EV charging network ChargeZone and inter-city bus operator Fresh Bus have announced an expansion of their commercial partnership. As per the agreement, Fresh Bus will deploy 400 additional electric buses operating on ChargeZone's charging infrastructure.

The expansion increases the fleet supported by ChargeZone infrastructure from 100 to 500 buses. The operations will cover 20 cities and 17 towns across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana over the next 15 months.

To support the fleet, ChargeZone will add 30 MW of charging capacity to its existing 10 MW dedicated infrastructure for Fresh Bus, bringing total capacity for the operator to 40 MW.

The installation forms part of ChargeZone’s target to add 200 MW of capacity across its network. The expanded operations are projected to supply 100 million units of energy annually and accommodate over 20,000 daily passenger trips.

Kartikey Hariyani, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, ChargeZone, said, "India's EV transition will not be driven by personal vehicles alone. Commercial mobility, particularly intercity public transport, can play a critical role in taking electrification to scale because these vehicles operate frequently, travel longer distances and depend on predictable infrastructure. Our partnership with Fresh Bus has shown that when charging capacity, uptime and energy availability are built around the needs of fleet operations, operators can scale electric mobility with greater confidence. This expansion is about taking that proven model to more routes and demonstrating how charging infrastructure can enable intercity public transport to electrify at scale."

Sudhakar Reddy, Founder, Fresh Bus, said, “When we started Fresh Bus, the biggest question wasn't whether passengers would choose electric intercity travel, it was whether the charging infrastructure could keep pace with a growing fleet running every day, across every corridor. Our partnership with ChargeZone has answered that question. The reliability of their network is what has allowed us to move from proving the model to scaling it with confidence. Expanding to 500 buses and 40 MW of dedicated charging capacity is not just a fleet decision, it's a statement that electric intercity travel can be dependable, affordable, and ready for the passengers. This is what public electric mobility in India should look like: comfortable for the commuter, sustainable for the planet, and built to scale.”

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Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer VinFast recently outlined its driver-assistance technology roadmap, global supply chain strategy and financial targets during the Bloomberg Sustainable Business Summit.

Speaking at the event, Anne Pham, Head of International Capital Development at parent company Vingroup, detailed the automaker's phased approach to vehicle autonomy. VinFast's current vehicle lineup operates at Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), providing functions such as adaptive cruise control and lane-centering. The company plans to transition to Level 2+ and Level 2++ capabilities in upcoming vehicle generations, extending automated assistance features while maintaining driver supervision. Each phase of the software rollout will rely on real-world data validation prior to deployment.

Addressing international operations and supply chain management, Pham highlighted the company's regional manufacturing expansion outside Vietnam, including facilities built in India and Indonesia to serve as production and export bases.

“We have taken several steps to ensure that we are investing for the future,” said Pham.

Regarding trade dynamics and international market presence, Pham confirmed that the manufacturer's operational plans for North America remain active.

Pham said, “VinFast currently has sales in various parts of the world, including North America and the United States. Our U.S. sales plans remain on course.”

Commentary on global market conditions focused on energy sector fluctuations and regulatory policies as drivers for electric vehicle adoption rates.

Pham averred, “The transition to EVs has benefited not only from regulatory support around the world, but also from market volatility.”

On financial performance metrics and profitability targets, Pham indicated that the automaker expects its domestic operations to achieve profitability within three years.

Pham concluded, “We are on track to break even in Vietnam by 2027.”

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Youdha has unveiled the EPOD-Bharat, a limited-edition hand-painted version of its L5 electric passenger three-wheeler. The electric three-wheeler was displayed at the Bharat Vyapar Mahotsav at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.

The exterior artwork draws inspiration from Warli art, featuring depictions of rural life, nature and community gatherings. The initiative combines traditional Indian art forms with commercial electric vehicle manufacturing.

The base EPOD vehicle is powered by a 6 kW motor generating 50 Nm of torque, paired with an 11.8 kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery pack. The powertrain delivers a certified range of up to 227 kilometres per charge and includes City and Boost driving modes. The chassis provides a 300 mm water-wading depth for operation across varied road conditions.

Priced from INR 320,000, the passenger three-wheeler targets self-employed drivers and commercial fleet operators. Production takes place at Youdha’s assembly plant in Kashipur, Uttarakhand, which maintains an annual manufacturing capacity of 100,000 units.

Ayush Lohia, Chief Executive Officer, Youdha, said, “EPOD-Bharat is our tribute to the spirit of Bharat and to the women and artisans whose creativity and resilience continue to shape our country. We wanted to bring traditional Indian art onto a modern electric mobility platform, creating a vehicle that represents both our heritage and our aspirations for the future.”

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