Clean Electric, a startup working on XFC battery technology for electric vehicles, has unveiled what it claims is its revolutionary rapid recharging battery technology that can fully charge electric vehicles in under 12-minutes (claimed). 

This groundbreaking advancement represents a major leap forward, with EV charging times ranging from 60 minutes to 120 minutes. Its proprietary battery technology uses universal CCS 2 DC charging standards, ensuring compatibility across all EV model form-factors, positioning it as a game-changer for the entire industry. 

The fireproof batteries had been tested for 3700 rapid charge cycles with only 11 percent degradation in the overall range. The energy storage solution firm manufactures the batteries at its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Pune, the plant is well-equipped to produce up to 1,200 battery packs per month.

The groundbreaking technology by Clean Electric, is said to have been under development for 4-years and is backed by 4 granted patents both domestic and US. Its battery architectures had several industry-first technologies, such as direct contact liquid cooling (DCLC) for e-four-wheeler and large battery systems, self-contained adaptive active liquid cooling (SCALC) for e-two-wheelers and e-three-wheeler battery systems and DCLC with Integrated cell to pack (CTP) battery architecture, which will allow intrinsically safe batteries, mitigating thermal runaway risk, and enable RAPID Charging with higher packaging efficiency to boost EV range without added degradation. 

The start-up is currently working with EV OEMs in e-car, e-two-wheeler, e-three-wheeler, e-LCV, and established startups to address major roadblocks to enable mass adoption. Some of the poignant issues include EVs catching fire, anxiety from long charging times (minimum 1 hour), and the limited range (200-300km) of current EVs. 

Clean Electric recently held a live demonstration in Pune, showcasing a 2.2 kWh e-two-wheeler battery & 12.5 kWh e-three-wheeler, charging from 0-80 percent State of Charge (SOC) in just 10 minutes at a constant of 5C charge rate using BIS-approved Type 6, Bharat DC-001 and globally accepted CCS 2 DC public charger, making it the world’s fastest- charging production electric vehicle. 

The start-up was founded by Akash Gupta, Abhinav Roy & Ankit Joshi in 2020 to develop, manufacture, and supply advanced energy storage solutions for EVs and grid applications. It has built advanced liquid-cooled battery solutions for two-, three-wheelers, e-cars and grid storage. 

Ankit Joshi, Chief Product Officer, Clean Electric said, “This is a revolutionary moment for all of us at Clean Electric, our proprietary 12-minute charging technology sets a new global standard that will drive the EV industry forward. Committed to sustainability, we strive to democratize RAPID Charging for EVs coupled with long battery life, reducing environmental impact and shaping the future of electric vehicles. Clean Electric plans to introduce Gen 3 batteries next fiscal year, enabling affordable, high-energy density batteries to take rapid charging to the masses.”

Akash Gupta, Co-Founder, Clean Electric stated, “We support Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari’s audacious vision to stop the production of new fossil fuel based combustion engine vehicle by 2034, I firmly believe Clean Electric will be the strongest catalyst in the EV-ecosystem to enable shift to renewable energy powered electric vehicle, also we need to add ‘Design in India’ to the narrative of ‘Make in India’ and make India technology powerhouse globally for other country to follow India’s footsteps/ successful scalable models/ solutions to benefit human mankind.”

Clean Electric has raised seed funding of $2.2 million (INR 183.2 million) in October 2022 led by Kalaari Capital. 

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Eicher Trucks and Buses, part of VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV), has completed a journey from Kashmir to Kanyakumari using its Eicher Pro X EV.

The record verified by the India Book of Records (IBR), saw the electric vehicle cover over 4,000 kilometres in 6 days under loaded conditions. The run commenced in Srinagar on 20 January 2026 and concluded in Kanyakumari on 26 January 2026, traversing the Himalayas, plains and the Deccan Plateau.

Throughout the expedition, the vehicle utilised public chargers located via the MyEicher App. An adjudicator from the India Book of Records accompanied the truck to monitor route compliance, load, distance and charging stops. The mission served as a demonstration of electric vehicle endurance across diverse altitudes and climates to validate the technology for logistics corridors.

The journey was intended to show that electric commercial vehicles can operate beyond short-haul deliveries. By maintaining performance across hilly and coastal routes, the Pro X EV aimed to establish total cost of ownership (TCO) benefits and maintenance predictability for fleet operators. The successful completion of the route suggests that current charging infrastructure can support long-haul electric freight movement.

Vinod Aggarwal, MD & CEO, VE Commercial Vehicles, said, “For more than four decades, Eicher trucks and Buses have earned customer trust through leadership in fuel efficiency and application-specific engineering. The record-setting performance of the Eicher Pro X reinforces our unwavering focus on application excellence, reliability, and performance, anchored in robust product development and manufacturing capabilities, and enabled by a customer-centric, pan-India commercial and dealer network. I commend the entire Eicher team for achieving these well-deserved records”.

SS Gill, Chief Commercial Officer, VE Commercial Vehicles, said, “By covering the K2K route with a loaded Pro X EV, Eicher Trucks & Buses has proven that electric mobility is no longer restricted to short-haul, ‘last-mile’ deliveries. We are not just setting records, but through the strength of our service network and extensive dealer set-up, we are demonstrating that our EV technology is commercially viable, reliable, and has the range to serve as the backbone of India’s green logistics corridors”.

Abhishek Chaudhary, SVP – SCV Sales & Marketing, VE Commercial Vehicles, said, “The Eicher Pro X EV was put to the ultimate test – covering over 4000 kilometres across diverse climates and challenging altitudes. With this recognition from the India Book of Records we’ve moved beyond our own stringent testing benchmarks to real-world validation - Demonstrating that Eicher Pro X EV is a dependable partner for logistics movement across varied operations in India”.

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Montra Electric, the electric medium and heavy commercial vehicle business of the Murugappa Group, has become the first manufacturer in India to receive certification for heavy-duty electric trucks under the government's PM E-Drive Scheme.

To mark the achievement, the company delivered a Rhino 5538 EV 6x4 Tractor trailer to UltraTech Cement. The handover took place in the presence of Arun Murugappan, Chairman of Montra Electric and Sathia Raj, Chief Procurement Officer of UltraTech Cement.

The PM E-Drive scheme includes a budget of INR 5 billion specifically for electric trucks, providing a benefit of up to INR 960,000 per vehicle for the Rhino 5538 EV. This incentive is intended to lower operating costs and reduce exposure to fuel price volatility for fleet operators in the logistics, mining, and manufacturing sectors. The Rhino 5538 EV range is designed for Indian conditions and is available in 6x4 and 4x2 variants.

The Rhino 5538 EV 4x2 variant features a 282 kWh LFP battery that produces 380 HP and 2000 Nm of torque. It offers a range of approximately 198 km under standard test conditions and supports six-minute battery swaps. These specifications suit the vehicle for high-utilisation applications in ports, steel plants, and cement logistics.

H D Kumaraswamy, Union Minister for Heavy Industries, said, "The PM E-Drive scheme is a testament to the growing prowess of Indian innovation in the heavy-duty electric vehicle segment. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are committed to decarbonizing our logistics and making India a global hub for EV manufacturing. Electric trucks are pivotal to our Net Zero goals, and by fostering a self-reliant ecosystem through such certifications, we are driving the spirit of Atmanirbhar Viksit Bharat. We are very happy to see our Prime Minister’s vision coming to life with the 1st PM E-Drive certified heavy duty electric truck from 'Montra Electric' getting delivered today."

Arun Murugappan, Chairman, Montra Electric, said: “Decarbonising freight is one of the most critical challenges in India’s energy transition. We are grateful to the Government of India and our Prime Minister Narendra Modi for introducing forward-looking and progressive policy frameworks such as the PM E-Drive Scheme, which represent a welcome and transformative step in accelerating this shift, particularly in heavy commercial vehicles where emissions intensity is high. At Montra Electric, we are proud to contribute to this national mission by delivering technologically advanced, reliable, and scalable electric M&HCV solutions that can drive meaningful and lasting change in India’s mobility ecosystem.”

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Chartered Speed and EKA Mobility have received a Letter of Confirmation of Quantity (LOCQ) to deploy 1,750 electric buses in Bengaluru under the PM E-Drive Scheme. This allocation accounts for approximately 39 percent of the city's total planned induction of 4,500 electric buses. The initiative is part of the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation effort to expand its network in line with the decarbonisation roadmap of the Government of India.

The partnership combines the operational services of Chartered Speed with the vehicle manufacturing and technology of EKA Mobility. Operational protocols for the fleet include maintenance, battery monitoring, and driver training. Chartered Speed has stated its intention to transition 25 percent of its total fleet to electric power by Fiscal 2027.

The deployment aims to support public transport infrastructure in the region through investments in charging and maintenance facilities. Bengaluru is currently expanding its electric transport capacity to meet state mobility targets. The project focuses on providing urban transport solutions for the city's commuter base while reducing the carbon footprint of the public system.

Sanyam Gandhi, Whole-Time Director, Chartered Speed, said,  “Bengaluru is a key mobility hub in India, and electric buses are part of the efforts to build a cleaner and more efficient public transport system. The PM E-Drive allocation strengthens Chartered Speed Limited’s long-term commitment to sustainable mass mobility. As one of the early adopters of e-mobility, we aim to convert around 25% of our fleet to electric by Fiscal 2027, supported by strong infrastructure investments to deliver commuter-centric services aimed at lasting socio-economic impact.”

Rohit Srivastava, Business Head & Chief Growth Officer, EKA Mobility, added, “The PM E-Drive initiative is a powerful enabler of India’s electric mobility vision, and Bengaluru’s large-scale adoption of electric buses sets a strong benchmark for urban transport transformation. At EKA Mobility, we are proud to partner with Chartered Speed and contribute to Bengaluru’s journey towards a more sustainable urban future. It is not just about scale, but about creating cleaner mobility solutions, quieter streets, and a better daily commute for millions.”

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Suzuki Motor Corporation and its subsidiary, Suzuki R&D Centre India (SRDI), have inaugurated the Banas Suzuki Biogas Plant in Bhukhala, Gujarat. The facility, which opened on 18 January 2026, is the second such plant following the Agthala site that commenced operations in December 2025.

The plant is designed to process up to 100 tonnes of cow dung per day to produce approximately 1.5 tonnes of biogas. This output is equivalent to the daily fuel requirements of 850 compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles. In addition to fuel production, the facility will sell organic fertiliser generated as a byproduct of the process.

The project is part of an agreement signed in September 2023 between SRDI, the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and Banas Dairy. The partners have agreed to construct a total of five biogas plants in the region. The Bhukhala site covers an area of 27,000 square metres and forms a component of Suzuki’s strategy to support carbon neutrality in India.

The use of biogas serves as a carbon-neutral alternative for CNG vehicles, which currently represent 20 percent of the Indian passenger car market. Beyond emission reductions, the initiative is intended to improve energy self-sufficiency and increase rural income through the purchase of cattle waste from local farmers.

The opening ceremony was attended by Acharya Devvrat, Governor of Gujarat and Shankar Chaudhary, Chairman of Banas Dairy and Speaker of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly. Representing Suzuki was Kenichiro Toyofuku, Managing Officer and Executive General Manager of Biogas Operations.

The company stated that it will continue to develop its biogas business to contribute to national growth and environmental targets. The operation is expected to create jobs within the district while providing fuel for high-demand vehicle segments.

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