Danfoss Gets 3 Volvo e-trucks, To Push for e-freight Market In India
- By MT Bureau
- September 21, 2023
Volvo delivered three of the world’s first heavy-duty line haul electric trucks to Danfoss. Of the three e-trucks, two will operate in fixed routes between Danfoss sites in Denmark whereas one will operate 24 hours a day and five days per week without significant charging downtime.
Over and above the three electric heavy-duty trucks, another six such vehicles are planned to be operational before 2024. So far, Danfoss will be the first company in Denmark to have a 24-hour truck in operation of this kind.
When all nine trucks enter operation, they will reduce Danfoss’ scope 1 and 2 emissions in Denmark by 10-15 percent and enable next to zero noise and air pollution, drastically improving working climate for drivers.
Danfoss is pushing for a similar arrangement in India with its subsidiary in the country. It announced its intention to collaborate under a national task force on the sidelines of the G20 meet in Goa recently to stimulate the development of the e-freight market in India under the Zero Emission Vehicles Emerging Markets Initiative (ZEV-EMI) initiative and the Indian Government’s Electric Freight Accelerator for Sustainable Transport (E-FAST) platform– led by NITI Aayog and supported by World Resources Institute (WRI) India.
Currently in India, Danfoss’s less-container loads are moved through alternate fuel freight. The organisation has e-vehicles for in-campus goods movement, for goods movement on select route freight and for employee commutation.
While Volvo Trucks is closely watching the shift to alternative fuels taking place in the form of LNG, CNG and other fuels in India, it is currently pushing for electric heavy-truck in Europe where it would make a viable business case.
The Swedish commercial vehicle major has set a global target of selling 50 percent electric trucks or fuel-cell electric trucks by 2030 with Europe as the prime market.
The three Danfoss electric heavy-duty trucks will be supported by customized superchargers rapidly charge the truck’s battery during offloading and onloading at each stop. This would usually take roughly 15 minutes. The trucks will be charged by charging infrastructure from the Danish company GodEnergi.
Interestingly, Danfoss Editron is supplying the On-Board Charger and Electric Power Supply (OCEPS) to all Volvo electric trucks, which enables fast overnight AC charging and is a key enabler to electrifying on-highway trucks and buses as well as off-highway vehicles. The OCEPS’ dual functionality provides 43 kW of power to charge a truck overnight (8-9 hours) while using readily available AC power outlets. This enables the quick deployment of EV trucks while minimising the charging infrastructure costs for the end-users.
This unique product also acts as a 43kW electric Power Take-Off (ePTO) to power work functions on off-highway vehicles such as excavators and wheel loaders.
Semikron Danfoss, the newly merged SEMIKRON and Danfoss Silicon Power, is delivering SKAI2HV traction inverters designed for bus, construction, marine and truck applications to Volvo Trucks.
Danfoss joined the Climate Group’s EV100 initiative in 2019 and is committed to transitioning the entire company car fleet to electric vehicles by 2030 at the latest. The transition from diesel-powered vehicles to fully electric vehicles is an important step to becoming carbon neutral in scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030.
Youdha Enters Commercial Cargo Sector With Launch Of ePod G Electric Three-Wheeler
- By MT Bureau
- October 24, 2026
Youdha has expanded its vehicle lineup into the commercial cargo segment with the introduction of the ePod G electric three-wheeler.
Designed for last-mile logistics, e-commerce deliveries and retail distribution, the electric three-wheeler expands Youdha's ePod platform from passenger transport into goods mobility.
The ePod G features an 11.8 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery and a 6 kW three-phase permanent magnet synchronous motor. The powertrain delivers a claimed range of 170 to 180 km under standard test conditions, a payload capacity of 545 kg and a gross vehicle weight of 1,000 kg. The e3W has a top speed below 50 kmph, 22 percent gradeability and a charging duration of four to five hours.
Ayush Lohia, CEO, Youdha, said, "Our ambition is to build ePod into a trusted name across passenger and goods transportation. The positive response to our passenger vehicle gives us a strong foundation to extend the range into cargo. With ePod G, we aim to address the needs of businesses and individual operators involved in last-mile deliveries while continuing to strengthen Youdha’s product portfolio and market presence."
The ePod G will be available in half-deck and closed box configurations to accommodate varied delivery requirements. Built on a monocoque chassis, the vehicle includes hydraulic brakes, steel rims, 120/80-R12 8PR tyres, LED headlights, and a seven-inch CAN-enabled digital LED instrument cluster. The launch enables Youdha to supply individual owner-operators, commercial businesses, and delivery fleet managers across the Indian market.
Tesla Opens Reservations For New Roadster In India, Upgrades Model Y L
- By MT Bureau
- October 18, 2026
Tesla has opened online reservations for the new Roadster in select global markets, including India, with production scheduled to begin in 2028 for left-hand drive configurations. Alongside the reservation announcement, Tesla India has also introduced a complimentary Acceleration Boost for its Model Y L six-seater SUV.
The new Roadster design incorporates aerospace-inspired elements and SpaceX components. In the domestic product lineup, the Model Y L SUV receives an Acceleration Boost software update, reducing its zero-to-100 km/h acceleration time to 4.5 seconds while offering an operating range of up to 681 kilometres under WLTP testing standards.
Tesla currently offers the Model Y and Model Y L in India. The entry-level Model Y is priced at INR 5.08 million, while the Model Y L starts at INR 6.19 million. The EVs carry safety evaluations from global testing bodies, including NHTSA, Euro NCAP, ANCAP and C-IASI.
To support vehicle ownership, Tesla's domestic charging infrastructure comprises 20 Supercharger stalls and 28 Destination Charger stalls, with three additional sites planned by the end of 2026.
Home charging setup has been established for owners across 23 Indian states. The manufacturer has also introduced its Refer and Earn program in India, offering purchase discounts for buyers and referral credits for existing owners.
- VIDA
- Hero MotoCorp
- DIRT.E K3 6DAYS
- FIM International
- Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme
- Kausalya Nandakumar
- Fabio Muner
VIDA Unveils DIRT.E K3 6DAYS Limited Edition At FIM International Six Days Enduro
- By MT Bureau
- October 16, 2026
VIDA, the electric mobility brand powered by Hero MotoCorp, has unveiled the DIRT.E K3 6DAYS Limited Edition at the 100th FIM International Six Days Enduro in Grândola, Portugal.
The release marks the first collaboration between an Indian electric vehicle manufacturer and the event as an official partner of the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme.
The model is limited to 100 units, with each unit assigned a number corresponding to an edition of the event. The electric two-wheeler features Portuguese flag-inspired green and red livery, race competition typography and official 6DAYS branding.
First introduced in December 2025, the DIRT.E K3 is an electric off-road vehicle designed for youth riders. It incorporates a modular frame that adjusts without tools at three points, allowing handlebar height, footrest positioning, and seat height to be adjusted as the rider grows.
The DIRT.E K3 comes with a removable 360 Wh lithium-ion battery with a three-hour full charge cycle, three software-managed speed modes reaching up to 24 kmph via thumb throttle, a magnetic power cut-off kill switch and a 60 mm rear disc brake system.
Kausalya Nandakumar, CBO of the Emerging Mobility Business Unit, Hero MotoCorp, said, "Being part of the historic 100th edition of FIM ISDE is a proud milestone for VIDA and an opportunity to showcase how electric innovation can shape the future of off-road riding. The VIDA DIRT.E K3 brings together the spirit of motorsport with forward-looking technology, building on the recognition it received at CES 2026 and the Red Dot Design Award. With our Portuguese- inspired 6DAYS® Limited Edition, we are celebrating the legacy of this iconic event while bringing a fresh perspective to electric off-road mobility. At VIDA, we believe innovation should go hand in hand with a safe, engaging, and empowering riding experience for young riders."
Fabio Muner, Marketing and Digital Director, FIM, said, "On behalf of the FIM, I would like to sincerely thank Hero MotoCorp for its active participation in the 100th Edition of the FIM 6DAYS®. Thanks to the DIRT.E K3 6DAYS® Limited Edition bike, young riders have the chance to experience first-hand the beauty of motorcycling and enduro, an opportunity that is essential for building the future of our sport. The fact that these vehicles will be available on the market is a further great achievement for the FIM 6DAYS®. It is another example of how this historic FIM World Championship continues to widen its borders year after year, opening its doors to new generations and new ways of riding. Thank you, VIDA for sharing this vision with us."
Epsilon CAM And C4V Sign Agreement For Cathode Material Qualification In North America
- By MT Bureau
- October 14, 2026
Epsilon CAM, one of the leading battery cathode active material manufacturers, and cell technology firm C4V have signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to evaluate and qualify lithium iron phosphate and bio-mineralised lithium mixed metal phosphate cathode active materials.
The agreement establishes a framework to evaluate Epsilon CAM's cathode materials for cell-level integration across C4V's battery platforms and North American manufacturing programs, including those operated by sister company Near Prime Technologies.
As per the arrangement, Epsilon CAM will provide material samples and engineering data for testing, including electrochemical performance validation, cycle-life evaluation and process compatibility assessments. Subject to technical qualification and definitive contracts, the firms plan to explore multi-year material supply arrangements and technology integrations.
The evaluation will assess supply-chain sourcing for critical raw material inputs, including lithium, manganese and phosphorus, to align with North American content requirements.
Epsilon CAM is advancing plans for a 20,000-tonne-per-annum cathode active materials plant in India by 2028, positioning its production as a non-foreign-entity-of-concern source for global cell manufacturers.
Vikram Handa, MD, Epsilon CAM, said, "This LoI brings together complementary capabilities across cathode materials, cell technology and manufacturing. Our focus is to demonstrate material performance at the cell level and to work with C4V toward scalable, high-quality LFP and LMFP solutions that address the evolving needs of battery manufacturers and automotive customers."
Dr. Shailesh Upreti, CEO, C4V, said, "Epsilon is helping address one of the most important gaps in the U.S. battery supply chain: reliable access to scalable, ex-China phosphate cathode active materials. C4V is currently evaluating Epsilon’s materials through our Digital DNA qualification process for potential use across C4V cell platforms and U.S. manufacturing programs at Near Prime. Successful qualifications would create an important pathway connecting advanced cathode materials with C4V battery technology and domestic cell manufacturing."

Comments (0)
ADD COMMENT