The electric vehicle and ancillary industry in India is set to get a new charge with substantial investments of around USD 40 billion in the next five to six years said a report titled ‘EVs in India: Renewed Vigour in Electric Mobility’ by Colliers.

The vast majority of investments, constituting 67 percent (USD 27 billion) of the total investments planned, will be in the manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries, followed by OE and EV manufacturing at USD 9 billion (23 percent) and others accounting for USD 4 billion (10 percent).

The report observes that the despite slower than anticipated EV adoption, the investment commitments have grown 3X in the last three years.

Share of planned investments for EV over the next 5-6 years

The planned investments will also see a spill over effect on multiple real estate opportunities from manufacturing to showrooms to even EV charging infrastructure. The report estimates that almost 45 million square feet of real estate would be required by 2030 for charging infrastructure alone.

On the other hand, while the penetration of electric vehicles in the country is lower single digit, it is estimated to reach around 8 percent by 2024, which translates to sales of almost 2 million green vehicles.

Growth required in EV sales to achieve 2030 targets

Note: Penetration refers to share of EV registrations in overall vehicle registrations | 2024 data is estimated on basis of data till Oct 2024. Source: Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Niti Aayog, Colliers, Industry

Badal Yagnik, CEO, Colliers India said, “Although the demand for EVs has picked up in recent years, the target of achieving 30 percent penetration by 2030 looks like an uphill task. While demand and supply incentives will continue to play a pivotal role in faster adoption of EVs, a multifold increase in EV sales can be fast-tracked by the reduction in production costs and improving affordability with respect to EV price points. Additionally, high-capacity original equipment manufacturing units and large-scale production of lithium-ion battery variants must be high on the EV priority list.” 

Vimal Nadar, Senior Director and Head of Research, Colliers India, said, “Accelerated growth in the EV industry is bound to positively impact the Indian real estate sector. Supported by supply-side incentives from the government, leading developers are likely to increase their focus on state-of-the-art warehouses. Additionally, over 45 million sqft of real estate will be required for building extensive network of public charging stations over the next 5-6 years. Residential and commercial developers too are likely to increasingly integrate dedicated charging stations and parking spots for EVs within their projects. Such practices will provide a competitive edge, aligning with the requirements of corporate occupiers and homebuyers.”

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Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has commissioned a 300 kW green hydrogen electrolyser plant as a pilot project at its Manesar facility in Haryana. The green hydrogen produced at the unit is blended with natural gas to serve as process fuel in the company's manufacturing operations.

The plant captures solar energy generated at the Manesar site during non-operational periods and holidays when power would otherwise go unutilised. This solar power drives the electrolysis process and the resulting hydrogen is stored for subsequent use on the factory floor.

Based on the outcomes of this pilot, the company plans to scale up green hydrogen technology across its manufacturing plants in Haryana and Gujarat. The initiative draws from parent company Suzuki Motor Corporation’s core philosophy of Sho-Sho-Kei-Tan-Bi, which translates to smaller, fewer, lighter, shorter and more beautiful, to improve resource efficiency and energy usage.

Hisashi Takeuchi, MD & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “Just like we have adopted a multi-pathway approach for products, we have also embarked on a journey of multiple renewable energy solutions for manufacturing operations. The commissioning of our 300 kW Green Hydrogen plant is aligned with the Government of India’s Green Hydrogen Mission. This, along with expansion of solar, biogas and installation of battery energy storage system reflects our commitment to transition to cleaner and sustainable energy solutions.”

“India is emerging as a manufacturing powerhouse, and its competitive position may not depend solely on cost and quality, but also on CO2 intensity. With such initiatives, we are building capability today so that we can support a low-carbon and more energy-efficient manufacturing ecosystem tomorrow. Through multiple clean technologies, we aspire to reduce our carbon footprint in manufacturing operations from the present 615,000 tonnes to 266,000 tonnes in FY 2030-31,” he added.

The commissioning forms part of a broader shift toward renewable energy sources across the carmaker's operational footprint. Current measures include in-house solar plants, renewable energy procurement from government channels, and power purchase agreements for solar and wind energy with third-party suppliers.

Alongside hydrogen, Maruti Suzuki is constructing a 10 tonnes per day biogas plant at its Kharkhoda site, scheduled for commissioning within the 2026-27 financial year, and recently installed a 1 MWh battery energy storage system at the same location. The company’s board has approved four compressed biogas projects with an allocated budget of INR 5,610 million. In a separate venture, Suzuki Motor Corporation is partnering with organisations including the National Dairy Development Board and regional dairy unions to establish 10 biogas plants across India, three of which are operating in Gujarat.

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Electric vehicle infrastructure company ThunderPlus has expanded its highway charging network following the installation of a 120 kW DC fast-charging station at Amazon Kitchens on Kurnool Road, Andhra Pradesh.

The facility is located at the junction of several road networks connecting Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka. Positioned along National Highway 44, the station serves the Hyderabad–Bengaluru transit corridor while providing access to National Highway 40, which links Nandyal, Kadapa, Rayachoti, Chittoor and Ranipet. The location also connects with National Highway 340C, extending reach toward Nandikotkur, Atmakur, and Dornala.

The 120 kW charger supports compatible four-wheeler electric vehicles and additional battery-electric transport models during intercity transit, allowing drivers to recharge vehicles during meal stops and travel breaks.

At present, ThunderPlus operates a network comprising more than 250 charging hubs and over 1,000 charge points across urban and highway sites.

Raj Kumar Medimi, Director, ThunderPlus, said, "As EV adoption moves beyond city limits, charging infrastructure must evolve around how people actually travel. Our objective is not simply to add more charging points, but to identify strategic locations where fast charging can fit naturally into a journey. By combining 120 kW fast charging with access to food and traveller amenities, the Kurnool station is designed to make intercity EV travel more convenient and practical."

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Ultraviolette has secured USD 85 million in a new funding round led by Yali Capital and TDK Ventures, with participation from Walden International Chairman Lip-Bu Tan (who also joins the company as an Advisor), along with existing and long-term investors.

The capital will be used to scale production of the F77 and X-47 models as well as the upcoming Tesseract and Shockwave while supporting development of next-generation global EV platforms. These platforms will leverage Ultraviolette's vertically integrated expertise in battery technology, power electronics, vehicle architecture and intelligent software.

The company aims to enter United States in 2027 and expand across Latin America and South-East Asia. Ultraviolette's technical capabilities span battery architectures from 48V to 400V, positioning it among the few global EV manufacturers with such in-house breadth, enabling platforms tailored to varied performance, range, thermal and packaging needs.

Lip-Bu Tan, Chairman, Walden International said, “What I really like about Ultraviolette is the combination of deep engineering expertise, strong IP and the willingness to take on genuinely difficult problems. They have built the technology from first principles and are focused on creating something that is truly differentiated for the long term.”

Ganapathy Subramaniam, Founding Managing Partner, Yali Capital, said, “India’s shift towards cleaner mobility will increasingly be driven by electric two-wheelers, given the scale of the segment. What attracted us to Ultraviolette is the depth of engineering the team has built in-house; from the battery, powertrain to software and radar and their focus on applying this technology to real rider needs, especially safety. Ultraviolette has taken the F77 from concept to the roads in India and Europe, and brought radar-based safety features into a production two-wheeler with the X-47. With the Tesseract, launching early next year, they will bring this engineering and safety focus to scooters and a much wider set of riders. This combination of deep technology, product focus and ambition gives us strong conviction in Ultraviolette, and we are proud to back them.”

Ravi Jain, Investment Director, TDK Ventures, said, "The adoption of electric two-wheelers can be accelerated by superior products powered by differentiated technology. We continue to believe that Ultraviolette is best positioned to catalyse this transition and build winning products for global markets."

Ultraviolette Founders Narayan Subramaniam & Niraj Rajmohan shared, “This funding round represents an important step in Ultraviolette’s evolution into a global electric mobility company. The conviction demonstrated by Yali Capital, TDK Ventures, Lip-Bu Tan and our long-term investors reinforces our vision of building a design and tech focused global brand out of India. This investment will enable us to scale manufacturing, accelerate the development of our future product platforms and deepen our presence across international markets. Our single-minded focus is about being a global leader in future mobility; electric vehicles that bring together uncompromising performance, future centric design and advanced technology.”

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Kolkata Police is expanding its use of electric mobility for frontline operations by inducting 183 Ultraviolette X-47 Skyforce electric motorcycles into its fleet for emergency response and patrolling under the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) 112.

The deployment, formally handed over at the Lalbazar Police Headquarters on Friday, is among the largest electric motorcycle deployments by the police force.

Of the 183 motorcycles, 60 have already been delivered with the remaining 123 expected to be inducted in phases later this year. The Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Sambhav Jain, said the pace of induction would also depend on Ultraviolette's manufacturing capacity.

The motorcycles will primarily respond to calls received through the police's dedicated 112 emergency helpline. When there are no emergency calls, they will be used for patrolling.

“There is an emergency response system with a dedicated toll-free helpline. When we receive calls, we will dispatch these motorcycles and they will respond,” the DCP said.

The deployment represents an extension of Kolkata Police's earlier experiment with electric four-wheelers. The force inducted electric cars around two years ago but their integration into the 112 response system was constrained by the availability of charging infrastructure.

According to the DCP, the charging ecosystem has since improved sufficiently to make a broader deployment of electric vehicles feasible.

The change could eventually enable Kolkata Police to bring electric four-wheelers into the emergency-response network as well.

The existing electric four-wheelers are primarily assigned to senior officers who are stationed at offices, where charging facilities are easier to provide.

The increasing availability of charging infrastructure on the road, however, is opening the possibility of using electric vehicles more extensively for field operations.

The force is also asking vehicle manufacturers supplying electric vehicles to provide charging infrastructure as part of the procurement arrangement. It is additionally planning solar-powered charging stations in the near future.

“We also request the companies from whom we are purchasing the vehicles to provide the charging infrastructure. And we are also planning some solar charging stations in the near future,” the DCP said.

The motorcycles supplied by Ultraviolette are X-47 Crossover Skyforce Patrol Variants, configured specifically for police duty. The motorcycles feature an augmented electronics architecture designed to accommodate equipment including sirens, hooters, a public-address system, LED blinkers, microphone and walkie-talkie holders, decals and side panniers.

The company said the motorcycles underwent testing before the handover and have been configured for day-to-day police operations in an urban environment.

The move comes as Kolkata Police seeks to modernise its mobility infrastructure while also addressing the recurring costs associated with conventional vehicles.

At the flagging-off ceremony, Commissioner of Police Ajay Kumar Nand said that the force was examining electric two-wheelers partly in the context of recurring expenditure on fuel and maintenance.

He also highlighted the potential environmental benefits of electric mobility in policing and said the motorcycles would support patrolling, rapid response and community outreach.

The Commissioner said the motorcycles were being introduced initially as an experiment and that the police could consider expanding electric two-wheeler deployment if the programme proves successful.

The monsoon will also provide an immediate real-world test of the vehicles. Nand noted that concerns had been raised about the operation of electric motorcycles during the rainy season, but said the vehicle manufacturer had assured the police that the motorcycle was IP-rated and that its battery packs were fully secured.

The motorcycles have been provided under a CSR initiative of West Bengal Power Development Corporation Limited WBPDCL.

Kolkata support network

The scale of the police deployment has also prompted Ultraviolette to strengthen its local service infrastructure. A company official said that it already operates three dealerships across Kolkata and Howrah and has established a new workshop specifically to support the police fleet.

Additional manpower and specialised technicians have been deployed to service the motorcycles, reflecting the operational requirement of supporting a large fleet that could potentially see significant utilisation across the city.

The police order also comes at the time when the company expands its presence in Kolkata. The official said it sold more than 50 motorcycles in the city in a single month recently and plans to add more showrooms.

For Kolkata Police, however, the significance of the 183-bike induction extends beyond the size of the order. By placing electric motorcycles directly into the 112 emergency-response network, the force is effectively testing whether electric two-wheelers can become part of the everyday operating infrastructure of urban policing and whether the availability of charging and service support can make that transition scalable.

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