Taral Agarwal is helping his father run their ‘chikki’ business at Lonavala besides studying to achieve a BBA degree. Coming from a family that has been into the traditional Indian sweets business for three generations now, Agarwal firmly belongs to Gen Z and has the confidence as well as the exposure to match. His thoughts about how he wants to see their family enterprise grow sustainably and offer hygienic products is interesting, He does not seem to be bothered about how fast a ‘chikki’ brand in his city has grown and branched out. 
What is surprising about the lad who rides to college and runs errands for his family on a fossil fuel powered two-wheeler, is his thoughts about shifting to an electric vehicle to cut down operating costs. Agarwal is clearly not convinced.  He is not convinced about the claim of EVs being ‘green’! What is the point in buying an EV when the fuel or electricity it is going to be powered with, is going to come from burning lignite? he asks. 

Agarwal is not alone among the Gen-Zers. Credit should be given to them for their exposure to the world events and how they think of or are sensitive to the developments taking place around them. They perhaps are more sorted with the idea of environment and sustainability. Paying more for the initial acquisition cost of an EV is a concern to Agarwal, but a bigger concern is whether what is claimed by EVs manufacturers in terms of range and carbon neutrality is true or not. 

The falling prices of batteries or the alternatives to rare earth metals has the attention of Gen-Zers like Agarwal, but a larger and complete picture is what he and other like him want to see. Aware of the fact that their country would benefit from less dependence on fossil fuel, the Gen-Zers seem to want products that truly measure up to their claims. They, it looks like, are keen to see with their eyes, real sustainability plans over claims. They are looking for more than the ESG performance may indicate, though that is one parameter that is assuming importance. 

Events like floods, bush fires and the accelerated melting of glaciers are not beyond the purview of the Gen-Zers. They are in fact making them aware of where the directions of the efforts should be. But they are not the one that will believe in claims. They are therefore keeping a close eye on how the future mobility scene is shaping up in terms of carbon neutrality and sustainability. Something that the tall compounds walls of manufacturing plants and glass facades of various corporate offices of automotive manufacturers may not be able to conceal for long. 

Even governments are not beyond the watchful eye of the Gen-Zers. It is important therefore that it will take much more for them to simply announce regulations and change rules pertaining to mobility. It would not take long to understand for the Gen-Zers if the governments are truly interested in addressing their concerns and needs or simply chalking out short and mid-terms measures. 

The Gen-Zers are at a juncture where they are seriously thinking if fossil fuel vehicle pollute more over their lifetime or the EVs do. They are rather concerned about the ‘cost-to-the-environment’ and recyclability than the claims of zero-pollution. 

Future interest in EV adoption fell most among Gen Z age category (74 percent in 2021 vs 56 percent in 2022), read the intro of an article in theevreport.com dated 1 August 2022. An article dated 8 May 2023 in USA Today mentioned that electrifying the car market may be getting more difficult with the share of Americans who say they’re ‘very unlikely’ to consider an EV for their next vehicle purchase. Citing a report by consumer analytics firm JD Power, the article stated that persistent worries about charging infrastructure and vehicle pricing was dampening enthusiasm for EVs among other reasons like the lack of public charging infrastructure, geography and education. 

The rising status of India as the world’s biggest micro-electro mobility market would do good to align with the expectations of the Gen Z. Not just in terms of performance, durability or range, but also in terms of how ‘green’ the entire concept truly is. It is only when they are convinced, would they want to invest.  Mere ESG figures may not even satiate their appetite in terms of their future mobility needs. 

The question that comes to mind therefore is, are hydrogen vehicles really the future? Are governments the world over simply rushing to phase out fossil fuel vehicles? Are government truly aware of the ‘cost-to-the-environment’ about EVs vis-à-vis fossil fuel vehicles or they simply interested in reducing their dependence on imported fuels? What are their plans about producing electricity through greener means to support the kind of EVs envisaged? What about the other infrastructure needs? What about taxation and subsidies? 
Typical answers and corporate keywords may not work in this case. For the Gen-Zers to bet their money on EVs, it will take much more. Incidences like EVs catching fire has already put more questions in the mind of Gen-Zers. Convincing them would not be easy. 

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Ahmedabad-based electric two-wheeler brand Avore Electric launched its first electric motorcycle – the Avore Electric EX at prices starting at INR 124,999 (ex-showroom).

The e-motorcycle is available in three variants – the EX 2S, EX 2 and EX 1. The model range was developed over three years using the company's indigenous AVORE Source technology stack and AVR vehicle platform. The development process involved over 120 intellectual property filings across nine vehicle systems, including the battery management system, motor controller, onboard charger and operating system.

The EVs use a rare-earth-free Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) with peak power output ranging between 7.5 kW and 10.5 kW depending on the variant, while all three models produce 250 Nm of peak wheel torque.

The EX 2S attains a claimed top speed of 114 kmph, whereas the EX 2 and EX 1 reach top speeds of 100 kmph. The powertrain utilises an integrated motor and swingarm structure to manage chassis balance and weight distribution.

The EX 2S and EX 2 carry IDC-certified range ratings of 260 km and 255 km respectively, while the EX 1 carries an IDC-certified range rating of 160 km. All variants include a 1500W onboard charger compatible with standard 5A and 15A domestic sockets, charging the battery from 20 per cent to 80 percent in two hours and reaching a full charge in a claimed four hours. The battery pack is homologated by NATRAX, and the battery management system is validated by ICAT.

Software systems integrated into the platform include the AVORE SENSE operating system, an artificial intelligence (AI) companion named Avore Synapse and an automatic manual gear mode. The platform complies with AIS 156 and AIS 038 safety standards and underwent 100,000 km of road testing alongside 2,500 hours of dynamometer testing prior to commercial introduction.

Priyank Rakholiya, Founder, Avore Electric, said, "We dedicated three years to research, development, testing, and validation before the launch of the EX so as to ensure class-leading engineering and innovation. We are ensuring global-levels of safety and performance, while pushing the frontiers of Indian-developed electric mobility technology stacks that deliver reliability, consistency, and economic viability. Our goal is to improve adoption and accessibility to world-class electric mobility solutions for every Indian and we are confident that the EX is just the start of our journey towards that direction."

Bookings for the EX series have opened on the manufacturer's website at an initial reservation amount of INR 799, with customer deliveries scheduled to begin in two months. The battery pack is supplied with a 5-year or 60,000 km warranty.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Energy In Motion, a provider of integrated electric mobility solutions for long-haul freight transportation, has executed an agreement with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation to establish and operate charging and battery swapping infrastructure for heavy commercial vehicles at retail outlets across India.

As per the understanding, Energy In Motion will deploy swap-and-charge hubs on freight corridors including Mumbai–Pune, Delhi–Jaipur and Chennai–Bangalore over the next 18 to 24 months. These stations will support vehicles such as the Ashwa 55-tonne e-tractor, providing battery exchange capability in 7 minutes.

Energy In Motion manages battery inventory and hardware, while Hindustan Petroleum Corporation provides space and utilities across its network of over 25,000 retail outlets.

Narendra Murkumbi, Managing Director, Energy In Motion, said, “Charging infrastructure succeeds or fails on reliability. Working with HPCL allows us to place charging and swapping where drivers already stop – sites with power, space, amenities, safety systems and staff on duty. Combining our battery and fleet expertise with HPCL’s nationwide retail network lets us build dependable swap-and-charge hubs on the corridors that carry India’s freight and to do it at the pace the transition demands.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Hero MotoCorp's electric mobility brand, VIDA, has made its international market entry into Nepal through a partnership with CG Motors.

The launch was announced by Kausalya Nandakumar, Chief Business Officer, Emerging Mobility Business Unit, Hero MotoCorp and Nirvana Chaudhary, Managing Director, Chaudhary Group.

The introduction features the VIDA VX2 Evooter range – comprising the VX2 Plus and VX2 Go variants – alongside the VIDA DIRT.E K3 youth off-roader. The VX2 Plus features a 4.4 kWh setup, delivering a 140 km range and a top speed of 90 kmph, while the VX2 Go uses a 2.2 kWh battery with a 75 km range. The DIRT.E K3 is an electric off-roader equipped with a 350W motor and app-based parental controls.

Kausalya Nandakumar said, “This launch marks a proud and defining moment as VIDA goes global. We are thrilled to take the very best of our engineering and design capabilities beyond India, starting with Nepal, a strategically crucial market where riders are quickly adopting smart electric mobility. The VIDA VX2 EVOOTER range and the VIDA DIRT.E K3 are built to redefine the future of mobility, and through our collaboration with CG Motors, we are ensuring that the Nepalese customers have access to premium, reliable, and technologically advanced riding experience.”

Nirvana Chaudhary added, “The entry of VIDA perfectly aligns with Nepal's shift towards sustainable mobility. By offering advanced electric products & solutions tailored for both, everyday commuters and the next generation of riders, this product launch redefines our two-wheeler landscape. CG Motors is proud to strengthen its partnership with Hero MotoCorp and partner with VIDA to drive our nation's green transition forward."

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Pune-headquartered electric commercial vehicle manufacturer EKA Mobility has announced that Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar, recently flagged off 15 EKA Mobility electric buses in Zanzibar. The commercial operations for the e-buses is scheduled to begin on 1 August 2026.

The deployment forms part of an initial order of 35 e-buses, with the fleet expected to expand to 150 units by the end of the year.

EKA Mobility is collaborating with Global Rapid Transport and the Zanzibar Social Security Fund to train local personnel in vehicle operations, maintenance and safety systems.

Vijay Yelne, President – Export Marketing & SCM, EKA Mobility, said, "The launch of Zanzibar's first electric bus fleet is a strong validation of EKA's technology and our ability to deliver world-class electric mobility solutions beyond India. It demonstrates that products designed and manufactured in India can successfully meet the evolving mobility needs of international markets. This is another step in taking Indian engineering to the world, and we see Africa as a key growth market in EKA's global expansion journey."

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!