As India pursues a goal to drastically reduce greenhouse gases through efforts like a shift to zero carbon emission vehicles that also lead to the elimination of dependence on imported fuels, even imported battery cells, the first impact report of Taiwan-based Gogoro is out. It outlines some very interesting and important factors on battery electric two-wheelers and battery swapping technology, stopping short of how green electricity could be harness over a grey source to ensure a greener well to wheel journey. 

Highlighting Gogoro's progress in sustainability and ESG, the first impact report categorically outlines how its swapping and smart scooters have been successful in enabling a transformation to sustainable urban transportation. The company's Founder and CEO Horace Luke mentions that ten years ago few were contemplating the urban energy and transportation transformation necessary to address in the wake of the plight cities were facing because of air pollution and other negative effects of climate change. Our first impact report highlights this and the progress we have made in our ESG initiatives, in-turn outlining our future intentions, he adds. 

Drawing attention how the report summarises his company’s commitments and progress in four key strategic areas of cleaner planet, safety and resilience, responsible business and social impact, Luke avers that these four areas are key to our success in achieving smarter, cleaner and safer cities. 
With nearly two million customers and 400 million battery swaps to date, Gogoro has established an open 360-degree ecosystem, which is AI-powered and cloud-connected to deliver the most accessible urban energy solution. The system is constantly learning, adjusting and optimising smart batteries and swapping stations to enable a variety of smart city solutions. 

Stating how the battery swap technology and smart scooters have made a positive impact with the help of key statistical data in terms of fossil fuel consumption reduction, CO2 emissions reduction, particulate emission reduction and employment generation, the first impact report also highlights how cities in Asia and Africa, where two-wheelers are used for daily commutes, are benefitting.  With the battery swapping system paid particular attention to because it allows users to refuel their electric scooters quickly and easily, the first impact report states that the system or technology creates the potential to integrate renewable power into electricity grids through virtual power plants and demand response programmes. 

In 2022, Gogoro began purchasing renewable energy in Taiwan to further reduce the amount of scope 2 emissions caused by its manufacturing, retail operations and battery swapping service, according to the first impact report. With a long-term goal of achieving 100 percent renewable energy, in 2022, it achieved 40 percent renewable energy in its factory operations and at two retail stores.

Gogoro And Hero Group
Hero MotoCorp, which began deliveries of its first Vida V1 electric scooter in select cities in India starting with Bengaluru, announced in 2021 that it has entered into a strategic partnership with Gogoro to establish a battery swapping JV that will bring the Taiwanese company's industry leading battery swapping platform to the Indian market. The Indian two-wheeler major also announced that the two companies will collaborate to build electric two-wheelers in India that are branded as Hero and powered by Gogoro network. 

Drawing attention to Gogoro's hyper-efficient battery swapping network receiving the 2020 Frost & Sullivan Company of the Year award for the Global Swappable Battery Electric Scooter Market, sources aware of the development mentioned that Hero MotoCorp would benefit from Gogoro's knowledge and experience to drive a beneficial arrangement in the electric two-wheeler market that is also being encouraged by the government. Citing that there are hurdles like an electric two-wheeler attracting 5 percent GST and a battery attracting 18 percent GST, they added that these are being followed up on and would soon hopefully be sorted. 

Encouraging battery swap with a favourable policy structure
While Gogoro may be keen to carve out a good pie of the Indian market with its intelligent battery swapping technology, India's homegrown company, Sun Mobility, may not be any less in its ability to deliver on the same front. At Auto Expo 2023, it showcased an AI enabled smart battery swapping system and smart battery packs in line with the government's encouragement to develop an efficient EV ecosystem and bring about a shift to lower the CO2 emissions that Indian cities seem to battle with. Cities like Mumbai, which have until now not figured among the top polluted cities in the world, seem to be getting there with high particulate, NOx and CO2 emissions. 

While the high amount of construction activity and a change in wind currents may be the contributing factor, the fact that the number of two-wheelers in the megacity have risen in the last one or two decades is an indication that a transition to EVs will contribute to lowering of emission levels to an extent. An ability to generate electricity needed to fuel these many numbers of electric two-wheelers would also need to come from a greener source rather than from lignite burning thermal plants that would mean a mere shift of pollution from cities to rural areas where most thermal plants are. 
 

Gogoro partnership with Maharashtra Government

The Indian State of Maharashtra announced a strategic energy partnership with Gogoro Inc. and Belrise Industries (erstwhile known as Badve Engineering Ltd) to establish an unprecedented battery-swapping infrastructure in January 2023. The two companies in association to the respective state government plan to build a smart energy infrastructure that is open and accessible and establishes battery swapping and smart battery stations as a leading source for mobility and energy storage. The deployment is also expected to accelerate job growth throughout the smart energy, electric vehicle and sustainability value chain. It is expected to foster smart electric vehicle manufacturing and assembly too.  

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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.

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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.

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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."

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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."

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