HD Kumaraswamy, Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, Government of India, today said at a seminar that India will ensure sufficient charging infrastructure to support the massive adoption of electric vehicles across the country.

Speaking at the seminar hosted by FICCI and Ministry of Heavy Industries on 'FAME's Success in Transforming India's EV Landscape', Kumaraswamy also talked about introducing e-vouchers for electric vehicle (EV) buyers to avail of demand incentives under the newly approved PM E-DRIVE (PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement) scheme. "This is a unique new feature of this new scheme. The modalities of this are in an advanced stage and will be shared with you soon," explained Kumaraswamy, further adding that the govt’s goal is to reduce the nation’s environmental footprint, improve air quality and build a competitive and resilient electric vehicle manufacturing industry.

The Union Cabinet introduced the PM E-DRIVE scheme last week with the goal of accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) by providing significant upfront incentives and developing essential infrastructure for charging them. The new plan adds a number of new components, such as INR 5 billion set aside specifically for the deployment of e-ambulances, INR 5 billion to encourage the use of electric trucks and INR 20 billion for the installation of 22,000 fast chargers for electric four-wheelers, 1,800 for e-buses and 48,400 for e-two and three-wheelers.

According to Kumaraswamy, 92 percent of the INR 115 billion allotted has been used to encourage around 93 percent of the targeted vehicles. Significant progress has also been made in public transit under the project; as of 31 July 2024, a total of 4,853 e-buses have been supplied out of the 6,862 authorised for intra-city operations.

Vinod Aggarwal, Immediate Past President, SIAM and MD & CEO, VE Commercial Vehicles, highlighted the FAME-II scheme's noteworthy contribution to the growth of India's e-mobility industry. Over 5 percent of the market for two-wheelers, 54 percent of the market for three-wheelers and 1.5 percent of the market for cars has been penetrated by the scheme. Aggarwal pointed out that, in comparison to the prior year, passenger EV sales increased by more than 90 percent and electric two-wheeler sales increased by more than 30 percent in 2023–24, demonstrating the scheme's success in hastening EV adoption throughout India.

Kamran Rizvi, Secretary, Union Ministry of Heavy Industries, said, “With the PM E-DRIVE coming, the Phased Manufacturing Programme, the domestic value addition targets will be tweaked and amended so as to take advantage of our increased capability, and so that we become a truly a world leader in electric mobility technology.

Underlining the FAME II scheme as among the most transformative policies in India and noting that the electric three-wheeler industry was almost zero three years ago, FICCI President and Group CEO & MD, Mahindra Group, Dr Anish Shah, said, “Now, the industry has gone from zero to 20 percent, and we expect this to reach 100 percent in the next five years.”

Stressing the need for innovation, R&D and technology enhancements to maintain global competitiveness, Vikrampati Singhania, Vice President, ACMA and MD & Director, J K Fenner India, said, "The EV and autonomous vehicle market demands precision and advanced components. Investing in R&D, localisation and collaborations with startups and tech leaders will keep our industry at the forefront.”

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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.

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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.”

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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."

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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."

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