Messe Frankfurt India to Host E-Mobility India Forum

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E-Mobility India Forum powered by NGV India Summit is gearing up for its second edition on 29 and 30 September 2022 at Le Meridien, New Delhi.

Organised by Messe Frankfurt India, the conference will discuss topics concerning adoption and promotion of e-mobility, infrastructural requirements as well as highlight upcoming advancements in the EV sector, according to a press release.

Raj Manek, Executive Director and Board Member, Messe Frankfurt Asia Holdings Ltd, said, “The transition to e-mobility is already ensuing and factors such as component localisation, charging infrastructure, standardised safety processes will fast-pace this shift and create new business models and opportunities across the automotive eco-system.”

Through E-Mobility India Forum, the organiser aims to bring stakeholders together to spark crucial discussions, refine strategies and outline the roadmap for the EV sector in India. Distinguished industry experts, C-suite executives and leaders of top EV brands have confirmed to be part of E-Mobility India Forum’s panel, including Akilur Rahman, Chief Technology Officer, Hitachi; Atul Arya, Head, Energy Systems Division, Panasonic; Anmol Singh Jaggi, Co-Founder and CEO, BluSmart Mobility; Kaushik Madhavan, Vice President, Mobility, South Asia, Frost & Sullivan; Hemal N Thakkar, Director, Transport, Logistics & Mobility, CRISIL, the release said.

The forum aims to bring forth some of the most crucial industry-focused topics, such as understanding consumer attitudes and perception towards EV adoption, localisation, developing charging infrastructure, new business models powered by EV ecosystem and discussion on safety concerns, standardisation and regulatory needs of EV industry as well as a detailed market overview and trend forecast.

In addition, the conference will provide a platform for e-mobility and automotive companies to present their innovative clean mobility products and solutions before the industry.

Opening on 29 September 2022, the forum will be held under the safety protocols of 'MFI SafeConnect’, developed by Messe Frankfurt India in accordance with government’s health and safety guidelines, which will provide a well-secured platform to converge and discuss the way forward for the Indian EV sector, the release added. (MT)

ChargeZone And Fresh Bus Partner To Deploy 400 Electric Buses

Freshbus - ChargeZone

EV charging network ChargeZone and inter-city bus operator Fresh Bus have announced an expansion of their commercial partnership. As per the agreement, Fresh Bus will deploy 400 additional electric buses operating on ChargeZone's charging infrastructure.

The expansion increases the fleet supported by ChargeZone infrastructure from 100 to 500 buses. The operations will cover 20 cities and 17 towns across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana over the next 15 months.

To support the fleet, ChargeZone will add 30 MW of charging capacity to its existing 10 MW dedicated infrastructure for Fresh Bus, bringing total capacity for the operator to 40 MW.

The installation forms part of ChargeZone’s target to add 200 MW of capacity across its network. The expanded operations are projected to supply 100 million units of energy annually and accommodate over 20,000 daily passenger trips.

Kartikey Hariyani, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, ChargeZone, said, "India's EV transition will not be driven by personal vehicles alone. Commercial mobility, particularly intercity public transport, can play a critical role in taking electrification to scale because these vehicles operate frequently, travel longer distances and depend on predictable infrastructure. Our partnership with Fresh Bus has shown that when charging capacity, uptime and energy availability are built around the needs of fleet operations, operators can scale electric mobility with greater confidence. This expansion is about taking that proven model to more routes and demonstrating how charging infrastructure can enable intercity public transport to electrify at scale."

Sudhakar Reddy, Founder, Fresh Bus, said, “When we started Fresh Bus, the biggest question wasn't whether passengers would choose electric intercity travel, it was whether the charging infrastructure could keep pace with a growing fleet running every day, across every corridor. Our partnership with ChargeZone has answered that question. The reliability of their network is what has allowed us to move from proving the model to scaling it with confidence. Expanding to 500 buses and 40 MW of dedicated charging capacity is not just a fleet decision, it's a statement that electric intercity travel can be dependable, affordable, and ready for the passengers. This is what public electric mobility in India should look like: comfortable for the commuter, sustainable for the planet, and built to scale.”

VinFast Details Autonomous Strategy And Global Expansion Plans

VinFast VF8

Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer VinFast recently outlined its driver-assistance technology roadmap, global supply chain strategy and financial targets during the Bloomberg Sustainable Business Summit.

Speaking at the event, Anne Pham, Head of International Capital Development at parent company Vingroup, detailed the automaker's phased approach to vehicle autonomy. VinFast's current vehicle lineup operates at Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), providing functions such as adaptive cruise control and lane-centering. The company plans to transition to Level 2+ and Level 2++ capabilities in upcoming vehicle generations, extending automated assistance features while maintaining driver supervision. Each phase of the software rollout will rely on real-world data validation prior to deployment.

Addressing international operations and supply chain management, Pham highlighted the company's regional manufacturing expansion outside Vietnam, including facilities built in India and Indonesia to serve as production and export bases.

“We have taken several steps to ensure that we are investing for the future,” said Pham.

Regarding trade dynamics and international market presence, Pham confirmed that the manufacturer's operational plans for North America remain active.

Pham said, “VinFast currently has sales in various parts of the world, including North America and the United States. Our U.S. sales plans remain on course.”

Commentary on global market conditions focused on energy sector fluctuations and regulatory policies as drivers for electric vehicle adoption rates.

Pham averred, “The transition to EVs has benefited not only from regulatory support around the world, but also from market volatility.”

On financial performance metrics and profitability targets, Pham indicated that the automaker expects its domestic operations to achieve profitability within three years.

Pham concluded, “We are on track to break even in Vietnam by 2027.”

Youdha Unveils Hand-Painted EPOD-Bharat Electric Three-Wheeler

Youdha EPOD-Bharat

Youdha has unveiled the EPOD-Bharat, a limited-edition hand-painted version of its L5 electric passenger three-wheeler. The electric three-wheeler was displayed at the Bharat Vyapar Mahotsav at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.

The exterior artwork draws inspiration from Warli art, featuring depictions of rural life, nature and community gatherings. The initiative combines traditional Indian art forms with commercial electric vehicle manufacturing.

The base EPOD vehicle is powered by a 6 kW motor generating 50 Nm of torque, paired with an 11.8 kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery pack. The powertrain delivers a certified range of up to 227 kilometres per charge and includes City and Boost driving modes. The chassis provides a 300 mm water-wading depth for operation across varied road conditions.

Priced from INR 320,000, the passenger three-wheeler targets self-employed drivers and commercial fleet operators. Production takes place at Youdha’s assembly plant in Kashipur, Uttarakhand, which maintains an annual manufacturing capacity of 100,000 units.

Ayush Lohia, Chief Executive Officer, Youdha, said, “EPOD-Bharat is our tribute to the spirit of Bharat and to the women and artisans whose creativity and resilience continue to shape our country. We wanted to bring traditional Indian art onto a modern electric mobility platform, creating a vehicle that represents both our heritage and our aspirations for the future.”

E3 Electric.Ai Opens First Experience Centre In Bengaluru

E3 Electric.Ai

Electric mobility startup E3 Electric.Ai has opened its first retail and service outlet in Koramangala, Bengaluru. The 2,500 square foot facility integrates sales, servicing and spare parts management within a single location.

The flagship centre displays the company's E3 Trion electric scooter range, comprising the C1, C1x and C2 models. The facility features interactive stations for customers to test vehicle software functions, including diagnostic systems, predictive telemetry tools, and IoT connectivity features. The location also includes public charging infrastructure through Type 7 DC fast chargers installed in collaboration with Kazam EV Tech.

Sanjeev P, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, E3 Electric.Ai, said, “An electric scooter is only as good as the ownership experience behind it. That’s exactly what we’ve built in Koramangala, a place where a customer can experience all three Trion variants, run the AI HEALTHSCAN themselves, charge their vehicle, and get it serviced, all in one visit. We didn’t want a showroom that just sells the Trion. We wanted a space that lets people feel the intelligence and engineering behind it. Starting in Bengaluru, on India’s 80th Independence Day, felt right. This is home ground for us, and it’s where we want every future dealership to be measured against.”

The Koramangala facility serves as the initial unit under the company's build-and-transfer retail framework. E3 Electric.Ai plans to establish six partner dealerships across Bengaluru and extend operations to Mysuru. The company aims to expand its retail network to 100 dealerships across more than 90 markets in India within the current financial year.