Montra Electric’s e-SCV Division, Tivolt Electric Vehicles has inked a strategic collaboration with Steam-A. The understanding will see the OEM integrate Steam-A’s Iris EV charging management suite into Powerdock its EV charging network.

This will enable a seamless and reliable charging operation for Montra Electric, where it will leverage advanced software to get real-time operational insight, AI-driven predictive maintenance and seamless EV roaming capabilities. Steam-A will bring to the table AI-enabled predictive failure management system, which will maximise charger uptime and network availability.

A standout feature of Iris is its industry-first AI-enabled predictive failure management system, seamlessly integrated with a comprehensive asset and workflow management suite. This innovation significantly reduces operational costs while maximizing charger uptime and network availability. Additionally, the platform delivers deep analytical insights into network performance, facilitating continuous service enhancements and business growth.

Saju Nair, Chief Executive Officer, Tivolt Electric Vehicles, said, “We are excited to join hands with Steam-A. Our vision at Montra Electric is to drive electrification in commercial logistics and empower customers to transition to electric mobility with confidence. By integrating Steam-A’s Iris platform into our Powerdock network, we are strengthening our commitment to innovation and customer-first solutions. This collaboration will drive greater EV adoption while delivering a seamless and effortless experience for our customers.”

Vishwanath Surendiran, Co-Founder, Steam-A, said, “We are thrilled to partner with Montra Electric on their journey of making mobility more sustainable. Earning the trust of such a longstanding organization fills us with pride and a heightened sense of responsibility. We will go all out to deliver industry-leading standards of reliability and customer experience.”

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  - Rathi Raj March 24, 2025 10:11 AM

  We’re grateful to be featured on Motoring Trends and are excited to showcase how Steam-A’s Iris Suite is transforming EV charging infrastructure management. Want to discover how our platform can transform your EV operations? Learn more: https://bit.ly/iris_steam_A

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ChargeZone and TATA.ev have launched a co-branded Mega Charging Hub on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway, featuring a total capacity of 720 kW. Located at the Khalapur food mall, the facility is designed to support high-speed intercity travel on one of India’s busiest highway corridors.

The hub is the 75th installation under a strategic partnership between ChargeZone and TATA.ev, which aims to deploy over 100 such hubs across the country’s national highways. The Khalapur hub is one of the most powerful public charging installations in India, engineered to minimise wait times during peak travel hours. The facility can charge up to 10 electric vehicles at once. It features five dispensers with 10 charging points. In Boost Mode, it can deliver up to 360 kW for ultra-fast charging.

This launch contributes to ChargeZone’s national footprint of over 15,000 charging points. By positioning the hub at the Khalapur Food Mall, the partners aim to integrate vehicle charging into the existing travel routine.

EV Users will get access to diverse dining options, restrooms and retail facilities while their vehicles charge. TATA.ev customers are eligible for a 25 percent discount on charging tariffs at this station. The hub is open to all EV owners, supporting a wider ecosystem under TATA.ev’s ‘Open Collaboration 2.0’ framework.

Kartikey Hariyani, Founder & CEO, ChargeZone, said, “Highway charging is the backbone of intercity electrification, and that backbone needs to be built at scale and built right. The launch of the Mega Charging hub at Khalapur marks a significant milestone in our journey to build a high-power, future-ready EV charging network across India. With a 720 kW capacity, this installation sets a new benchmark for public charging infrastructure in the country. Our focus is on enabling fast, reliable, and seamless intercity EV travel, and this partnership with Tata.ev is a strong step in that direction as we scale across strategic national corridors.”

Vivek Srivatsa, Chief Commercial Officer, Tata Passenger Electric Mobility, added, “As leaders of India’s 4-wheeler electric revolution, at TATA.ev, we are striving to co-create a charging network that is fast, reliable, and accessible. With over 200 active TATA.ev Mega Charging Hubs live across the country, the launch of this new hub with ChargeZone at the Khalapur Food Mall – one of the most frequented pit-stops on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway – marks a key milestone in enabling seamless intercity travel for EV owners. We are confident that collaborations like these will play a defining role in making long-distance EV journeys dependable and convenient.”

The initiative is part of a broader mission by TATA.ev to introduce 500 Mega Charging Hubs and over 400,000 charging points by 2027. By focusing on high-speed corridors like the Mumbai–Pune Expressway, the collaboration seeks to eliminate range anxiety and accelerate the adoption of electric passenger vehicles in India.

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Pune-headquartered two-wheeler and three-wheeler major Bajaj Auto has announced a comprehensive overhaul of its Chetak electric scooter lineup, introducing a new ‘C Series’ nomenclature and integrating premium features like Google Maps as standard on its flagship models.

The portfolio is now categorised into three distinct tiers: C 35, C 30 and C 25, with the numbers corresponding to battery capacity (e.g., 3.5 kWh, 3.0 kWh and 2.5 kWh). This strategic move aims to simplify the range while elevating the technological standards of the ‘Fully Lifeproof’ brand.

Bajaj Auto has responded to consumer demand for higher speeds by increasing the top speed across the entire range. The C 35 Series top speed has increased from 73 kmph to 80 kmph, while motor output has also been bumped from 4.5 kW to 4.8 kW.

Similarly, C 30 Series top speed has increased from 63 kmph to 70 kmph. C 25 Series top speed increased from 55 kmph to 60 kmph.

Furthermore, the charging time on the C 30 01 sees a significant reduction in zero to 80 percent, which now takes 2 hours and 55 minutes as compared to approximately 4 hours earlier.

The highlight of the MY 2026 upgrade is the deep integration of navigation and software support. Based on user feedback, Bajaj Auto has integrated Google Maps for a more intuitive navigation experience.

Ride Modes (Sports and Eco) and Hill Hold Assist, which were previously part of the paid ‘TecPac’ add-on, are now standard across the C 35 and C 30 series.

The C 35 models now support Over-the-Air (OTA) updates, allowing for remote performance optimisations and feature additions without visiting a service centre.

Eric Vas, President, Urbanite Business at Bajaj Auto, said, "With the flagship C 35 01, we are delivering the full extent of these advancements — combining stronger performance, more intuitive connectivity through Google Maps, and the added convenience of riding modes and hill-hold now offered as built-in features."

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Hyundai Motor India Limited has introduced the updated IONIQ 5, featuring a larger battery pack and a suite of technological upgrades designed to extend the vehicle's driving range and functional capabilities.

The new Hyundai IONIQ 5 is priced at an ex-showroom rate of INR 5.57 million and is available in four colour options – Gravity Gold Matte, Midnight Black Pearl, Titan Grey and Optic White – all featuring an Obsidian Black interior theme.

The updated model is now equipped with an 84.0 kWh battery, providing an ARAI-certified range of 690 km on a single charge. This update focuses on reducing range anxiety for long-distance travel while maintaining the vehicle's position on the Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP).

The updated IONIQ 5 introduces several first-time features for the model in the Indian market, including a Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) and Controller Over-the-Air (C-OTA) updates, which allow for seamless software improvements. It now supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

A new in-car payment system enables users to pay for electric vehicle charging directly through the infotainment screen. The EV receives redesigned front and rear bumpers, a new rear spoiler and updated alloy wheels to enhance its aerodynamic profile.

On the inside, the cabin features a redesigned centre console with physical controls for ventilated seats and a revised wireless charging pad location for improved accessibility.

Hyundai has expanded the vehicle's safety suite with the addition of Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist – Rear (PCA-R) and Side Parking Distance Warning (PDW). These features complement the existing safety architecture to provide better protection during low-speed manoeuvres.

Tarun Garg, Managing Director & CEO, Hyundai Motor India, said, “With the introduction of the new Hyundai IONIQ 5, we are building on this strong foundation by offering meaningful product upgrades that enhance driving range, technology and everyday convenience. These enhancements further strengthen the IONIQ 5’s appeal as a premium, future ready electric SUV.”

The vehicle continues to support ultra-fast charging capabilities, consistent with its E-GMP architecture, aimed at the premium electric SUV segment in India.

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Montra Electric, the EV arm of the Murugappa Group, has expanded its electric small commercial vehicle (eSCV) portfolio with the launch of two new variants of the Eviator.

The company stated that by leveraging over 6.5 million kilometres of data from its existing fleet, it is shifting away from product standardisation toward a duty-cycle-led strategy, allowing fleet operators to select battery configurations based on specific operational needs.

The new line-up introduces two distinct performance profiles alongside the existing 40kWh model:

• Eviator 350 (32kWh): Dubbed the ‘Last Mile Champion,’ this variant is designed for high-efficiency urban runs of up to 140 km daily. It offers a more accessible entry price of INR 1.45 million while maintaining the brand's 99 percent uptime benchmark.
• Eviator 350L+ (50kWh): Positioned as the ‘Marathon Runner,’ this variant features a category-leading certified range of claimed over 300 km (200+ km real-world). Priced at INR 1.68 million, it is intended for inter-city logistics and power-intensive applications such as refrigerated transport and municipal services.

This expansion follows the success of the Eviator 350L, which secured a 30 percent market share in the 3.5-tonne segment within 11 months of its 2025 debut. The new variants make the Eviator the only eSCV platform in India to offer three distinct battery configurations (32kWh, 40kWh and 50kWh), enabling precise matching of vehicle energy to specific business use cases.

Jalaj Gupta, Managing Director, Montra Electric, said, “The next phase of EV adoption will not be driven by products alone, but by how intelligently they fit into real-world operations. We have leveraged over 65 lakh kilometers of fleet data to understand how different businesses use their vehicles. This has enabled us to move towards a duty-cycle-driven product strategy, delivering complete business solutions where customers can choose configurations that directly improve uptime, efficiency, and return on investment.”

Saju Nair, CEO, Montra Electric (e-SCV Division), added, “With the introduction of these new variants, we are expanding the platform to address a wider spectrum of logistics needs, from last-mile efficiency to long-haul consistency. This enables fleet operators to deploy EVs with greater precision, unlock new use cases, and improve overall fleet economics.”

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