Bengaluru-based electric vehicle maker Ola Electric has launched the S1Z e-scooter line, introducing the company's indigenously developed 46 series Bharat Cell lithium iron phosphate (LFP) technology to the vehicle market.

The battery cells are developed at Ola’s Battery Innovation Centre and manufactured at the Ola Gigafactory.

The e-scooter is offered in two battery capacity options: a 3.1 kWh variant priced at an introductory INR 79,999 and a 5.1 kWh variant listed at INR 99,999 ex-showroom. The 3.1 kWh model has a claimed certified range of up to 179 kilometres, while the 5.1 kWh configuration provides up to 301 kilometres.

The S1Z runs on 12-inch wheels, operates on the MoveOS 5 software platform and includes features such as cruise control, regenerative braking, reverse mode, GPS tracking and over-the-air (OTA) updates.

It will also serve as the initial vehicle line distributed through Ola Electric's newly established dealer-operated store network alongside its direct-to-consumer locations. Deliveries for the 3.1 kWh model will begin in December 2026, followed by the 5.1 kWh model in March 2027.

Bhavish Aggarwal, Chairman and Managing Director, Ola Electric, said, "The true measure of innovation of our indigenous Bharat Cell LFP technology is how quickly it reaches everyday Indians. The S1Z delivers on that promise. It is the first scooter range to bring our made-in-India LFP technology to the heart of the market, where millions of customers make their mobility decisions. We believe affordability shouldn’t mean settling for less. As we continue building India's EV ecosystem from cell to vehicle, products like the S1Z will play a critical role in taking our mission of bringing EVs to every Indian household."

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Mumbai-headquartered automotive major Mahindra & Mahindra has expanded its Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) programme across its complete Electric Origin SUV range, making the scheme available on the BE 6 Sporteq, XEV 9S and XEV 9e models.

The BaaS model was first introduced with the BE 6 SPORTEQ, which separates vehicle and battery financing through a dual-loan arrangement. Under the scheme, customers acquire the electric vehicle and finance the battery unit separately, lowering the upfront purchase price.

For the BE 6 Sporteq BaaS model, the pricing starts at INR 1.14 million, with battery financing calculated at an effective usage cost of INR 3.75 per kilometre based on daily mileage assumptions. Following the initial response, Mahindra extended the service across all trim levels of the BE 6 Sporteq while adding the program to its higher-tier SUV models.

Under the expanded scheme, entry pricing for the XEV 9S stands at INR 1.26 million, while the XEV 9e starts at INR 1.39 million. Both EVs share the battery financing rate of INR 3.75 rupees per kilometre.

The dual-loan financing product is provided through third-party financial institutions for personal vehicle registrations. The structure requires a battery loan EMI with total figures varying according to battery capacity, down payment, loan tenure and local taxes.

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New Delhi-based electric commercial vehicle manufacturer Omega Seiki Mobility has raised an additional INR 500 million in funding co-led by Abhishek Misra of SKG Asset Management and SKG Fund, alongside Unistone Capital, Sanjeev Agarwal Family Office and Brijesh Parekh Family Office.

The capital expansion follows a separate INR 500 million fundraise earlier in the month from Securocorp Securities, Sangeeta Pareekh, Saket Aggarwal Family Office and Vanshika Sharma.

Omega Seiki Mobility aims to utilise the capital towards increasing manufacturing capacity, research and development, dealer network expansion and the release of new vehicle models.

Uday Narang, Founder and Chairman, Omega Seiki Mobility, said, “This fundraise marks a significant milestone for Omega Seiki Mobility as we move into the next phase of our growth journey. The confidence shown by our investors strongly validates our vision, execution capabilities, and long-term strategy. Over the past eight years, we have built the company on a foundation of manufacturing excellence, innovation, and financial discipline. We remain focused on building scalable electric mobility solutions that create long-term value for our customers, partners, and investors.”

Omega Seiki Mobility plans to expand its operational footprint from 150 current touchpoints in India to 250 locations by FY2028, while evaluating international expansion into markets including Africa.

The expansion strategy involves broadening its vehicle portfolio beyond cargo three-wheelers into passenger mobility, electric two-wheelers and light commercial vehicles as it evaluates options for an initial public offering.

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Israel-headquartered battery technology company Addionics has published research detailing the performance of its Smart 3D Porous Current Collectors in low-temperature operating environments.

The company examined transport limitations within lithium-ion cells when exposed to sub-zero temperatures. Under cold conditions, electrolyte viscosity increases, ionic conductivity falls and solid-state diffusion slows, leading to increased cell polarisation and lithium plating during charge cycles. Standard dense current collectors restrict ionic access to the separator side of the electrode, causing non-uniform reactions and unaccessed active material.

On the other hand, Addionics' porous current collector design introduces pathways through the collector plane, shortening the transport distance for lithium ions and distributing electrochemical activity throughout the electrode volume.

The company’s testing conducted on cylindrical cells at -10 degrees Celsius showed that cells incorporating the 3D porous current collectors retained higher capacity at 1C and 2C discharge rates compared to reference cells using standard current collectors. The test results indicated that cells featuring the porous architecture at -10 degrees Celsius achieved discharge performance comparable to conventional cells operating at 0 degrees Celsius. During repeated charge cycles at 0 degrees Celsius, the modified cells maintained higher cycle stability, whereas standard cells showed degradation linked to lithium plating.

The structural modification does not alter the underlying chemistry of the electrolyte or active materials. Instead, it addresses transport limitations within the cell structure to widen the functional operating temperature range for electric vehicles, heavy transport, defence equipment, aviation and space platforms.

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Hyundai Motor India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has partnered with Jio-bp, a joint venture between Reliance Industries and bp, to integrate their electric vehicle charging networks across India.

Under the agreement, Jio-bp's network of over 7,000 charging points across 300 cities will integrate into the myHyundai mobile application. The integration increases the total charging locations accessible via the app from 30,000 to over 37,000 points. The myHyundai application remains open to owners of all electric vehicle brands.

In turn, Hyundai Motor India's 183 operational direct-current fast-charging stations, alongside planned installations, will be added to the Jio-bp pulse charge pro application.

Jio-bp operates direct-current fast chargers with capacities between 60 kW and 480 kW along national highways and urban hubs, maintaining a claimed network uptime rate of 96 percent. Hyundai Motor India plans to expand its proprietary fast-charging footprint to 600 stations by 2030.

Hyun Sup Lee, Executive Director and Function Head of Corporate Planning at Hyundai Motor India, said, “At HMIL, our vision is to provide customers with a holistic and worry-free electric mobility experience. As we continue to expand our EV product line-up in India, we are witnessing a shift in customer concerns from range anxiety to charging anxiety, underscoring the growing importance of accessible, reliable, and convenient charging infrastructure. This partnership with Jio-bp pulse marks another significant step towards strengthening the EV ecosystem in India by enhancing charging accessibility and convenience for our customers. Through the integration of our charging networks, we are simplifying the charging journey and enabling Hyundai EV owners to access a wider network of reliable charging solutions through the myHyundai app. Together, we remain committed to accelerating the adoption of sustainable mobility and delivering greater value to EV users. Additionally, HMIL and Jio-bp pulse will explore opportunities to introduce customer-centric offers in the future, further enhancing the ownership experience for EV customers.”

Sarthak Behuria, Chairman, Jio-bp, said, “India's shift to electric mobility depends on building trust at scale. Our partnership with Hyundai Motor India reflects that shared conviction. By bringing our nationwide network and high-performance charging infrastructure to Hyundai, we are not just adding charging points, we are building that trust together. This collaboration marks a meaningful step in our broader vision to make clean mobility accessible, dependable, and future-ready for every Indian on the road."

Akshay Wadhwa, CEO, Jio-bp, said, “For EV owners, range anxiety is often not just about charger availability, but about knowing whether the next charger will be operational. That’s where Jio-bp pulse comes in, with high-uptime charging stations and fast-charging technology designed to deliver a reliable and fast charging experience. Together with Hyundai, we are making it easier for customers to access this network directly through the app. We are excited to give EV owners a charging experience that matches the quality of the vehicles they drive."

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