The lithium-ion batteries are at the heart of the transition from fossil-fuelled vehicles towards cleaner alternate powertrain options, but fundamental supply chain changes are needed to eliminate widespread forced labour and child labour abuses.

A recent research by AI supply chain risk platform Infyos has identified that companies accounting for 75 percent of the global battery market have connections to one or more companies in the supply chain facing allegations of severe human rights abuses. Most major battery manufacturers and end batteries applications are exposed including many of the world’s largest automotive, energy storage and electronics brands.

This new industry data is compiled from evidence on Infyos’ AI supply chain risk platform using thousands of government datasets, NGO reports, news articles and social media sources. 

Infyos’ AI technology is developed specifically for the battery industry to automate the gathering, cleansing and classification of unstructured data to identify and assign confidence ratings to allegations of human rights abuses with accuracy and speed that previously was not possible.

The AI-driven platform claims it is working with some of the world’s largest renewable energy and automotive companies to combine open-source data with additional proprietary data sources to identify which companies a customer may be connected to across the supply chain and where there is exposure to or allegations of human rights abuses.

Tony To, Co-founder & CTO, Infyos said: “Our platform is designed to provide users with insights into the complexities of the battery supply chain so they can take proactive measures to identify and mitigate risks. By leveraging AI in our technology we’ve created a system that delivers accurate data despite the complexity of the battery industry and most importantly provides users with simple actionable mitigations to collaborate with their suppliers to address risks and improve the sustainability of the industry.”
The report finds that widespread human rights abuses identified range from people being forced to work in lithium refining facilities under the threat of no or minimal pay to five-year-old children mining cobalt materials out of the ground in hazardous conditions. Severe human rights incidents are occurring globally, especially in resource-rich countries with fragile and corrupt governments like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Madagascar.

However, most of the allegations of severe human rights abuses involve companies who are mining and refining raw materials in China that end up in batteries around the world, particularly in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) in northwest China where the battery, automotive and solar industry has already been hit with public allegations of widespread forced labour from journalists, government agencies and non-profit organisations.

Complex supply chain

Electric vehicle and battery manufacturers have a complex supply chain, sometimes with over 10,000 suppliers across their network, from mines to chemical refineries and automotive manufacturers. Human rights abuses frequently occur upstream in the supply chain, notably at the raw material mining and refining stages, making it difficult for companies purchasing batteries to identify their supply chain risks.

The battery industry’s connections to these incidents stem from manufacturers sourcing components or materials from unethical companies in their supply chain network or entering business relationships, including joint ventures or equity investments hidden in complex and changing ownership structures, which conceals the reality of the unethical connections.

Sarah Montgomery, CEO & Co-Founder, Infyos added, “The relative opaqueness of battery supply chains and the complexity of supply chain legal requirements means current approaches like ESG audits are out of date and don’t comply with new regulations. Most battery manufacturers and their customers, including automotive companies and grid-scale battery energy storage developers, still don’t have complete supply chain oversight.”
It is important to understand that sourcing is coming under growing scrutiny, particularly in Europe and the US, where failure to address the issues means companies could be in breach of current and future regulations. 

This is damaging the battery industry’s clean credentials and hampering investment into the global battery market forecast to be worth nearly $500 billion (INR 41,655 billion) in 2030. With more legislation such as the EU Battery Regulation and the US’s Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act (UFLPA) being phased in, action must be taken now so companies can still sell their products.

Jeff Williamson, Head of Sustainability, Infyos said: “Companies manufacturing or purchasing batteries are at risk of having their products blocked at the market, further delaying and increasing the costs of renewable energy projects or tarnishing their reputation because of human rights risks.”

The UFLPA prohibits the import of goods made with forced labour in the Xinjiang region of China. The penalties for non-compliance can be extreme: earlier this year inspectors blocked vehicles they found to violate the regulations. The US Senate Finance Committee Chair has accused automotive manufacturers of ‘sticking their heads in the sand’ over forced labour in their supply chains and a subsequent report recommended that the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection take further measures to strength enforcement of the forced labour ban in automotive supply chains, including placing CATL – the world’s largest battery cell manufacturer – on a list of companies banned due to their connection to forced labour. Europe is following suit with its forced labour ban while a proposal has been submitted to increase the fines for non-compliance with the UK’s Modern Slavery Act to 4 percent of global annual turnover.

Sarah Montgomery, CEO & Co-Founder, Infyos said: “We have already seen how forced labour incidents in supply chains for the solar industry have blocked the largest solar suppliers from the US market and slowed down the transition to clean energy: as the battery industry faces the paradigm shift to electrification, the lessons learnt in solar must be applied to the battery industry if the energy transition is to stay on track.”

Battery-specific regulations within Europe are becoming more stringent too. New EU Battery Regulations coming into effect between 2024 and 2036 require much more rigorous supply chain visibility and risk management starting in 2025 with non-compliance leading to products being blocked from the European market. These pressing supply chain requirements, which many in the industry are struggling to comply with, are foundational to the much-talked-about battery passports in 2027. The UFLPA and EU Battery Regulation are widely seen as the battery industry gold standard due to their strict requirements on due diligence and supply chain visibility, and many companies operating outside of the regions are voluntarily aiming to meet their requirements.

By addressing issues within their supply chain, companies not only continue to have a licence to operate and avoid costly fines but can also actively grow their business: Research from PwC found that 89 percent of institutional investors are considering or have already rejected investments in firms with ESG shortcomings. Additional human rights pressure is coming from investors, who are now mandating deeper supply chain risk management and visibility as a condition of lending or investment to minimise their own financial risk. While financial and regulatory pressures are increasing awareness of human rights abuses in battery supply chains, more industry action to address human rights abuses is needed to drive battery applications forward and ensure 2050 net-zero emissions targets don’t face total failure.

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Ohme has announced a new integration with Volkswagen Group Info Services AG, promising easier, smarter and more affordable home charging for electric vehicle drivers across six Volkswagen Group brands. The collaboration extends Ohme’s existing partnership with the Group in UK and Ireland, now offering a dedicated official application programming interface for all Ohme users.

This development allows EV owners to pair their vehicles directly with Ohme home chargers and access near real time readings of the car’s state of charge. Eligible models include those from Volkswagen, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Škoda, SEAT, CUPRA and Audi, ensuring broad coverage across the Group’s portfolio.

Already, more than 100,000 Volkswagen Group customers throughout Europe rely on Ohme to manage home charging. With the new system, these drivers will see their vehicle’s battery status displayed directly in the Ohme app, removing guesswork from the charging process and providing enhanced clarity regarding energy consumption and associated costs.

Lasse Schmidt van Hülst, Lead Sales & Key Account Management, Volkswagen Group Info Services, said, “We’re excited that Ohme is applying Volkswagen Group Charging Data to enhance its charging services. As home electricity tariffs across Europe become smarter and more dynamic, Ohme’s expertise and software means this new integration with Volkswagen Group Info Services AG comes at the perfect time for EV drivers.”

Peter McDonald from Ohme said, “We’re genuinely proud to be extending our partnership with Volkswagen Group Info Services AG in this way. Having direct access to the vehicle state of charge data means our customers get a truly hassle-free charging experience – the app does the hard work, automatically finding the cheapest times to charge. It’s a real statement of where Ohme is heading and underlines its commitment to giving EV drivers the best possible experience.”

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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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