Bengaluru-based electric vehicle battery swapping company Sun Mobility and its joint venture partner Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL), one of the leading oil marketing company in India have appointed Anant Badjatya as the CEO of their newly formed joint venture, Indofast Swap Energy.   

This strategic move follows the landmark deal signed by IOCL and Sun Mobility in June 2024 to establish one of India's largest battery-swapping networks by 2030. 

Badjatya, who has over 20 years of experience in the energy and automotive sectors, was till recently leading Sun Mobility as its CEO; and will now lead Indofast Energy's efforts to establish an extensive battery-swapping network by bringing together the might of Indian Oil’s network of over 37,000 fuel stations across India, with Sun Mobility’s battery swapping technology.  

Indofast Swap Energy, with its Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) model will offer electric two- and three-wheeler owners affordable mobility options, eliminating range anxiety and long charging times.

Anant Badjatya, CEO, Indofast Swap Energy said, “We would like to be synonymous with India’s mobility revolution and a household name for two- and three-wheeler customers. Our offering of innovative technology with extensive infrastructure is unparalleled and underscores our resolve to provide a practical, accessible, and eco-friendly solution to all.”

The establishment of Indofast Swap Energy aligns with India's broader goals for sustainable development and supports the government's push towards increased adoption of electric vehicles. As part of this commitment, IOCL and Sun Mobility are focused on enhancing battery management systems and charging infrastructure across the country.

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Vietnamese conglomerate Vingroup has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to invest USD 6.5 billion in Maharashtra over the next two years said media reports.

The agreement, signed with the state industries department and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), covers sectors including electric mobility, renewable energy, tourism and infrastructure.

The investment is planned across 5,000 acres in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and other locations. The project is expected to generate approximately 24,700 direct jobs.

Key components of the investment include:

Smart Townships: An integrated, eco-friendly township spanning 2,700 acres designed for a population of two lakh.

Electric Mobility: Launch of electric taxi services and a mobility-as-a-service platform, supported by a statewide EV charging network.

Renewable Energy: Development of a 500 MW solar power project.

Tourism and Entertainment: A theme park, zoo, and safari project set across 865 acres.

Social Infrastructure: Establishment of international schools and multi-speciality hospitals.

The state government highlighted that advanced interconnectivity and scalable bandwidth in data centres will assist in the implementation of government schemes. These technical improvements are intended to prevent system failures during periods of heavy online traffic, particularly for agricultural and public application processes.

Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, said, "It is a matter of pride that Vingroup has chosen Maharashtra at a time when the state is witnessing rapid growth. Mumbai and the Raigad region are poised to emerge among the most dynamic urban clusters globally. The investment by the Vietnamese conglomerate would accelerate sustainable development, green energy adoption, modern infrastructure and dynamic mobility systems in the state."

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French automotive major Renault Group has announced the unification of its electric vehicle charging activities and related services under the single brand name – Plug Inn. Replacing the previous operations managed under Mobilize Beyond Automotive, the new brand is intended to simplify the Group's charging ecosystem as electric mobility scales across Europe.

The consolidation brings three core divisions under the new banner:

• Plug Inn Fast Charge: An ultra-fast charging network featuring stations with power outputs up to 320 kW.
• Plug Inn Powerbox: A bidirectional charging solution integrated with vehicle-to-grid (V2G) services.
• Plug Inn Charge Pass: A payment solution providing access to charging infrastructure throughout Europe.

The name change commences with fast-charging stations in France this April, with other services transitioning by the end of the year.

The network currently allows compatible vehicles to recover 400 km of range in approximately 15 minutes. Renault Group has set a target to operate 93 stations by end-2026. These stations are primarily located at Renault dealerships near major road axes and are accessible to electric vehicles from all manufacturers.

Facilities at these sites include 24x7 maintenance, Plug & Charge compatibility and selected premium lounges equipped with Wi-Fi and workspaces. The Group reports a network reliability rate exceeding 99 percent.

Jerome Faton, VP Customer Experience & Energy, Renault Group, said, “Our priority is to simplify every step of the electric experience for our customers by offering them a reliable, clear and scalable charging ecosystem. With Plug Inn, we are setting a structuring milestone: an infrastructure designed to support, on a large scale, the ramp-up of zero-emission mobility in Europe. Beyond a change of name, Plug Inn embodies a strong industrial and technological ambition: to create a reference standard, harmonise the charging experience, and support the acceleration of electric vehicles by focusing on service quality, transparency and trust. This is how we will help make the transition to all-electric mobility a simple, seamless and accessible reality for everyone.”

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Trev Mobility, an electric vehicle (EV) mobility platform, has raised INR 36.5 million in an angel funding round from its existing user base. The company intends to utilise the capital to increase its vehicle fleet and scale operations across the Delhi-NCR region, including Gurgaon, Noida, Faridabad and Ghaziabad.

Launched in January 2024, the platform operates a fleet of 100 EVs featuring models from BYD and MG Motor. The company provides services for airport transfers, rentals and outstation travel, reporting that 75 percent of bookings are processed through its mobile application.

It has completed over 45,000 trips, with a claimed 55-60 percent repeat user rate. Its all-electric vehicle fleet focusses on premium chauffeur services.

The start-up has also integrated AI-powered dashcams for in-ride security and driver accountability.

The funding follows a period of growth in India's electric mobility sector. Trev Mobility positions itself at the intersection of luxury and accessibility, focusing on vehicle maintenance and hospitality standards. The company's strategy involves expanding into urban use cases as national EV adoption increases.

Naveen Gupta, Founder, Trev Mobility, said, “Seeing our own customers invest in Trev is a powerful validation of the trust we’ve built and the experience we deliver every day. This funding allows us to double down on our core strengths – immaculately maintained vehicles, high standards of hospitality, and a reliable, premium ride experience. Our goal is to build a service that feels less like a cab and more like your own personal car. With 100 EVs now on the road, 4 cities covered, and 40,000 rides delivered, we are just getting started on our mission to make premium electric mobility accessible to every Indian commuter.”

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PeakAmp, a battery circularity and resource recovery firm, has entered into a partnership with Pacto Power to manage battery waste across its operations. The agreement focuses on the collection, logistics and recycling of units, alongside ensuring Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) compliance.

Under the terms of the partnership, PeakAmp serves as the exclusive partner for end-to-end battery waste movement. The collaboration aims to transition battery waste through authorised channels to improve material recovery and reduce leakage into informal networks.

The key areas of collaboration include establishing systems for the documented movement and disposal of battery waste for traceability. Second-life applications by developing uses for batteries beyond their initial vehicular or industrial lifespan. Research into new lithium-ion battery production.

The partnership reflects a shift in the sector towards integrating traceability into waste management systems as battery volumes increase.

Aditya Sudhanshu, Co-Founder & COO, PeakAmp, said, “As battery usage continues to grow, it becomes important to manage battery waste in a responsible and compliant way. Our partnership with Pacto Power helps us ensure smooth collection, recycling, and compliance management across the entire battery lifecycle. We look forward to building a more transparent and efficient battery waste ecosystem together.”

Manoj Kushwaha, Director, Pacto Power, added, “Partnering with PeakAmp marks an important step in strengthening our commitment to responsible and compliant battery lifecycle management. As we continue to scale our operations, ensuring proper handling of battery waste and meeting EPR obligations becomes critical. PeakAmp’s structured approach to collection, recycling, and compliance will help us build a more transparent, efficient, and sustainable system. We also see strong potential in collaborating on second-life applications and advancing lithium-ion battery innovation together.”

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