Like an IC engine automobile where the engine and the driveline make up the key aggregates, in EVs the key aggregates are the battery and the motor. While an IC engine may account for 23 to 30 percent of the total cost and the driveline component such as a gearbox, propeller shaft, transaxle or a differential may together cost another 15 to 20 percent of the total vehicle cost, in the case of an EV, it may not be that simple. 

It is therefore necessary to find out about the battery and motor replacement cost before buying an EV. A young Canadian owner – Kyle Hsu – of Hyundai Ioniq 5 was thrown out of his seat almost when he found out that the warranty was void on the battery pack of his one-year-old electric vehicle and it would cost him a little over $ 60,000 to replace it! The car was bought in 2022 for $ 56,000. 

Hsu was driving to the interior of British Columbia, according to the YouTube channel Motormouth which has highlighted the development, when he avoided something on the road. On the cautionary side, he dropped at the dealer to get the car checked after he returned from the trip. 

The battery cover underneath the e-car was founded to have been scratched. The dealer conveyed that the battery behind the cover had been impacted and should be replaced since it may explode. It was not repairable. 

Hsu took the help of the insurance company once he was told that it would cost over $ 60,000 to replace the battery. The insurance company told him that his vehicle IDV was less than the cost of replacing the battery. If he were to choose to replace the battery, the insurance costs were likely to go up by 50 percent despite his clean driving record. 

Responding to Motormouth, the Hyundai Canada PR Manager Jennifer Mcarthy is known to have said that it amounts to a very rare situation and Hyundai Canada’s customer experience team should have had the opportunity to access the situation prior to sharing of costing. 

The cost of battery replacement depends on the nature of the damage, type of battery and repairs required. There is no one set price for ever replacement while battery cost is a challenge for the business. Pricing strategy for batteries that is reasonable, fair and in line with market competitiveness is being worked on, Mcarthy is known to have expressed further.

In his column in The Guardian newspaper recently, actor and automobile enthusiast Rowan Atkinson stated that he loves electric vehicles and was an early adopter. He however felt increasingly duped. 

An electrical and electronic engineer by education, Atkinson is of the opinion that electric motoring does not seem to be quite the environmental panacea it is claimed to be. 

Stating that electric cars have zero exhaust emissions, which is a welcome development, particularly in respect of the air quality in city centres, Atkinson said in his column, if you zoom out a bit and look at a bigger picture that includes the car’s manufacture, the situation is very different. “The problem lies with the lithium-ion batteries fitted currently to nearly all electric vehicles: They’re absurdly heavy, huge amounts of energy are required to make them and they are estimated to last only upwards of 10 years,” he averred. 

Drawing attention to solid-state battery development, Atkinson expressed that if hydrogen wins the race to power trucks and as a result every filling station stocks it, it could be popular and accessible choice for cars. 

Till then, keeping the old petrol vehicle may be better than buying an EV since it costs far less to make and can last for 30 years with tender loving care. 

If the majority of the first owners would retain their vehicles for over five years, it would result in an amount of CO2 reduction brought about by new cars being put on the road. The entire chain of raw material selection to manufacture, to the end of the road has its share of carbon emissions. 

Though it may be better to reduce our reliance of IC engine vehicles, it would be worth considering that the existing vehicles have already paid their environmental dues – cost to the environment – during their manufacturing process. A lot of technological development has also made them far less polluting and reliable than they were a few years or decades ago. 

Also, the possibility of writing off a one-year-old EV because its battery replacement cost exceeds the vehicle purchase cost is countered by the engine, gearbox or a body part being repairable in case of an IC engine vehicle.

Many of you would also remember the head honchos of some auto companies in India saying that BS VI emission compliant vehicles will only emit water through the tailpipe and will be cleaner than the ambient air. 

The time is ripe to understand what is ‘actually’ environment friendly, an EV or an IC vehicle. The time is right to test and analyse if it the automobiles that are causing more pollution in Indian cities or there are other sources. An air filled with so much dust does not seem like the handiwork of automobiles rather than the gigantic civil projects that being worked on. 

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Pune-headquartered alternative energy vehicle manufacturer Blue Energy Motors (BEM) has launched its electric heavy-duty truck, which is equipped with battery swapping technology.

The truck was unveiled by the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, at Blue Energy Motors’ Chakan facility in Pune. Fadnavis also inaugurated, what is claimed to be India’s first electric corridor from Mumbai–Pune, which is the first step in a plan to electrify national highway corridors over the next three years.

What’s more, Blue Energy Motors has signed an MoU with the Maharashtra government to set up a new facility with a capacity of 30,000 trucks, backed by an investment of INR 35 billion. The automaker has received strong demand for its e-trucks and has signed MoUs for over 10,000 units.

The new e-truck is designed for Indian conditions and follows the success of Blue Energy Motors’ LNG-powered fleet. It features an unlimited range with battery swapping, the highest payload in its category and Advanced Mobility Intelligence. The launch also introduces India’s first Energy-as-a-Service model for heavy-duty trucks.

Devendra Fadnavis, said, “This launch showcases Maharashtra’s leadership in sustainable innovation. Blue Energy Motors’ Made-in-India Electric Truck with Battery Swapping Technology, along with the Mumbai–Pune corridor, India’s first highway to go electric aligns seamlessly with the nation’s vision for Atmanirbhar Bharat and for a greener, self-reliant future. I applaud their efforts in advancing both environmental sustainability and industrial growth”.

Anirudh Bhuwalka, Founder and Managing Director, Blue Energy Motors, said, “We believe that this is the beginning of the EV Revolution in India for heavy-duty trucks. Our electric truck delivers unlimited range through battery swapping, highest payload in its category and Advanced Mobility Intelligence for fleet reliability. The Mumbai–Pune corridor is the first step in building a nationwide network of sustainable logistics, driving India’s green freight future forward. With our Energy-as-a-Service model, we’re redefining fleet economics offering reduced upfront capital cost, lowest TCO with highest payload, minimal charging downtime and making it well-to-wheel green with renewable energy.”

Also read: Montra Electric Launches 55-Tonne Rhino E-Truck, Unveils Battery Swap Technology Too

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Bengaluru-based electric vehicle manufacturer Simple Energy has partnered with Amazon India and Flipkart to make its electric scooters available online.

The collaboration will allow customers to browse, book and receive doorstep delivery of its electric scooters, the Simple One Gen 1.5 and Simple OneS. The move is intended to simplify the buying journey and expand the company’s reach into Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.

Furthermore, Simple Energy is also offering discounts on both models as part of Amazon India’s Great Indian Festival and Flipkart’s Big Bang Diwali sale.

Customers can avail up to INR 16,434 off through various bank and card offers, including discounts on HDFC Bank and Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Cards on Amazon India’s Great Indian Festival.

While Flipkart customers can get a flat discount of INR 7,500 on the Simple One and INR 5,000 on the Simple OneS, with potential additional savings using SBI and Flipkart Axis Bank cards. A 12-month no-cost EMI option is also available.

Suhas Rajkumar, Founder & CEO, Simple Energy, said, “Diwali symbolises progress and new beginnings, making it the perfect moment to advance our mission of democratising electric mobility. Through our partnership with Amazon India and Flipkart, we are expanding our reach across India, including Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities and offering a seamless, tech-first purchase experience that makes EV ownership simpler and more accessible than ever.”

At present, Simple Energy operates 57 showrooms across India and plans to expand its retail operations to include 150 new stores and 200 service centres across the country by FY 2026.

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Kinetic Watts & Volts, the electric vehicle division of the Kinetic Group, has opened its first exclusive 3S dealership in Pune, India.

The new facility is spread across 1,400 sqft, is located at Tingre Nagar, Pune and is owned and operated by Ravindra Sharad Bhelke. Additionally, a dedicated 1,050 sqft service facility, ‘Kinetic Lab,’ has been set up nearby in Dhanori to ensure aftersales support.

Ajinkya Firodia, Vice-Chairman & Managing Director, Kinetic Watts & Volts, said, “This is a proud and defining moment for Kinetic as we inaugurate our first exclusive EV showroom in India. Pune has always been special to us, it’s where our legacy began and now, where our EV journey takes shape. This launch represents not just a retail milestone, but the beginning of a new chapter in accessible, aspirational, and sustainable electric mobility for India.”

The new Kinetic EV range reimagines the iconic Kinetic DX as a family-friendly electric scooter. The line-up includes two variants: Kinetic DX and Kinetic ZX (formerly DX+).

Both models are powered by a 2.6 kWh Range-X LFP battery, which the company states offers up to four times longer life than NMC-based scooters.

The Kinetic DX is priced at INR 111,499 (ex-showroom, Pune) and Kinetic ZX (formerly DX+) is priced at INR 117,499 (ex-showroom, Pune).

Key features of the scooters include K-Coast regenerative braking, reverse assist and hill-hold assist, along with three ride modes: Range, Power, and Turbo. The ZX variant adds smart connectivity via the Telekinetic app, which provides real-time ride data, geo-fencing and intruder alerts. It also includes My Kiney Voice Alerts and a Kinetic Assist switch for CRM connection.

Ravindra Bhelke, Dealer Principal, Kinetic EV Vishrantwadi, said, “Becoming the first Kinetic EV dealer in India is both an honour and a responsibility. I have grown up seeing the trust people have in the Kinetic name, and now I am proud to bring its electric future to Pune. With this showroom and our dedicated service centre, our goal is to give every customer a premium, transparent and reliable experience, whether they are buying their first EV or upgrading from a traditional scooter.”

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Oben Electric, an Indian electric motorcycle manufacturer, has announced plans to expand its presence in Gujarat with 10 new showrooms and service centres set to open in 2026. The expansion will cover Ahmedabad and other cities including Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot and Jamnagar.

At present, the company operates a showroom and an Oben Care service centre in Memnagar, Ahmedabad. The expansion follows the response to the company’s city commuter model, the Rorr EZ Sigma.

Sagar Thakkar, Co-Founder & CPO, Oben Electric, said, "The positive response we have received for Rorr EZ Sigma reinforces our belief that urban commuting is evolving towards electric motorcycles designed to meet the needs of daily commuters. Rorr EZ Sigma delivers effortless performance and the right balance of power, practicality, and connectivity for everyday riding. The encouraging response from customers in Gujarat has further strengthened our commitment to expand across key cities like Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot and Jamnagar, as we work towards making EV motorcycles more accessible for riders across the country.”

The Rorr EZ Sigma priced from INR 129,000, is available in 3.4 kWh and 4.4 kWh variants. Key features include – up to 175km range, top speed of 95 kmph, three ride modes – Eco, City, and Havoc. It uses the company’s patented LFP battery that is claimed to provide 50 percent higher heat resistance and a 2x lifecycle. It also gets features like reverse mode and a 5-inch TFT display with navigation and smart alerts.

At present, Oben Electric has over 50 showrooms nationwide and aims to reach 150 showrooms and service centres by the end of the fiscal year.

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