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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Swedish electric performance car brand Polestar has earned further acclaim for its innovative design philosophy. The Polestar 4 has secured the coveted Red Dot ‘Best of the Best’ award for 2025 in the Product Design category, celebrating its meticulous craftsmanship and bold design language. Both the Polestar 3 and Polestar 4 also received the Red Dot Label in the same category.

As one of the world's most prestigious design competitions, Red Dot acknowledged the Polestar 4's standout feature – its unconventional rear-windowless design – while praising its seamless fusion of coupe-like dynamism and SUV functionality. Additional design highlights include sleek frameless mirrors, distinctive dual-blade headlights and celestial-inspired ambient lighting, all contributing to its award-winning aesthetic. The ‘Best of the Best’ honour represents the highest Red Dot recognition, awarded only to groundbreaking designs that redefine industry benchmarks. An international jury of design experts rigorously assesses each entry through hands-on evaluation across multiple criteria.

This latest achievement builds on Polestar's strong Red Dot legacy, which includes prior "Best of the Best" wins for the Polestar 2, Brand of the Year distinction, and recognition for brand identity and design literature. These accolades reinforce Polestar's position as a leader in automotive design innovation.

“The Polestar 4 impressively succeeds in harmonising the technical complexity of such an advanced vehicle with design qualities such as simplicity and clarity,” remarked the jury.

Philipp Römers, Global Head of Design, Polestar, said, “This recognition is a testament to the dedication and passion of the Design Team here at Polestar. We are thrilled to see the work and commitment to distinctive design resonate with the jury.”

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Exicom Tele-Systems Limited, a leading Indian manufacturer of EV charging and critical power solutions, has successfully raised around INR 2.59 billion through its recently concluded Rights Issue. The offering, which saw strong oversubscription, highlights sustained investor confidence and robust promoter support.

The Rights Issue, open from 15 to 30 July 2025, allotted 1,814,000 fully paid-up equity shares at INR 143 per share in a 3:20 ratio for eligible shareholders as of the record date 7 July 2025. Promoters demonstrated their commitment by subscribing to approximately INR 1.20 billion, reinforcing their belief in Exicom’s future growth.

Proceeds will primarily strengthen the company’s financial position by reducing debt, with a target debt-to-equity ratio of 1:4 by FY26. The funds will also support global expansion efforts, including enhancing market presence in the US, Europe and Australia through Tritium, alongside covering general corporate expenses. This successful capital raise positions Exicom to accelerate its EV charging and energy solutions business while driving long-term value for stakeholders.

Anant Nahata, Managing Director and CEO, Exicom, said, “We are grateful to our shareholders for their continued trust in Exicom. The capital raised will strengthen our balance sheet and support our expansion, particularly in international markets through Tritium. While Tritium’s turnaround is taking time, we are in advanced discussions for several large global high-power charger deals that we believe can help change the course of the company. We will see this fully play out starting FY27. Back home, we remain strongly optimistic about the India opportunity, driven by the steady growth in EV adoption across the country. Our Harmony Direct 2.0 continues to gain traction, with early momentum translating into a strong sales pipeline. Meanwhile, Spin Air home chargers are securing consistent wins with leading OEMs, reinforcing trust in our technology and execution."

Shiraz Khanna, Chief Financial Officer, Exicom, said, "This Rights Issue marks an important step in enhancing our financial health. The capital raised will enable us to significantly reduce debt and support sustainable growth while maintaining prudent capital discipline."

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Bengaluru-based electric motorcycle maker Ultraviolette Automotive has expanded its presence across India with the launch of new experience centres in five cities – Madurai, Kolkata, Berhampore, Jaipur and Yelahanka (Bengaluru) – within a span of 72 hours. The company has also opened its second experience centre in Bengaluru, taking its total presence to 17 cities nationwide.

The rapid rollout is aimed at meeting growing demand for its F77 series, including the F77 SuperStreet and F77 MACH 2 models. These new ‘UV Space Stations’ will offer customers test rides, vehicle delivery, aftersales support and access to genuine spare parts.

Narayan Subramaniam, CEO and Co-Founder, Ultraviolette Automotive, said, Ultraviolette’s active expansion is not just about scaling but also about strategy and impact. With the opening of five new experience centres in a short span of 72 hours and launch of a second experience centre in Bengaluru today, we are delivering on our commitment to architect a scalable customer ecosystem with robust sales and aftersales facilities. Our launch in ten countries across Europe in June 2025 and the second phase of India expansion underscores the agility of our operational model, and our vision of serving our customers across hundred cities by FY 2026. Designing and building in India isn’t just a philosophy, it’s about laying the foundation for long-term value creation, and prioritizing service excellence ahead of new product rollouts. We are ushering in the next wave of design-led and advanced tech mobility.”

The company’s experience centres provide tailored sales and service support, creating an end-to-end customer experience. The expansion marks Ultraviolette’s entry into Rajasthan and West Bengal.

Ultraviolette also continues to upgrade its technology offerings. Its latest ‘GEN3 Powertrain Firmware’ and ‘Ballistic+’ performance mode are now available at no extra cost for all F77 owners, new and existing. These updates improve throttle response, acceleration, and initial torque. Earlier updates in 2024 included features such as Traction Control, Dynamic Stability Control, Hill-Hold Assist, and regenerative braking.

The company aims to further scale its reach to 100 cities across India by FY 2026.

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BYD has made its debut in the top 100 of the Fortune Global 500, securing the 91st position in the 2025 ranking announced on 29 July. This marks a significant leap from its 143rd place in 2024 and represents its fourth consecutive year on the prestigious list since 2022.

The company achieved robust growth across its four core industries in 2024, generating annual revenue of RMB 777.1 billion (around USD 107.1 billion), a 29 percent increase year-on-year. BYD also set a new benchmark in new energy vehicle (NEV) sales, delivering 4.27 million units – a 41 percent surge compared to the previous year – solidifying its position as the global NEV sales leader for the third straight year.

Central to BYD’s success is its dedication to technological innovation, guided by a ‘Technology-based, Innovation-oriented’ philosophy. In 2024, the company invested RMB 54.2 billion (approximately USD 7.47 billion) in R&D, a 36 percent annual rise that exceeded its net profit. Remarkably, BYD has outpaced its annual net profit with R&D spending in 13 of the past 14 years, leading to breakthroughs like the Blade Battery, DiSus Intelligent Body Control System and Megawatt Flash Charging.

Expanding its global footprint, BYD accelerated overseas growth in 2025, with passenger vehicles and pickup trucks surpassing 470,000 units in overseas sales during the first half of the year. Key milestones include launching its European headquarters in Hungary, producing its first vehicle in Brazil and delivering its 90,000th NEV in Thailand. Today, BYD operates in 112 countries and regions, offering sustainable mobility solutions worldwide.

With its rising Fortune ranking underscoring its innovation and global strategy, BYD remains committed to advancing sustainable development and its mission to ‘Cool the Earth by 1°C’ through cutting-edge technology and expanded international presence.

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