Spanish powertrain major Horse Powertrain and Repsol have announced the development of a hybrid powertrain designed to run on 100 percent renewable petrol. The HORSE H12 Concept engine achieves a peak brake thermal efficiency (BTE) of 44.2 percent and is intended to reduce vehicle fuel consumption.

According to WLTP testing, a vehicle equipped with this powertrain consumes less than 3.3 litres per 100 kilometres, representing a 40 percent reduction compared to 2023 European passenger car averages. When operated with Repsol’s renewable fuel, a mid-size car driving 12,500 kilometres annually emits 1.77 tonnes of CO2 less than a vehicle using traditional combustion technology.

The H12 Concept is an evolution of the HR12 engine and incorporates several engineering updates:

• Combustion System: Features a 17:1 compression ratio.
• Exhaust Management: Utilises a next-generation exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system and an optimised turbocharger.
• Ignition: Includes a high-energy ignition system.
• Transmission: Features a hybrid gearbox with energy management and lubricants designed by Repsol to reduce internal friction.

Teams from the Horse Technologies Division in Valladolid and the Repsol Technology Lab in Madrid have validated two prototypes. A demonstrator vehicle is scheduled for presentation in early 2026. The companies state that this project is a step towards the industrial production of high-efficiency hybrid engines.

Repsol has commenced industrial-scale production of 100 percent renewable gasoline at its Tarragona facility. This fuel is compatible with existing gasoline engines and is currently distributed at 30 service stations in Spain under the Nexa 95 brand.

Patrice Haettel, COO, Horse Powertrain and CEO at Horse Technologies, said, “The HORSE H12 Concept is an example of how highly efficient engines and renewable fuels can reduce emissions today, without waiting for future solutions. As a company, we believe that relying on a single technology is not the fastest way to cut emissions. This is why we advocate a technology neutral approach that enables innovation across all solutions - electric, hybrid, range extenders and low-carbon fuels.”

Luis Cabra, Deputy CEO, Repsol, added, “This collaboration shows that decarbonisation can be accelerated through innovative and accessible technological solutions. The use of 100 percent renewable fuels is a net zero emission solution, complementary to electric vehicles, for decarbonising the transport sector. Supporting clear and ambitious regulation that drives investment in renewable fuels and highly efficient engines is essential for Europe to reduce transport emissions faster in a more competitive and effective manner.”

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Renault India has entered a partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur to conduct vehicle research and development. The collaboration will see Renault India use the National Wind Tunnel Facility (NWTF) at the institute for aerodynamic and wind-noise testing of its vehicles.

The NWTF is equipped with a test section measuring 3.0 m x 2.25 m, capable of speeds between 80 kmph and 280 kmph. It is currently being upgraded to support speeds above 400 kmph.

Dr. Vikraman V, Chief of Engineering, Renault Group India, said, "This partnership marks an important step in strengthening Renault's engineering capabilities in India. By collaborating with IIT Kanpur and leveraging the National Wind Tunnel Facility, we are bringing together world-class research infrastructure and Renault's global engineering expertise to develop futuREady vehicles. This collaboration also reflects India's growing importance within Renault's global innovation and engineering ecosystem."

Prof. Dr. Alakesh Chandra Mandal, Department of Aerospace Engineering & Co-Ordinator, NWTF, said, "We are pleased to partner with Renault India in advancing automotive research and development. This collaboration highlights the versatility of the National Wind Tunnel Facility and represents an important opportunity to extend our expertise beyond aerospace applications to support innovation in the automotive sector."

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Sun Mobility has introduced a modular multi-battery swappable solution for heavy electric vehicles, showcased on the Tata Starbus 12m EV platform at the Prawaas 5.0 exhibition in Gandhinagar.

The system aims to address barriers to fleet electrification, such as charging downtime and upfront vehicle costs. It enables the simultaneous swapping of two batteries in under five minutes. The architecture supports 50 kWh and 100 kWh configurations and is compatible with vehicles ranging from 3T to 55T gross vehicle weight. Through a Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) model, operators pay for energy consumption rather than purchasing the battery pack.

Chetan Maini, Co-Founder and Chairman, Sun Mobility, said, "When we founded Sun Mobility, our vision was to make electric mobility as convenient, scalable, and economically viable as conventional transport by reimagining energy infrastructure. The unveiling of the world's first Modular Multi-Battery Swappable Solution demonstrated with Tata Starbus EV at Prawaas 5.0 marks a defining milestone in that journey. We believe the modular multi-battery swapping solution has the potential to unlock large-scale electrification across the commercial vehicle ecosystem by delivering a cost-effective and operationally efficient energy solution for diverse applications. As India accelerates its transition to clean mobility, technologies designed and built here can not only transform commercial transportation at home but also position India as a global leader in next-generation electric mobility solutions."

Ashok Agarwal, CEO, Sun Mobility HEV, added, “The next phase of electrification will not be defined solely by vehicles, but by the energy ecosystems that power them. Our showcase of World’s first Modular Multi-Battery Swappable Solution on the Tata Starbus EV platform demonstrates how one battery swapping platform can serve staff, city transit, and intercity fleets alike, without compromising on affordability or operational reliability. We see this as a real step towards mass adoption of EVs in commercial transportation.”

The system operates on an intelligent network that tracks battery health, location and energy usage. It also utilises a digital twin platform to support predictive maintenance and fault diagnosis. The technology is developed in-house and is intended to be OEM-agnostic, supporting bus and truck segments from 7 to 13.5 metres and 3T to 55T gross vehicle weight.

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LICO Materials and Ather Energy have announced a partnership to establish a system for the collection and recycling of lithium-ion batteries.

Under this agreement, end-of-life batteries from Ather’s electric two-wheelers will be processed at LICO Materials' facility in Karnataka. The recovered materials will then be reintroduced into the battery supply chain for use by cell manufacturers and vehicle producers.

The initiative aims to address the recovery of materials including lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite and copper. LICO Materials states that its facility can achieve recovery rates of up to 95 percent.

Gaurav Dolwani, CEO, LICO Materials, said, "India is building one of the world's largest EV fleets and it is doing without domestic reserves of the minerals that power it. That is a structural vulnerability, and battery circularity is the only answer. This partnership means those batteries can be recycled and recovered minerals can be fed into the battery supply chain. We believe this is how India can reduce its dependence on imported critical materials.”

This collaboration aligns with the Battery Waste Management Rules 2022, which require extended producer responsibility within the electric vehicle industry. By recycling battery materials, the companies intend to reduce reliance on imported minerals and support India’s commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2070.

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Bengaluru-based deeptech start-up Vimag Labs has been granted a patent in India for its Virtual Magnet Synchronous Motor (VMSM) platform titled ‘A Robust Rotating Transformer Excited Synchronous Motor and Its Control’, which protects the architecture of the motor that does not require magnets.

The VMSM platform uses power electronics and algorithms to control its magnetic field. Vimag Labs claims that the motor functions without the rare-earth magnets typically found in permanent magnet motors. This is the 5^th patent granted to the company, which also has ten patents pending and 15 trademarks filed.

The company is conducting pilot programmes with manufacturers of two-wheelers and passenger cars. Future expansion plans include light commercial vehicles, commercial vehicles and industrial systems.

Manish Seth, Co-Founder and CEO, Vimag Labs, said, “This patent is the outcome of over 87,600 engineering hours. It strengthens every dimension of our commercial roadmap- OEM partnerships, licensing, manufacturing scale-up, and future growth. Our long-term vision is to build scalable, software-driven, magnet-free motor systems for global electrification. This innovation strengthens India’s deep-tech base across electric mobility, power electronics, robotics, defence, and clean-energy systems.”

Vimag Labs recently raised USD 5 million in a Series A funding round led by Accel, with participation from Chakra Growth Fund and Thinkuvate. The company has also signed a manufacturing memorandum of understanding with Jendamark.

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