Bengaluru-based electric vehicle company Ultraviolette Automotive has unveiled its product portfolio at the EICMA 2025 motorcycle exhibition. The company also announced a partnership with Cardo Systems to build solutions for Indian and global markets, focusing on safety and connectivity under ‘Phase 1 of its Connected Rider Ecosystem.’

Following the launch and ongoing deliveries of its X-47 Crossover in the country, Ultraviolette is entering the connected riding solutions market with the launch of the 'UV Crossfade' helmet, which features a carbon fibre shell.

The helmet introduces a first-of-its-kind helmet-based motorcycle integration, enabling real-time connectivity with Ultraviolette vehicles. The F77 Mach 2, F77 SuperStreet, and the X-47 Crossover motorcycles will be the first to adopt this innovation, with a phased rollout planned across the portfolio.

By combining Cardo’s mesh network with Ultraviolette’s smart systems, the helmet facilitates real-time rider-to-rider/rider groups and rider-to-vehicle connectivity.

The system uses Dynamic Alert Sequencing (D.A.S) software to read, assess and allocate alerts in real time for the rider. The D.A.S suite dynamically allocates incoming notifications from the motorcycle to the rider’s connected Cardo unit.

The UV Crossfade features a carbon fibre outer shell paired with fibreglass inner layers, resulting in a lightweight build of approximately 1380 grams. The helmet is subject to DoT and ISI certifications and is compliant with the ECE 22.06 global standard. The helmet is priced at INR 19,900.

Narayan Subramaniam, Co-founder & CEO, Ultraviolette Automotive, said, “At Ultraviolette, we aim to make mobility progressively more intelligent through the seamless integration of technology and design. We don’t just build vehicles, we craft experiences that elevate and redefine the future of mobility. The launch of the UV Crossfade Carbon-fibre helmet represents the beginning of a new era of advanced connect between the rider and the machine to enhance safety, awareness, and the overall ride experience. The UV Crossfade helmet not only enhances safety with uncompromising material engineering but can also communicates with the Ultraviolette motorcycles including giving the rider real time alerts from the UV Hypersense radar systems on the X-47. Our partnership with Cardo Systems is an important part of this journey, bringing advanced communication technology into our connected rider ecosystem. At EICMA, we also showcased our comprehensive global product portfolio including motorcycles and scooters; the X-47, the world’s first motorcycle with radar as standard and our upcoming products, the Tesseract and Shockwave. Together, these exemplify Ultraviolette’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of performance, technology, and design, redefining the future of mobility, today.”

Shachar Harari, VP Business Development at Cardo Systems, said, “Our cooperation with Ultraviolette brings a new dimension of connectivity to the world of motorcycles enabling them to interact directly with the Cardo unit, opening a whole new field of opportunities with Blind Spot Detection, Status Alerts and other Advanced Rider Assistance System, featuring the natural next steps.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

MAHLE has introduced an advanced heat recovery system that enhances the efficiency of cabin heating in electric vehicles, directly addressing the challenge of reduced range in cold weather. This innovation, the MAHLE HeatX Range+, reclaims thermal energy from the vehicle's exhaust air. As interior air is expelled, it passes through the air conditioning evaporator, where its heat is transferred to the refrigerant. This captured energy is then used to preheat incoming fresh air before it enters the cabin.

This process reduces the total energy demand for the vehicle's climate control system by approximately 20 percent compared to conventional methods. In practical testing with a mid-size electric vehicle at an outside temperature of -7°C and a cabin target of 20°C, the system extended the driving range by nearly 10 kilometres. Beyond range extension, the continuous influx of fresh air maintains high interior air quality and minimises window fogging.

Engineered for seamless integration, the system has no adverse effect on airflow or acoustics. Its modular design allows manufacturers to incorporate it into existing vehicle architectures easily and cost-effectively. MAHLE developed the technology drawing on its extensive expertise in thermal management, and the current configuration for refrigerant R1234yf can be readily adapted for use with future alternative refrigerants.

Martin Wellhoeffer, Member of the MAHLE Group Management Board, responsible for the business unit Thermal and Fluid Systems, said, "Our HeatX Range+ heat recovery concept maximises the everyday practicality of electric vehicles in winter and makes a decisive contribution to further increasing the attractiveness of electric mobility.”

Dr Uli Christian Blessing, Vice President – R&D Thermal and Fluid Systems, MAHLE, said, "As early as the 1990s, MAHLE introduced the '’Economizer'’, the first cabin heat recovery system concept for passenger and commercial vehicles, thereby pioneering today’s trend towards efficient cabin climate control.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Tata Technologies has announced that its battery intelligence platform, WATTSync, is now equipped to meet India’s upcoming Battery Aadhaar requirements. The digital identity and traceability framework aligns with the EU Battery Regulation (EU BR 2023/1542).

The platform supports India’s mandated 21-character Battery Pack Aadhaar Number (BPAN), which allows manufacturers to manage identifiers across production, operations and recycling workflows.

WATTSync utilises a QR-code-enabled identity engine to provide access to both static and dynamic battery data. The system manages manufacturer identifiers, material composition, chemistry and battery carbon footprint (BCF).

To meet mandates for dynamic data, the platform integrates with Battery Management Systems (BMS) to track – State of Health (SoH), charge-discharge cycles, thermal events and operational parameters.

The architecture is cloud-ready and supports API-based data exchange with government-authorised central servers, ensuring traceability across the supply chain.

The platform includes Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) to provide structured data views for suppliers, operators, and regulators. Additionally, AI-driven analytics are used for predictive maintenance, including thermal anomaly detection and Remaining Useful Life (RUL) estimation.

For manufacturers under the ACC-PLI scheme, WATTSync provides provenance documentation to verify cell origin. The platform also tracks recovered materials and carbon footprints to support circular economy objectives and recycling chain mandates in both India and the EU.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Chinese technology company Pony.ai has announced that the first mass-produced bZ4X Robotaxi, developed in partnership with Toyota, has rolled off the production line. This marks the transition to scaled production and commercial deployment for the collaboration.

The partners plan to produce over 1,000 bZ4X units in 2026. These vehicles will be introduced into commercial services across Tier 1 cities in China, supporting Pony.ai's objective to expand its fleet to over 3,000 vehicles by the end of the year.

The bZ4X Robotaxi is equipped with Pony.ai’s seventh-generation (Gen-7) autonomous driving system. Key features of the hardware include:

• Automotive-Grade Components: 100 percent of the core components meet automotive standards.
• Cost Efficiency: The bill of materials (BOM) cost for the autonomous driving kit has been reduced by 70 percent compared to the previous generation.
• User Features: The system includes Bluetooth unlocking, in-cabin voice interaction, and climate control, with software tuning to reduce motion sickness through refined acceleration and braking.

The vehicle was developed by Pony.ai, Toyota Motor China and GAC Toyota, with production managed by GAC Toyota. The assembly process integrates the Toyota Production System (TPS) and adheres to Toyota’s Quality, Durability and Reliability (QDR) principles. Dedicated systems for quality and safety management have been established to support large-scale operations.

The collaboration between Pony.ai and Toyota began in 2019. Since then, the companies have established a joint venture focused on Robotaxi design and manufacturing. This milestone follows the launch of other Gen-7 models that entered commercial service in November last year.

The partners stated that this production milestone demonstrates a pathway for autonomous technology to move from limited validation to mass production.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

IIT Madras Research Park (IITMRP) and Unicorn India Ventures have partnered to launch an INR 6 billion fund christened - IITM Unicorn Frontier Fund I - dedicated to deep tech startups. The initiative includes an additional INR 4 billion greenshoe option, bringing the total potential corpus to INR 10 billion.

Unicorn India Ventures will act as the fund manager, with the fund aimed to build a portfolio of over 25 companies involved in intellectual property (IP)-led and engineering-heavy sectors, including robotics, space technology, defence, semiconductors and medical technology.

The fund will employ a multi-stage investment approach based on Technology Readiness Levels (TRL):

• Early Stage (TRL 3–4): Initial investments of INR 80 million to INR 100 million to assist innovations through commercialisation hurdles.
• Early Mid-Stage (TRL 5–7): Follow-on capital to support the development of technologies with proven concepts.
• Early Late-Stage (TRL 7–9): Support for companies with proven product technology requiring scale-up and market penetration.

To manage the long gestation periods associated with deep tech, 60 percent of the corpus is allocated for the initial portfolio, while 40 percent is reserved for follow-on rounds to provide patient capital.

Dr Kamakoti Veezhinathan, Director of IIT Madras, said, “Science and technology will play a crucial role in the growth story and towards India becoming Viksit Bharat 2047, focusing on technology sovereignty, AI, semiconductors, defencetech and quantum technology. The need of the hour to reduce reliance on technology imports and strengthen indigenous capabilities. IIT Madras has been in forefront of this wave for over a decade and this Fund is the next logical step for us.”

Natarajan Malupillai, Group CEO of IITM Research Park, added, “India’s deep-tech ecosystem is at a pivotal moment, driven by supportive policies, sustained R&D investments, and a strong entrepreneurial aspiration among our youth. This fund will accelerate the scale-up of mission-driven, globally competitive startups while strengthening India’s culture of innovation & entrepreneurship. We are pleased to partner with Unicorn India Ventures to advance India’s deep-tech leadership—imagining, designing, and building in India for the world.”

Bhaskar Majumdar, Managing Partner of Unicorn India Ventures, said, “It is an honour to be selected by IITM & IITMRP, which have been the backbone of deep tech innovation in India. With our proven understanding of deep tech, we believe we have the resources and the network to support early-stage deep tech companies. As an active deep tech investor, we have already built a portfolio of nearly 30 companies and this new fund in partnership with IITMRP comes at the right time as we have met numerous innovative deep tech companies in the last 2 years.”

A portion of the portfolio will be sourced from the IIT Madras ecosystem, with the remainder selected from the broader Indian deep tech landscape. The fund manager will raise the corpus from IIT Madras alumni and a network of limited partners, including family offices, ultra-high-net-worth individuals and institutions.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!