Servotech Inks Pact with National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI) to Install Solar-Powered EV-Charging Carport

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December 14, 2022

FADA (Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations), the industry’s apex body, revealed retail sales figures for five vehicle categories – two and three-wheelers, passenger vehicles, tractors, and commercial vehicles – for November 2022. Cumulative sales of 23,80,465 units, a 26% increase year on year (November 2021: 18,93,647 units), have established a new monthly standard. This equates to 79,349 vehicles sold across sectors on each and every day of November.

The November retails are a 13.65% month-on-month increase on festive October 2022’s numbers and a 65% increase over January 2022’s 1.43 million units (see data table below). FADA President Manish Raj Singhania said, “November 2022 has clocked highest retails in the history of the Indian automobile industry with March 2020 (23,12,868 units) as an exception when retails were higher due to BS-4 to BS-6 transition.”

November retails have taken off from festive October 2022 (2.09 million units / 26%), which was part of the 42-festive season which had begun in September. According to the FADA president, the continuing sales momentum is also thanks to the “Great Indian Wedding Season (from November 14 to December 14) where around 32 lakh weddings will be solemnised across the country.”

The fact that growth is democratising across all five categories bodes well for the coming year: PVs (up 21%), two-wheelers (up 24%), three-wheelers (80%), CVs (up 33%), and tractors (up 57%). All vehicle segments except two-wheelers (marginal loss of -0.9%) are in growth territory compared to pre-Covid November 2019.

Passenger Vehicle Retails in 2022
Jan 2022: 14,39,747 units / -10.69%
Feb 2022: 13,74,516 units / -9.21%
Mar 2022: 16,19,181 units / -2.87%
April 2022: 16,27,975 units / 37.06%
May 2022: 16,46,773 units / 206%
June 2022: 15,50,855 units / 27.16%
July 2022: 14,36,927 units / -7.84%
Aug 2022: 15,21,490 units / 8.31%
Sep 2022: 14,64,001 units / 10.94%
Oct 2022: 20,94,378 units / 47.62%
Nov 2022: 23,80,465 units / 25.71%
Total YTD retail sales: 1,81,56,308 units

What is encouraging for the sector as a whole is that commercial vehicles, which are regarded as the country’s economic barometer, are returning to growth mode.

YoY growth in the LCV, MCV, and HCV sub-segments is a significant 33% and 6%, respectively, compared to pre-Covid November 2019. A closer examination of the data reveals that all three sub-segments have experienced double-digit growth, which bodes well for the coming months and beyond. The huge government investment in infrastructure development across the country is having an impact, as evidenced by the 61% increase in HCV sales to 25,035 units.

Intra-city logistics operating demand is also reflected in the 4,776 MCVs sold last month, a 51% increase, while the hub-and-spoke model and last-mile mobility firms continue to drive LCV sales, which include small CVs and pickups – 46,836 units, a 22.61% increase. If there is a growth story with enormous potential, especially in light of the change to electrification, it is the three-wheeler market, which is experiencing the fastest growth rate.

In November 2022, 74,473 units were sold, representing an increase of 80% year over year (November 2021: 41,296). Of this, 48% – 35,791 units – are electric three-wheelers, indicating the direction the three-wheeler market is headed. Electric passenger models (33,971 units / 113% growth) outnumber cargo-carrying vehicles (1,820 units / 75% growth). And this expansion has come at the expense of IC-powered devices, with all sub-segments here in the red by double digit percentages.

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Pioneers in EV Battery technology Log9 Bags AIS-156 Certification for its RapidX 8000 Battery

By

Raunak Saha

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December 13, 2022

Pioneers in EV Battery technology Log9 Bags AIS-156 Certification for its RapidX 8000 Battery

Designed to empower India’s last-mile logistics sector with superior performance, RapidX 8000’s AIS-156 certification comes as validation and reassurance of Log9’s promise of unparalleled safety

Bengaluru-headquartered advanced deep-tech startup Log9 Materials has announced that it has received the Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) 156 (Rev 3, Ph 1) certification for its RapidX 8000 battery pack – designed bespoke to empower the e-3Ws that largely contribute towards the last mile logistics. The certification was achieved by Log9 RapidX 8000 batteries basis a rigorous set of safety tests conducted by the International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT). This development comes at an opportune time wherein the e-3W segment has been thriving in India on the back of fueling e-commerce logistics demand and government support.

Since its inception, Log9 has upheld safety as one of the founding pillars of its products and technology and hence has been committed to bringing the safest EV batteries to the Indian EV Market. Notably, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), Government of India had recently introduced the AIS-156 certification to uphold consumers’ safety on the backdrop of a spate of EV fire/mishap incidents being reported from across India due to negligence of safety compliance by vehicle and battery manufacturers.

We promised. We Delivered.

We’re proud and stoked to announce that our RapidX 8000 battery is now AIS-156 certified and is compliant with the EV battery standards set by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).#electricvehicles #automotive pic.twitter.com/D6BqskpTif
— Log9 Materials (@log9materials) December 9, 2022

In addition to safety, RapidX 8000 batteries are empowered by InstaCharge technology that enables these batteries to be charged within 35 minutes from 0 to 100%. Moreover, putting forth industry-first characteristics like an operating temperature range of -40° to 65° Celsius up to 15000 charge-discharge cycles and 10+ years of battery life, RapidX 8000 is a truly safe and durable powerhouse to electrify the growing commercial “3W EV segment in India”.

Speaking on the certification achieved, Dr. Akshay Singhal, Founder & CEO, Log9 Materials said, “We are proud to have received the AIS-156 certification for our RapidX 8000 batteries and we treat it as a validation of our technology that we stay deeply invested in. Safety, since our inception, has been the cornerstone of every innovation and product that we have brought to the market. As pioneers in battery technology built and nurtured ground-up in India, for India, and equipped with cutting-edge technology and components, we are proud to see our products get certified by ICAT. And we also sincerely appreciate their efforts towards ensuring every EV on the Indian road is safe.”

Driven by its purpose to “Pioneer Responsible Energy”, Log9 has been invested in the pursuit to make India self-reliant in its electric vehicle technology needs which has been reflected in the organization setting up India’s first indigenous cell manufacturing facility, designing and manufacturing India’s 1^st indigenous LTO cell, and currently working towards ramping up its cell and battery manufacturing prowess. Backed by future-facing R&D, Log9’s range of RapidX batteries has proven to deliver the fastest charging time in the industry across vehicle platforms, the safest and the best suited to the Indian and tropical market conditions, and the longest life, all cumulatively ensuring maximum value and lowest TCO to the last-mile logistics operators.

BMW CE04 E-Scooter teaser dropped ahead of its India Release

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December 13, 2022

BMW has debuted the CE04 electric scooter at a time when the Indian market is experiencing high demand for electric two-wheelers. It is unlike any other product on the market and will undoubtedly be on the wish list of fans. Everything about the scooter, from its look to its performance and technological features, exudes astonishment and excitement.

BMW CE04 is available in a number of international regions. The scooter is priced at $ 11,795 in the United States (approx. Rs 9.71 lakh). BMW may introduce more affordable electric two-wheelers for India in the future.

According to WMTC standards, a fully charged BMW CE04 electric scooter can travel approximately 129 kilometres. The selection appears to be more than ample for daily needs. The BMW CE04 is powered by a permanent-magnet liquid-cooled synchronous motor that produces 42 horsepower at 4,900 rpm and 62 Nm at 1,500 rpm. The top speed is electronically limited to 121 kilometres per hour. The acceleration is quite good, with a time of 2.6 seconds from 0 to 50 kmph.

The BMW CE04 electric scooter employs high voltage battery technology that is housed within the scooter’s underbody.

This positioning contributes to a lower centre of gravity, which promotes comfortable ride dynamics and pleasant handling. In a residential environment, the standard charging time is 4 hours and 20 minutes. Charging time is lowered to 1 hour 40 minutes when a rapid charger is used. With a rapid charger, you can charge from 0% to 80% in just 65 minutes.

BMW CE04 Electric Scooter Teased Ahead Of India Launch https://t.co/3Yzx0OFH8e pic.twitter.com/WKbn5oLkcL
— RushLane (@rushlane) December 9, 2022

The digital instrument panel displays battery charging information. It is also available through the BMW Motorrad Connected app. The use of Eco riding mode can increase range. The scooter contains an energy recovery technology that uses recuperation to charge the high-voltage battery.

While the performance figures are excellent, it is the scooter’s design and features that actually distinguish it. EVs have given designers greater leeway to explore, resulting in some very unique products. In that context, the BMW CE04 appears to be an appropriate example. The scooter features a strong silhouette and is available in dual-tone colour schemes.

Sporty headlamp design with LED lights, massive 10.25-inch TFT display with BMW Motorrad Connectivity, striking disc wheel, flat seat design, integrated side stand, and elegant decorative stickers are just a few of the highlights. Riding ergonomics look to be reasonably comfortable for both the rider and the pillion. A seat height of 780 mm ensures excellent control and handling.

Other notable features of the BMW CE04 include keyless entry, riding modes such as Eco, Rain and Road, ASC, BMW Motorrad ABS, and electronic reverse. The scooter includes a ventilated storage compartment with USB and a side loading storage container with built-in lighting. Optional features like as heated grips, anti-theft alarm, high windscreen, and tyre pressure monitoring system are available for users who want a better experience.

Also Read:

MG Air Electric Car Spotted in new Spy Shots

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December 12, 2022

MG Motor is developing a two-door EV for the Indian market in order to grab an early lead in the entry-level electric car segment. It will be based on the Wuling Air EV (codenamed E230), which debuted recently in Indonesia. With a length of around 2,900 mm, the MG Air EV will be one of India’s tiniest automobiles. It will be about 400 mm shorter than Alto.

The design and style of the new MG Air electric car for India will be heavily influenced by the E230. It is based on MG’s most recent Global Small Electric Vehicles (GSEV) platform, which may accept a variety of body shapes. The car has a boxy, tall boy design, which should provide enough inside capacity.

There are some distinctive aesthetic elements, such as a full-width light bar that extends to link the rearview mirrors. The charging connector is cleverly concealed beneath the MG logo. Trapezoidal headlamps, rectangular fog lamps, and a body-coloured bumper are also prominent elements. Vishal Mevawala, an automotive enthusiast, took the most recent spy images.

MG Air Electric Car Production Target 36k, SOP March 2023 – New Spy Shots https://t.co/vAd9A7UJcK pic.twitter.com/iuYHEuIw8I
— RushLane (@rushlane) December 8, 2022

The EV has big doors that allow for easy access to and from the second-row seat. Rear passengers will not feel claustrophobic because of the big, vertically positioned windows. While the E230 seen in Indonesia had steel wheels with plastic covers, the India-spec model is expected to have alloy wheels. The rear fascia is very similar to the front, with elements including a full-width light bar, curved windscreen, and slim tail lights.

The battery pack in MG’s upcoming EV will be between 20 and 25kWh

The power output will be 40 horsepower. The real-world range could be around 150 kilometres. Given the country’s diverse weather and riding circumstances, MG will undertake a number of changes to make the EV fit for Indian conditions. Key systems such as the battery heat management system and air conditioning will be improved. In India, the E230 will be sold under the MG brand.

MG will source crucial components from local sources to save money. The battery pack, for example, will be sourced by Tata AutoComp. The latter has a contract with Chinese battery producer Gotion that includes the design, manufacture, delivery, and service of battery packs for EVs in India. The E230 battery pack will use LFP cylindrical cells, comparable to the Tata Nexon EV. LFP cells are more dependable and have already demonstrated their value in Indian circumstances.

Also Read:

Electric Two-Wheeler: Sales in India crosses past 435,000 units with Ola taking the market lead

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December 12, 2022

Clearly, India’s electric two-wheeler growth narrative is improving month after month. If overall retail sales reach 51,405 units for the first time in a month in August 2022, September retail sales will be 53,938 units, a 20% increase over July’s 44,844 units. Things only got better in the festive months of October (76,458 units) and November (76,438 units), with e-two-wheeler sales exceeding 75,000 units for the first time in India Auto Inc’s history and for the second month in a row. And, with the wedding season continuing until mid-December, the giving of electric scooters and motorcycles could fuel this market even more this month.

A thorough dive into the retail sales of e-two-wheelers utilising new vehicle registration data from the government of India’s Vahan portal provides a detailed view of the industry’s progress. A quick glance at the retail sales data table (at the bottom of this report) reveals that 436,069 units were sold in the first eight months of the current fiscal year. This equates to 1,787 e-two-wheelers sold each day for the 244-day period from April to November 2022.

Do you know 1,787 electric 2-wheelers were bought every single day in India from April-Nov 2022? e2W retails cross 435,000 units in first 8 months of FY2023, headed for 700,000; Ola Electric No. 1 with Okinawa hot on its heels; top 6 OEMs command 80% sales https://t.co/pA0kqpz234 pic.twitter.com/bbCFDMKd0f
— Autocar Professional (@autocarpro) December 11, 2022

The top ten OEMs sold 69,831 units in November, accounting for an astounding 91% of total sales. Similarly, the Top 10 – Ola Electric, Okinawa Autotech, Hero Electric, Ampere Vehicles, Ather Energy, TVS Motor Co, Bajaj Auto, Revolt Intellicorp, Pur Energy, and Being India Energy – account for 394,781 units or 90% of total retails from April to November 2022. Another 20 or so OEMs are also vying for a piece of the action in India’s burgeoning e-two-wheeler sector.

Interestingly, according to a widely publicised media rumour from ComputerWorld, Amazon, which employs over 1.6 million people worldwide, may lay off 20,000 employees, including corporate executives. However, the company has maintained that it did not lay off employees, but rather changed its organisation in times of crisis.

Ola Electric, which has benefited from the change to electric mobility, leads the sector with 77,753 units sold between April and November 2022, accounting for a 20% market share.

After beginning FY2023 with retail sales of 12,707 units in April 2022, the company has topped monthly sales for three months in a row: September (9,890 units), October (16,330 units), and November (16,330 units) (16,325 units).

The festive discount of Rs 10,000 on the Ola S1 Pro, which was launched on August 15 at an introductory price of Rs 99,999, has greatly benefited the company. Two months later, on October 22, Ola Electric brought the EV battle to the mass-market ICE scooter class with its new S1 Air, which costs Rs 79,999.

On November 4, Ola rolled out its 100,000th scooter from its all-women-run Futurefactory in Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu, marking the company’s first production milestone in just 11 months. Meanwhile, Ola has been increasing its D2C footprint, claiming that it will establish 100 locations by the end of December 2022 and 200 by March 2023.

Also Read:

The all-electric Porsche Macan Spotted

By

Avik Roy

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December 11, 2022

It’s not hidden news that Porsche has been working on the each-electric Macan. Before the product spec model arrives presumably around 2024, these asset shots of the Macan EV sprinting around the Nurburgring give us sapience into what to anticipate from the sports car marque’s second each- electric vehicle.

Porsche Electric Macan

It’s still a bit too beforehand to talk about design as the filmland you see then is of the prototype. Though it has those large fake headlamps to freak you out, keen-eyed observers will notice the cut- eschewal for the satiny headlamps placed on top. It will get airheads below, which should come useful for cooling vital factors.

The profile also looks a bit vague at the moment due to the disguise rudiments used to trick your eyes ( the fenders have fake exhausts!). But what we can surely tell is it’ll have connected tail lights and large blends. Plus, the presence of a pop-out spoiler gives away the fact that the electric SUV will have a host of active aero enchantments.

Inside, the Macan EV features a blend of corridors from the 911 and the Taycan. For case, the placement of the twisted instrument display and touchscreen infotainment reminds us of the Taycan. While the placement of climate controls( thankfully with physical controls) around the gear switch does give a hint of the 911.

Reportedly, the Macan EV will be grounded on what Porsche calls, the PPE platform, that’s largely analogous to the Taycan’s armature. Exact specialized specifications aren’t out yet, but we’ll keep it simple for you. Like the Taycan, you can anticipate either single or binary motor options in colorful melodies and multiple battery pack options.

The Porsche Macan EV, also, will be the second each-electric model after the Taycan from the sportscar maker. It’ll also gauge an ICE-powered model on trade alongside its greener stock.

Two-Wheeler Sales in November 2022 of Ather Energy

By

Avik Roy

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December 11, 2022

Two-Wheeler Sales November 2022: Ather Energy

Electric two-wheeler manufacturer Ather Energy has been on a roll in recent months posting some of their stylish yearly deals figures. For the month of November, the manufacturer revealed that it had ended 7,234 units – up a notable 260 percent over November 2021 though figures were down from their best-ever numbers from October 2022.

Ather Electric Scooter Sales Nov 2022

The electric scooter manufacturer vended 979 lower units in November 2022 as compared to October – an 11.9 percent decline. The number was also hardly down as compared to September 2022(7,435 units) through advanced than the number it posted before in the time. Ather lately opened its alternate product installation boosting its production capacity to 4.2 lakh units annually.

“November demonstrated the periodic trend of a dip in deals posts the gleeful period. This is a seasonal trend and not a reflection of underpinning demand. We retained our request share, and anticipate the assiduity to bounce back in January 2023 and continue the growth instigation. In expectation of strong consumer demand, we lately opened our alternate manufacturing installation in Hosur, and we’re confident that this installation will play a critical part in our coming phase of growth, ” said Ravneet Singh Phokela, Chief Business Officer, Ather Energy.

November also marked a new corner for the company which inaugurated its alternate manufacturing factory in Hosur, Tamil Nadu. The new factory boosted the company’s production capacity from 1.2 lakh units to 4.2 lakh per annum. The company also continued to grow its request presence with experience centers opening up in nine fresh metropolises.

Ather is also working on reducing the accession burden on consumers. Indeed with the FAME II subvention, Ather 450 Plus and 450X are priced at Rs.1.34 lakh and Rs.1.56 lakh in Bengaluru. This is relatively high compared to the popular ICE-grounded scooter Honda Activa that’s available at a starting price of Rs.75,000.

To make it easier for consumers to switch to electricity, Ather has launched a first-of-its-kind EV finance scheme in cooperation with IDFC Bank. For illustration, Ather 450X with an- road price of Rs.1.62 lakh can be bought at a yearly EMI of Rs.3,456. This will be a 48-months loan with a fixed interest rate of 8.50. Consumers will profit from zero processing figures and a low down payment of Rs.416. Down of the cost can be indeed lower in case the buyer opts for a vehicle exchange scheme.

Tesla Power looks to keep its promise of installing 5000 EV Charging Stations across India by 2025

By

Raunak Saha

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December 10, 2022

Tesla Power looks to keep its promise of installing 5000 EV Charging Stations across India by 2025 — Photo by Kindel Media on Pexels.com

Charging EVs in India has caused range anxiety to most EV buyers and those who look forward to buying one in future, however, things are improving slowly and steadily across the country. While states like Delhi and Maharashtra are far ahead in terms of adopting EVs, other states are still catching up with the race so that India archives its carbon neutrality target within 2030.

Now, EV charging takes time as we know and if any one of the charging plug points is busy the other person has to wait, so even though we are growing EV Charging stations we will also increase the number of ports in the future. As of now, adding more charging stations at extreme corners is the priority for the government and regulators as of now, unless, both get support, neither these operators nor consumers will actually benefit.

Kavinder Khurana, Managing Director at Tesla Power India says they are working to instal 5000 EV Charging Stations across India by 2025

So, in an interview with Hindustan Times, Kavinder Khurana talked about Tesla’s plans to develop the EV charging infrastructure of India and looks forward to its other businesses rather than jumping with its cars in India. Now, as we know, four-wheeler EVs do not even represent 1% of total vehicles in India but in terms of two-wheelers, the adoption level is insane as per the latest reports by OLA Electric, the market leader in that space.

Khurana says Tesla Power India is working with three major PSUs that have oil stations across the country and they are working to tie up with them to make EV Charging stations inside or outside of these oil stations. As we know, there are about 81,000 fuel stations in India and the Indian government envisions putting EV charging stations across all of them but that won’t so easy so private companies like Tesla could in fact help to achieve that dream.

He went on to say that Tesla has worked to put as many as 700 such multi-brand EV charging stations across a number of petrol pumps in India with Bharat AC 001 and DC 001 charging facilities. Now, they are focussed to ramp up this number to 5000 within the next 3 years and as Khurana mentioned, these stations won’t be profitable unless people buy more EVs and start using them, however, Indian people remain sceptical unless they see enough EV charging stations across their places to avoid range anxieties.

Greaves Electric Mobility to reveal five new EVs at Auto Expo 2023

By

Avik Roy

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December 9, 2022