1. Hyundai India opens 11 new advanced EV charging stations.
Hyundai India inaugurated 11 new EV charging stations in key cities and along important highways. These advanced charging stations are equipped with three charging points each: 150 kW, 60 kW & 30 kW. The DC fast-charging stations can charge a Hyundai IONIQ 5 from 10%-80% in just 21 minutes (via the 150 kW charging point). Prices for charging at the station have been set at Rs 18 per unit for the 30 kW charger, Rs 21 per unit for the 60 kW charger & Rs 24 per unit for the 150 kW charger.
The new charging stations are located in Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Gurugram & Bengaluru, and along five busy highways including Delhi-Chandigarh, Delhi-Jaipur, Hyderabad-Vijayawada, Mumbai-Surat & Mumbai-Nashik. These stations will be open 24/7 and will be accessible to both Hyundai & non-Hyundai customers. People can access these EV charging stations through ‘myHyundai’ app. The app provides features including charging station discovery & navigation, pre-booking of charging slots, online payments and charging status monitoring. Hyundai India has also deployed dedicated manpower at these EV charging stations. The company plans to add 10 more such advanced charging stations in 2024.
2. BYD ready to launch the Seal electric sedan in India.
BYD India is ready to launch its third electric car, the BYD Seal electric sedan, on March 5. Currently, the company has two electric cars in its portfolio, the Atto 3 electric SUV & the e6 electric MPV. The company has already uploaded the BYD Seal’s details on its website. BYD had showcased the Seal at the 2023 Auto Expo in Greater Noida.
The Seal electric sedan comes with a high capacity battery of 82.5 kWh which gives a range of 570 km. It can accelerate from 0-100 km/hr in just 3.8 seconds. Features include a 15.6-inch infotainment touchscreen, a 10.25 inch driver instrument cluster, flat-bottom steering wheel, 360-degree camera system, panoramic sunroof and a 12-speaker sound system. The Seal has earned a 5-star crash safety rating in the Euro NCAP test.
The EV will be imported and is expected to be priced in between Rs 50-60 lakh. Upon launch, it will take on the Hyundai IONIQ 5 & Kia EV6. The Seal is already trending in global markets, where it is competing with the Tesla Model 3.
3. Tirex Chargers signs an agreement with Gujarat government.
Ahmedabad-based Tirex Chargers and the state government of Gujarat have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish one of the country's largest EV DC fast-charger manufacturing plants in Ahmedabad.
Tirex has supplied around 700 DC fast-chargers for electric bus & electric cab fleets in India. Last year, Hinduja Group company Gulf Oil acquired a 51% stake in the company.
4. Apart from the Endeavour, Ford to also bring an electric car to India.
There are multiple reports that Ford is gearing up to return to India with the popular Endeavour SUV. Now there are reports that the company will also bring an electric car. Ford has recently filed a trademark for Mustang Mach-E in India. The electric car is likely to be imported as a CBU (completely built-up unit), under an import rule that allows up to 2500 units.
Internationally, the Mustang Mach-E is available in two battery options: 72 kWh & 91 kWh, with rear-wheel drive (RWD) & all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations. Upon launch, the EV will take on the Audi Q8 e-tron & Mercedes EQE. Prices are expected to start from Rs 1 crore.
5. Mahindra and Volkswagen to deepen their EV agreement.
Mahindra and Volkswagen’s collaboration which started in 2022 has added a new chapter. A new supply agreement has been signed by the two companies pertaining to key components & battery cells. Mahindra aims to use certain components & Volkswagen's unified battery cells, in its INGLO electric platform.
Volkswagen has a modular platform for electric cars called 'MEB', which the company is deploying to build its cars as well as those of group companies Audi & Skoda. Volkswagen also supplies this electric tech and components to other automobile manufacturers. Mahindra will source components and unified battery cells from Volkswagen’s MEB architecture for its INGLO platform. VW’s unified prismatic battery cell tech is scalable & chemistry-agnostic and is claimed to reduce the cost of the battery by around 50%.
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