1. Terra Charge comes together with BSES to set-up EV chargers in Delhi.

Terra Charge has joined hands with BSES Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL) to install & maintain EV chargers in the capital city. Terra & BYPL will build EV charging hubs in Delhi at MCD designated sites. This tie-up will lead to Terra Charge’s advanced EV charging solutions being deployed in BYPL service areas where electric vehicle penetration is high but EV charging coverage is low. Terra will install multiple slow AC & fast DC charging points to cater to EV users’ diverse charging needs. The company will also provide 24/7 monitoring & support for its EV charging infra.

Terra Charge will also undertake training & awareness programs with BYPL to promote the use of electric vehicles in the latter’s service areas.

2. Servotech partners with Electra EV for a jointly owned EV charging tech.

Servotech Power Systems and ElectraEV have announced a partnership for a jointly-owned EV charger technology. The two companies have recently filed for patents. These solutions will enable DC fast-charging of any GB/T Bharat DC001 electric vehicle (which are on sub 200V DC platforms) from the CCS-2 charging network through the incorporation of a connector using a small gadget. This innovation will allow for charging compatibility and prevent the need for multiple chargers.

The shares of Servotech hit 5% upper circuit after this partnership was announced. The company's stock exchange filing stated: “Servotech Power Systems came into partnership with Electra EV for innovative EV charging technologies to create India’s first fast-charging interoperability solutions between GB/T & CCS-2 protocols.”

3. Bharat Charge Alliance to install 5000 EV charging stations by 2026.

Bharat Charge Alliance (BCA) aims to set-up 5000 public EV charging stations across the country by 2026. BCA aims to promote Type-6 (IS 17017-2-6) DC fast-chargers, building an interoperable charging network under its LEV DC (IS 17017-25 adopted) standard and Unified Energy Interface (UEI)-based payment mechanism powered by Beckn Protocol. This Type 6 connector can support up to 125A continuous charging current and is gaining popularity among electric three-wheeler (L5) OEMs as well. Also, this connector is now globally approved and is being domestically manufactured by connector makers which is helping in bringing down the cost.

Bharat Charge Alliance consists of Log9, Trinity Cleantech, Altigreen, ETO Motors, Pulse Energy, ChargeZone (BillionE), Evnnovator & Tork Motors, and works towards addressing the lack of a standardized & accessible charging infra for Light EVs (LEVs) in India. By promoting interoperability, the BCA’s objective is to ensure that EV users can seamlessly charge their vehicles across a network of EV charging stations, regardless of the vehicle.

BCA aims to establish an interoperable charging network that pledges to transform India’s electric vehicle ecosystem, particularly for 2 & 3 wheelers.

4. IONAGE aims to integrate 1 lakh EV chargers into its platform by 2028.

Bengaluru-headquartered EV charging platform IONAGE plans to expand its operations and has announced an ambitious project to onboard 1 lakh EV chargers on its platform by 2028. The company aims to integrate a network of over 1,00,000 EV chargers onto its roaming platform. This roaming platform offers comprehensive solutions for EV users, facilitating seamless charging experiences across different EV charging networks.

At present, IONAGE has successfully onboarded over 70,000 users, with approximately 15,000 active monthly users. The startup also plans to facilitate the installation of EV charging solutions in over 50,000 apartments, in collaboration with key partners.

5. Ather launches the Rizta electric scooter.

Ather Energy has launched its latest electric scooter, the Ather Rizta, at a starting price of Rs 1.10 lakh. However, this is an introductory price exclusively for customers who have already pre-booked the Rizta. Bookings for the scooter started on 29 March for a token amount of Rs 999. On the occasion of Ather Community Day event held in Bengaluru on April 6, Ather CEO Tarun Mehta gave a statement: "We worked on this family scooter for a long time, for it to be strong, safe & comfortable."

Ather will offer the Rizta in two variants: Rizta S & Rizta Z. The Rizta S will feature a 2.9 kWh battery which gives a range of 123 km. It has been priced at Rs 1.10 lakh. The Rizta Z will come in 2 battery options: a 2.9 kWh version and a 3.7 kWh version (estimated range: 160 km). The Rizta Z 2.9 kWh is priced at Rs 1.24 lakh whereas the 3.7 kWh is priced at Rs 1.44 lakh. All variants have a top speed of 80 kmph. Ather Rizta deliveries are expected to begin in July.

The 3.7 kWh battery version of Rizta Z will come with a 700 W Ather Duo charger. All Rizta owners will have access to the company’s fast-charging network (with more than 2500 fast-charging points).

The new Ather Rizta gets a 34 litre underseat storage & a 22 litre frunk storage. The scooter has bigger seats to accommodate the driver and rear passenger comfortably. Similar to the 450 series, Ather has loaded the Rizta with features like all-LED lights, an 18W multipurpose charger, a 7-inch fully-digital instrument panel, reverse mode, bluetooth connectivity and a backrest, as standard across all Rizta variants. Exclusive Rizta features include WhatsApp on dash, call decline with message, live location sharing, ping my scooter and Amazon Alexa integration with 20 voice commands.

At the event, the IPO-bound Ather also introduced two new ‘smart’ helmets named Halo (full-face helmet) & Halo Bit (open-face helmet), at introductory prices of Rs 4,999 & Rs 12,999 respectively. These helmets come with integrated speakers for music and voice calling, noise cancellation & bluetooth compatibility. These have a battery life which lasts up to a week and wireless charging.

For complete EV charging solutions, explore the Kazam website.