1. MG India to deliver electric cars to EV fleet platform Vertelo.
MG India has signed an agreement with EV fleet platform Vertelo. As per the deal, MG will deliver 3000 electric cars to Vertelo in phases, and strengthen their EV charging network across the country.
Vertelo is a fleet electrification platform that provides end-to-end EV solutions to fleet operators & corporates. The platform is backed by Macquarie & Green Climate Fund. Last month, Vertelo had signed an agreement with Tata Motors. The latter will deliver 2000 XPRES-T EVs to Vertelo.
2. BluSmart testing EV cab service operations in Dubai.
EV cab service company BluSmart has started a pilot program in Dubai. TechCrunch reported that the company has started its Dubai service through its app last week and has created a separate subdomain for Dubai operations on its website. The pilot test involves a fleet of 100 Audi electric cars & 130 drivers.
The formal launch of BluSmart’s Dubai services is expected to happen in June this year. After Dubai, the startup will target Abu Dhabi and aim to start operations there before the end of 2024.
3. Six EV charging stations made operational in Chandigarh. More to follow in the coming weeks.
The Chandigarh Administration recently made 6 EV charging stations in the city functional. Tariff has been set at Rs 8/unit for slow & moderate charging and Rs 10/unit for fast-charging. These 6 charging stations are at Sectors 7, 43-B, 44-C & 44-D and Manimajra & Lake Sports Club. These stations have a total of 30 charging guns which can charge the same number of electric vehicles simultaneously.
More charging stations are expected to be made operational by the end of June this year.
4. Zen Mobility to provide EVs to supply chain platform ZEVO.
Tech-enabled EV supply chain platform ZEVO, has signed an agreement with light electric vehicle manufacturer Zen Mobility. ZEVO is short for ‘Zero Emission Vehicle Operation’. As per the deal, Zen Mobility will supply 3000 units of its electric three-wheeled vehicle ‘Zen Micro Pod’ to ZEVO within the next 12 months. The Zen Micro Pod has a payload capacity of 150 kg and a range of 120 km.
ZEVO plans to deploy these EVs throughout India, starting with Delhi NCR. The Delhi-NCR deployment will allow for thorough testing & adaptation before a full-scale execution. Afterwards, the Zen Micro Pods will be made operational in other major cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune & Chennai. A major portion of this fleet will be dedicated to e-commerce & grocery delivery services.
Zen Mobility is also ready to introduce another EV, the Zen Maxi Pod, an electric four-wheeled vehicle (LEV) for medium to large size deliveries.
5. Maruti Suzuki files paperwork for a small electric car.
Maruti Suzuki has filed a patent in India for a new electric car named the eWX. Suzuki had showcased this small electric car concept at the Japan Mobility Show in 2023. The patented design of the eWX shows that it shares the same boxy design as the car shown at the Mobility Show. It is expected that Maruti Suzuki might launch the eWX in India as its 2nd electric car after the launch of the eVX electric SUV next year.
The eWX is a small electric car, even shorter than the Maruti Suzuki S Presso, but longer than the MG Comet EV. It may be branded as WagonR Electric in India. Upon launch, it will compete with the MG Comet EV, Tata Tiago EV and Citroen eC3.
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