1. Electric three-wheeler manufacturer Terra Motors begins work on its EV charging network.

Japan-based startup Terra Motors has started work on its electric vehicle charging network in India. The company plans to set-up 800-1000 charging points by Q1 2024. Terra has started this process by installing the first set of chargers in Haryana.

Terra Motors is primarily an electric three-wheeler manufacturer. It ventured into the EV charging business in Japan in 2022 and has now launched the same in India. The company’s EV charging points will be compatible with EVs of other manufacturers as well.

2. Electric cab company Snap-E makes important announcement for Durga Puja.

Kolkata-based Snap-E Cabs has announced not to ‘levy any surge fees or allow any drivers to cancel rides during this Durga Puja’. Launched in 2022, Snap-E has a sizeable fleet of electric cabs in Kolkata. The company’s CEO Mayank Bindal calls it ‘a surge-free, cancellation-free and environmental hazard-free app-based cab service’.

The company started as an EV fleet management associate with Uber with 20 e-cabs. It currently operates 600 independent cabs and to meet the demand boost during Durga Puja, has added 150 new cabs. Snap E’s EV cab fleet consists mostly of Tata XPRES-T EVs (the fleet-only version of Tigor EV) & Citroen eC3. The fleet gets recharged at 3 charging facilities in Kolkata, one of which is company-owned while the other two are operated by Tata Power & ChargeZone.

Snap-E also offers employee cab services to TCS, Cognizant, Wipro & Accenture at night. Presently, the company operates only in Kolkata, but has plans to start its services in Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Nagpur & Raipur very soon.

3. Indigenous charging standard for light electric vehicles gets approval.

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has recognized the country’s first charging standard for light electric vehicles (LEVs). The new charging standard ‘IS17017 (Part 2/Sec 7):2023’, is based on Ather Energy’s charging connector. It is the world’s 1st charging standard that combines AC & DC charging for light EVs, such as electric scooters, motorcycles & three-wheelers. The IS17017 charging standard involves a single connector which can provide up to 7.7 kW of AC charging and up to 12 kW of DC fast-charging.

With IS17017 now defined, more EV charging companies are likely to set-up these chargers. Ather made public the IP on its charging connector back in 2021. It currently has around 1500 ‘Ather Grid’ fast-charging points across the country. Hero MotoCorp, which forayed into the EV segment under the ‘Vida’ brand, also holds a stake in Ather Energy. The auto major has chosen the same connector for its EV charging network.

NITI Aayog, Department of Science & Technology (DST), ARAI, Ather Energy, Hero MotoCorp, Ola Electric and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) worked together for 4 years to develop this charging standard. Post the announcement, BIS gave a statement: “A combined AC & DC charging connector ensures that a hybrid, cost-efficient infrastructure emerges for all forms of charging whether fast or slow for light electric vehicles.” Industry experts called this ‘the CCS2 moment for India’s light EV industry’.

4. BMW launches its costliest electric car in India.

BMW India has launched its most expensive electric car ‘BMW i7 M70 xDrive’. The luxury sedan has been priced at Rs 2.50 crore. The all-electric i7 M70 xDrive will be imported as a completely built-up unit (CBU). The electric sedan features a slim lithium-ion recyclable battery with a capacity of 101.7 kWh. The claimed range is 560 km. The car will come with a complimentary 22 kW wallbox charger, which will be installed at the customer’s place of choice. The BMW i7 M70 xDrive can accelerate from 0-100 km/hr in 3.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 250 km/hr.

The interiors are adorned with a massive 31.3 inch screen with 8K resolution which extends down from the ceiling to turn the car into a moving home theatre. The screen is complemented by 36 high quality speakers.

The rear doors have 5.5 inch touchscreen control panels. The newly launched electric car will take on Mercedes AMG EQS and Audi RS e-tron GT.

5. Servotech joins hands with IIT Roorkee.

Servotech Power Systems has signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with IIT-Roorkee for development of rectifier units for CCS-2 chargers and on-board EV chargers for electric two, three & four-wheelers.

Servotech stated that the rectifier is an integral part of the CCS-2 charger, which is currently being imported. The aim of this partnership is to develop rectifier units indigenously and kick-off its domestic manufacturing.

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