1. Maruti Suzuki working on an extensive EV charging network.
Maruti Suzuki India has decided to set-up an extensive network of EV charging stations before launching its first electric car. The company plans to install around 25,000 EV charging points before it welcomes the eVX electric SUV in January 2025. The eVX will be manufactured at the company’s Gujarat plant and sold through it’s NEXA showroom network.
Maruti will set-up EV charging stations at NEXA showrooms and service centres. The company plans to have at least 1 bay for EVs & 2 charging points at its service centres. Training for EV-specialized service personnel has already begun in Bengaluru. Additionally, the company is deliberating with oil marketing companies (OMCs) to create a comprehensive EV charging ecosystem.
2. Statiq to set-up airside EV charging facilities at Noida International Airport.
Noida International Airport has announced a tie-up with Statiq to set-up EV charging infrastructure at the airport. Statiq will install, operate & maintain the EV charging facilities, with 24/7 availability. This charging network will cater to airport vehicles.
Statiq will install 7.4 kW AC chargers for smaller vehicles, and 120 kW & 240 kW chargers for heavier EVs.
3. Bharat Petroleum and IONAGE extend their partnership.
Bharat Petroleum (BPCL) & IONAGE have announced an extension of their partnership. This extension will ensure that BPCL’s current & future EV charging stations remain accessible through IONAGE’s platform.
By making its EV chargers accessible on IONAGE's platform, BPCL aims to enhance convenience for customers. IONAGE aggregates EV charging stations from various Charge Point Operators (CPOs), allowing customers to access multiple EV charging networks on a single platform.
4. MG extends its unique battery rental scheme to its other electric cars as well.
MG India has announced the extension of its unique Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) scheme to the MG ZS EV & Comet EV. Through this battery rental scheme, customers can take home the MG ZS EV at a starting price of Rs 13.99 lakh (with a battery rental charge of Rs 4.5 per km) and the Comet EV at a starting price of Rs 4.99 lakh (with a battery rental charge of Rs 2.5 per km). The MG BaaS model lets customers pay for battery usage per kilometre, thereby significantly lowering the initial cost of the car.
BaaS is a battery rental program which allows customers to pay depending on their usage of the battery. This means that when a customer buys an EV, he/she only pays for the vehicle and not the battery. The cost of the battery is charged as a rental fee, for which the customer needs to pay an EMI. In addition to the battery rental program, MG is also offering an assured buyback of 60% of the car’s value after 3 years of ownership, providing added reassurance to car owners.
The BaaS program is supported by MG’s finance partners: including Bajaj Finserv, Hero FinCorp, VidyutTech & Ecofy. These finance companies have tailormade these unique schemes for customers who want to transition to electric mobility.
5. GoMechanic to open 100 EV workshops by March 2025.
Multi-brand car service company 'GoMechanic' has announced plans to open 100 EV workshops in major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, etc by March 2025. Post this, the company aims to double this network by FY2026. The EV service centres will be equipped with the latest technology including real-time diagnostics, battery health monitoring & AI-enabled predictive maintenance.
The company has already partnered with leading EV companies like BluSmart, MoEVing, Zypp Electric & Evera. GoMechanic provides comprehensive servicing for their electric three-wheelers & electric cars. EV charging company EVRE has installed EV charging stations at existing GoMechanic workshops.
For complete EV charging solutions, explore the Kazam website.
