1. Tata Power joins hands with Indian Oil to install EV charging stations at petrol pumps.

Tata Power has signed an agreement with Indian Oil to install 500 EV charging stations at petrol pumps across India. EV owners will be able to access these charging stations through the Tata Power EZ Charge app and IndianOil e-Charge app.

A press release by Tata Power states that the company will set-up ‘fast & ultra-fast EV charging stations at multiple Indian Oil retail outlets. These EV charging points will be installed in major cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Pune & Kochi, as well as on major highways including the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, Salem-Kochi Highway, Guntur-Chennai Highway and the Golden Quadrilateral.’

2. Audi inaugurates ‘ultra-fast’ EV charging station in Mumbai.

Audi India inaugurated an ultra-fast EV charging station in Mumbai. The station is located at Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) and has been set-up in partnership with ChargeZone.

The charging station has 6 bays & 5 charging guns with a total capacity of 450 kW. There is a 360 kW ultra-fast charger which can charge an Audi RS e-tron up to 80% in just 16 mins. The charging facility is open for all EV customers. As far as Audi customers are concerned, they’ll get free charging till mid-2024.

There is an exclusive lounge as well which will be open from 8 AM to 8 PM everyday. Audi has named this EV charging facility the ‘e-tron hub’. Customers can access it via the myAudi Connect app.

3. Exponent Energy raises funds.

Bengaluru-based startup Exponent Energy has raised $26.4 million in a Series B funding round led by Eight Roads Ventures. The funding round also saw participation from TDK Ventures, the investment arm of TDK Corporation, a Japanese electronics manufacturer. This marks the 1st investment in India’s EV sector for both London-based Eight Roads Ventures & TDK Ventures. Returning investors included Lightspeed Venture Partners, YourNest, 3one4 Capital, AdvantEdge and the family office of Hero MotoCorp’s Pawan Munjal.

The company claims its proprietary energy stack: e^pack (battery pack), e^pump (charging station) & e^plug (charging connector) together gives 0-100% rapid charging in just 15 mins. Exponent Energy partners with OEMs to integrate its e^pack to offer a rapid charging option and sets up a network of e^pump charging stations for end-users to charge their Exponent-powered electric vehicles. The company aims to deploy 1000 e^pump charging stations and power 25,000 EVs by 2025.

4. Kia Motors India collaborates with CPOs to expand EV charging network.

Kia India has announced that it has integrated over 1000 EV charging stations. This ‘integration’ involves 5 CPOs: Statiq, ChargeZone, LionCharge, Relux Electric & E-Fill Electric. Relux is offering free charging for 3 months. Apart from its customers, the company will extend access to other customers as well. Kia EV customers can access this via MyKia app.

Kia currently sells only one electric car in India, the Kia EV6. There are plans to launch the EV9 electric SUV in 2024.

5. Gensol to launch an EV in 2024.

After the all-electric cab company BluSmart, Gensol is now moving into the EV manufacturing business with Gensol Electric Vehicles Pvt Ltd. The company has released a teaser of its first EV that will debut in March 2024.

The EV will be manufactured at Gensol EV's plant in Chakan, Pune. As per the teaser, the upcoming vehicle will offer a range of 200km and a top speed of 80 km/hr. The EV will be a three-door, two-seater reverse trike.

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