Tag: electric vehicle

Xiaomi SU7 Price Teased by CEO Lei Jun Ahead of Official Launch

Xiaomi’s CEO said on Monday his goal for the firm’s first electric vehicle was that it would be the “best looking, easiest to drive and smartest car” priced below CNY 500,000 (roughly Rs. 57,93,508), as the Chinese electronics maker gears up for orders this week.

The company will on Thursday evening announce its official price range and start taking orders for the car, dubbed the SU7, with the SU short for Speed Ultra. CEO Lei Jun’s comments, made on his official Weibo account, mark the first time the company has confirmed the upper end of its price range.

Anticipation for the car has been building up since Xiaomi unveiled the vehicle in December and announced it aimed to become one of the world’s top five automakers. Lei has touted it as having technology capable of delivering acceleration better than Tesla cars and Porsche’s EVs.

Xiaomi stores in China also began displaying the car on Monday, with prospective customers and car bloggers lining up to get a close view of the “ocean blue” version. In addition, the company uploaded its “Xiaomi Car” app to Chinese app stores.

The SU7 will come in two versions – one with a driving range of up to 668km (415 miles) on a single charge and another with a range of up to 800km. By comparison, Tesla’s Model S has a range of up to 650km.

China’s fifth-largest smartphone maker has been seeking to diversify into EVs amid stagnating demand for smartphones – a plan it first flagged in 2021. Other Chinese tech companies that have partnered with automakers to develop EVs include telecoms giant Huawei HWT and search engine firm Baidu.

Xiaomi has pledged to invest $10 billion (roughly Rs. 83,500 crore) in autos over a decade and is one of the few new players in China’s EV market to gain approval from authorities, who have been reluctant to add to the supply glut.

Its cars are being produced by a unit of state-owned automaker BAIC Group in a Beijing factory with an annual capacity of 200,000 vehicles.

© Thomson Reuters 2024

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Indian Developers Invest in Installing Residential EV Charges as Sales Soar

More developers in India are putting electric vehicle chargers in parking slots of new developments, hoping to boost the value of the property and attract more buyers in a country where the charging infrastructure can’t keep up with soaring EV sales.

While EVs accounted for just 2.4 percent of India’s vehicle sales in the first half of this year, EV sales grew 137 percent to 48,000 units during the same period, research firm Canalys says. 

The world’s most populous nation is aiming to make EVs account for a third of total vehicle sales by 2030, but scarcity of public charging stations could derail these ambitions.

Currently, there are 435 EVs for every public charging station nationwide, according to power ministry data, in contrast to the United States, which has 26 EVs per charger, data from the Alliance for Automotive Innovation shows.

For now, property developers including Sobha, and property management firm Prestige, are using this shortage to their advantage, betting that EV chargers in residential properties will make clients pay a premium for units like swimming pools used to in the past. 

“People considering purchasing EVs want assurance that they will have access to charging facilities within the residential complex,” said Javed Shafiq Rao, senior vice president and head of property management at Prestige, which is investing more in properties with EV chargers.

Sobha has gone a step further and launched two residential projects in Bengaluru with EV charging facilities in all available parking slots.

Other developers betting on the trend include Mahindra Lifespace, Kolte-Patil, Brigade and DLF.

To be sure, Indian authorities are encouraging installation of charging infrastructure, and each state has its own guidelines: Delhi, for example, requires 20 percent of parking spots to be reserved for EVs, while Uttar Pradesh, which has the most EV registrations, mandates all new housing complexes above 5,000 square metres to have at least one EV charging unit.

“No matter how fast public charging is, you need to go there, stop there to get the charging done, while in home-charging, you plug it in and your EV is fully charged overnight,” said Ravneet Phokela, Chief Business Officer of energy firm Ather Energy.

India is expected to see sales of more than 10 million EVs a year by 2030, rising more than ten folds from last fiscal year, according to the recent annual Economic Survey.

© Thomson Reuters 2023

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Mercedes-Benz India Extends Its EV Charging Network to Users of Other Brands

German luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz India on Friday announced the extension of its electric vehicle charging network to the customers of other brands as it looks to accelerate faster adoption of electric vehicles in the country. The carmaker also launched the top-end EQE 500 4MATIC electric SUV at an introductory price of Rs 1.39 crore (all India ex-showroom) and a new ‘Customer Experience Centre’ at Chakan, in Pune.

Mercedes-Benz is also supporting the EV (Electric Vehicle) transition in India by democratising the ultra-fast charging network. All EV customers in India across brands, can now enjoy the luxurious Mercedes-Benz experience while using the company’s charging network, Santosh Iyer, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Mercedes-Benz India (MBI), said.

The company said it has the largest charging network within the luxury car space with 140 chargers at different points. Of these, 40 chargers are in the 180 kilowatts and the 60 kilowatt area, which means fast chargers, said.

“…we will be extending this entire charging facility, not only for Mercedes customers but for all brands, luxury, and mass, so that they can come in and charge their cars at a faster pace at our fast charging network,” Iyer said.

The move will help in further accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles in India, he added.

Moreover, MBI has also developed an app along with Bengaluru-based Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI), which enables EV customers to get access to an additional 150 superchargers, Iyer said.

The app can be downloaded by any customer — of Mercedes or non-Mercedes — and it gives access to a fast charging network across India and can help in day-to-day commute or their interested commute, Iyer added.

On the launch, he said, “We are strengthening our BEV portfolio by launching the EQE 500 4MATIC SUV. This is an important addition to our BEV portfolio offering segment-leading luxury appointments, technology and connectivity, among others.” The EQE 500 4MATIC SUV comes with a segment-best, 10-year battery warranty, and a service interval of once in two years, the company said.

The one-of-its-kind Customer Experience Centre in the country will serve a diverse purpose, spanning from curated private consultation, and personalised deliveries of cars to hosting top-end customers’ own corporate events, he said.

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EV Battery Swapping Firm Gogoro Announces Electric Scooter Partnership With Swiggy for Last-Mile Delivery

Electric vehicle battery-swapping solutions provider Gogoro on Thursday announced a partnership with Swiggy to promote its electric Smartscooters to last-mile delivery partners of the on-demand convenience delivery platform across India.

Gogoro and Swiggy will provide a seamless path for riders to adopt sustainable electric transportation and improve their business efficiency, Gogoro Founder and CEO Horace Luke said.

“Partnering with Swiggy, a leading player in the industry, to provide access to Gogoro Smartscooters and battery swapping is essential in successfully transforming India’s urban fleets to electric,” he added.

Swiggy Head of Operations Mihir Shah said, “This partnership with Gogoro is another key step in our commitment to creating greener and cost-effective solutions for our delivery fleet.”

Shah further said, “Gogoro’s battery swapping technology represents a new generation of electric refuelling that has proven successful on a mass scale for last-mile delivery, and we look forward to working with them to transform hyperlocal deliveries to be more sustainable and efficient in India.” Swiggy 2021 announced its commitment to cover 8 lakh kilometres every day through EV deliveries.

On the other hand, the Gogoro platform delivers a two-wheeler battery-swapping system that enables delivery operators to manage their fleets and deliveries more efficiently and sustainably.

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MG Comet EV ‘Gamer Edition’ With Gaming-Inspired Design and Interiors Launched in India

MG Comet EV is now available in a special ‘Gamer Edition’ trim, which is designed to appeal to gamers and young buyers. Priced at Rs. 64,999 over and above the base cost of the car itself, the Gamer Edition is available across all three variants of the MG Comet EV – Pace, Play, and Plush. The Comet electric vehicle was launched in India in April 2023, and is touted as among India’s smallest passenger vehicles. The compact car is priced at Rs. 7,98,000 onwards (ex-showroom) in India for the Pace variant, going up to Rs. 9,98,000 (ex-showroom) for the Plush variant.

MG Comet EV ‘Gamer Edition’ price and booking details

As mentioned, the MG Comet EV ‘Gamer Edition’ is available for all three current variants of the car, at an additional price of Rs. 64,999 over and above the base cost of the car and variant itself. Interested buyers can book the ‘Gamer Edition’ of the Comet EV online or at MG dealerships across India.

MG Comet EV ‘Gamer Edition’ features

The ‘Gamer Edition’ trim on the MG Comet EV is largely aesthetic and design oriented, with that car’s features and options remaining dependent on the variant of the vehicle you purchase. The new Gamer Edition trim has been conceptualised and designed in collaboration with popular gaming streamer and influencer Mortal (Naman Mathur).

MG Comet EV Gamer Edition’s aesthetics are focused around gaming culture, with special accessories and garnishing touches such as side mouldings, carpet mats, interior inserts, body graphics, steering wheel cover, and seat covers adding to the specific design elements for the car. The design cues and aesthetic will appeal to young drivers over and above the existing small, urban car appeal of the Comet EV.

The ‘Gamer Edition’ comes with special accessories, including themed mats and a steering wheel cover

 

The electric vehicle, launched in India by MG in April 2023, is among the smallest mainstream passenger vehicles that you can buy right now, and is pitched as an urban-friendly solution for beginner drivers and short runs. The size of the car will appeal to city drivers, apart from the typically lower running costs of electric vehicles.

Additionally, depending on the variant, the car is fairly well equipped in terms of technology, smart features, and having a connected infotainment system. The MG Comet EV is available in only automatic transmission across all three variants, and has a stated driving range of up to 230km on a single charge, with a charging time of seven hours for a full charge.

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Statiq Wins HPCL Contract for 500 Electric Vehicle Chargers Across 12 States

EV charging network provider Statiq on Monday said it has won a contract from public sector oil marketing firm HPCL for setting up over 500 EV chargers across 12 states. Under the contract, the firm will install over 500 chargers, for all types of electric vehicles including two and four-wheelers, at HPCL’s outlets spread across Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, the company said in a statement.

Of the total 500 chargers, over 400 chargers will be of 3.3 kw capacity each while a few more than a hundred chargers will be of 7.7 kw capacity each, it stated.

“With HPCL undertaking a major and country-wide exercise in terms of setting up EV charging stations at their petrol pumps, we have won this tender and become a part of their EV infrastructure building up journey,” said Aman Rehman, head of government relations at Statiq.

Statiq last year had installed nearly 200 chargers – some 130 chargers of 3.3 kw and 75 chargers of 7.7 kw capacity – at HPCL’s outlets in cities such as Gorakhpur, Kanpur, Lucknow, Patna, Agra, Meerut, Dehradun and Varanasi.

In November 2022, Mahindra announced that it had partnered with three electric vehicle infrastructure partners — Jio-bp, Statiq, and Charge+Zone — to offer charging solutions for its upcoming range of passenger electric vehicles. With these partnerships, Mahindra EV users will get seamless access to a robust fast charging infrastructure and e-mobility solutions spanning across discovery, availability, navigation and transactions, according to the automaker.

A month before that announcement, Jio-Bp, the fuel retailing joint venture between Reliance and BP, stated that it would set up charging network for Mahindra’s upcoming e-SUV launches. Back in 2021, the companies signed an MoU for exploring the creation of EV products and services, alongside identifying synergies in low-carbon and conventional fuels.

Smartphone companies have launched many compelling devices over the first quarter of 2023. What are some of the best phones launched in 2023 you can buy today? We discuss this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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EV Market in India to Cross 1 Crore Annual Sales Mark, Create 5 Crore Jobs by 2030: Economic Survey

India’s electric vehicles (EV) market is expected to grow to one crore units annual sales by 2030 and create 5 crore direct and indirect jobs, according to the Economic Survey 2022-23. The survey tabled in Parliament on Tuesday said that in December 2022, India became the third-largest automobile market, surpassing Japan and Germany in terms of sales.

“The automotive industry is expected to play a critical role in the transition towards green energy. The domestic electric vehicles (EV) market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 49 percent between 2022 and 2030 and is expected to hit one crore units of annual sales by 2030,” it said.

As per industry estimates, the total EV sales in India stood at around 10 lakh units in 2022.

Further, the survey said, “The EV industry will create 5 crore direct and indirect jobs by 2030. To support and nurture this development, the government has undertaken multiple steps”.

The pre-Budget document also highlighted that the automobile sector is a key driver of India’s economic growth.

“In December 2022, India became the 3rd largest automobile market, surpassing Japan and Germany in terms of sales,” it added.

In 2021, India was the largest manufacturer of two-wheeler and three-wheeler vehicles and the world’s fourth-largest manufacturer of passenger cars.

“The sector’s importance is gauged by the fact that it contributes 7.1 percent to the overall GDP and 49 percent to the manufacturing GDP while generating direct and indirect employment of 3.7 crore at the end of 2021,” it said.

Under the government’s Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME) II scheme, between 2019 and 2024, with a budget outlay of Rs 10,000 crore, the survey said the scheme has incentivised 7.1 lakh EVs, sanctioned 7,210 e-buses out of which 2,172 e-buses have been deployed until December 2022.

The scheme had envisaged supporting 1 million two-wheelers, 0.5 million three-wheelers; 55,000 cars and 7,090 buses.

The survey also pointed out the rising sales of auto components.

According to the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), the auto components industry witnessed a 34.8 percent growth to Rs 2.65 lakh crore in the first half of 2022-23, riding on domestic demand, particularly from the passenger vehicles segment.

During the period, exports of components grew by 8.6 percent to $10.1 billion (Rs 79.03 lakh crore), while imports climbed 17.2 percent to $10.1 billion (Rs 79.8 lakh crore).

The industry clocked a turnover of Rs 4,20,621 crore in 2021-22, up from Rs 3,40,733 crore in 2020-21.

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Auto Expo 2023: Tata Power to Set Up 25,000 EV Charging Points Across India Over Next Five Years

Leading EV charging solutions provider Tata Power on Friday said it has started a nationwide plan of setting up 25,000 electric vehicle (EV) charging points across the country to support faster adoption of e-mobility over the next five years.

The company is showcasing its range of hi-tech electric vehicle charging solutions at the ongoing Auto Expo 2023 in Greater Noida.

A first-hand experience of the technology that is driving Tata Power’s widespread EV charging network — EZ Charge — was provided to the visitors, including one of the most downloaded mobile apps for EV charging — Tata Power EZ Charge, according to a statement from the company.

The app helps commuters find the nearest charging station, know the real-time availability of charging points, and receive updates on charging status, amongst many others, Tata Power said.

The company also said information about its Network Operations Center (NOC) was on display. The Centre helps in the effective operational management of charging stations across India.

Through its widespread presence in the EV charging space, the company said it provides over 3,600 public or semi-public chargers and more than 23,500 residential chargers. Tata Motors said many of these charging stations were also equipped with fast-charging technology and located at various strategic locations, such as malls, hotels, airports, and office complexes.

NOC is integrated with the online platform that supports Tata Power’s EZ Charge services, has a real-time communication link with all on-board chargers, and aids in the early detection of tech-related issues. The NOC additionally supports quick problem-solving, back-end system support, and proactive planning for charging infrastructure upkeep.

Tata Power also said it has been at the forefront of providing EV charging solutions across every nook and corner of the country, with charging solutions for homes, workplaces, fleet stations, public locations, and commercial junctions like e-bus charging depots.

Virendra Goyal, Head for Business Development, EV charging, Tata Power, said, “The demand for electric vehicles is steadily increasing in India therefore it is important to have a robust pan-India charging network.

He said the company is excited to present products and technologies, which make Tata Power India’s leading EV charging solutions provider. “We remain committed to playing a prominent role in helping Indian consumers consider sustainable mobility in the future,” he added.

According to Tata Power, its EV charging initiatives are in line with the government’s National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP), which aims to develop electric vehicle charging infrastructure using the latest technological platform along with easy access to charging points for electric vehicles.

In addition to a strong network in Delhi-National Capital Region, Tata Power’s EV charging network spreads extensively, with a presence in Mumbai, Goa, Surat, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Pune, and Bengaluru, among others, it added.

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Renault Said to Be Considering Making Mass-Market EV Version of Hatchback Car for India by 2024

Renault is considering building a mass-market electric vehicle in India, two people with knowledge of the ongoing review told Reuters, as part of a renewed push into a market where EV adoption is expected to grow quickly from a small base.

The study by Renault underscores how the French automaker is pushing ahead with electrification plans even as it extends unresolved negotiations with its partner Nissan Motor about investing in an EV unit it plans to carve out from its other operations.

It also points to the shifting perception of the auto market in India, which posted the fastest growth of any major market in 2022. EVs were on track to be less than 1 percent of car sales last year but the government has set a target of 30 percent by 2030 and has had recent success in attracting suppliers for international automakers, with a range of subsidies.

Renault is studying launching a made-in-India electric version of its Kwid hatchback, the people told Reuters.

The review will assess potential demand, pricing and the ability to build the EV with local components, said one of the people, adding that any launch would be late in 2024.

The move is part of a broader plan by Renault to rekindle sales in a country where the carmaker remains profitable despite selling fewer cars in 2022 than a year earlier, the person said.

Renault India declined to comment on product plans but said the company has a “strong focus on electrification globally” as part of the strategy outlined by CEO Luca de Meo and that “India is one of the key markets” for the group.

India is set to become the world’s third-largest market for passenger and other light vehicles, displacing Japan, according to a forecast by S&P Global Mobility. Industry-wide sales grew an estimated 23 percent to 4.4 million vehicles in 2022.

That is a contrast to the outlook for the United States, where the market is expected to remain below 2019 levels next year, and China, where demand is weakening.

Renault had been hoping to reach with Nissan in December on the terms of a carve-out for its EV unit, but discussions have been slowed over concerns by the Japanese carmaker on a range of issues, including protection for its intellectual property.

“India will play an important role in future projects of Renault-Nissan but local plans will not be finalised before a global deal on a restructuring of the alliance is reached,” said one of the sources.

In India, domestic carmaker Tata Motors, which dominates electric car sales, as well as foreign players like Stellantis, Hyundai Motor and SAIC’s MG Motor are lining up EV launches.

Renault already produces a version of the Kwid EV in China which is sold in that market as the City K-ZE and exported to France as the Dacia Spring. The Spring, the second most sold EV in France in 2022, has a range of 230 kilometres and a starting price of 20,800 euros ($21,869) before government incentives.

To qualify for incentives in India, Renault would have to build the car at its alliance plant in southern India and source components locally, the first person said. The India plant is majority owned by Nissan.

Nissan declined to comment.

Renault currently produces the Kwid hatchback, Kiger SUV and seven-seater Triber in India. Its sales fell 9 percent to around 87,000 units in 2022 and its market share dipped to just over 2 percent.

As a part of the India reboot, Renault also plans to invest in refurbishing and upgrading some of its major dealerships in big cities, the person said. The company said it has 500 sales outlets in India.

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Delhi to Get 100 EV Charging Stations in 2 Months, CM Arvind Kejriwal Says

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said the national capital would get 100 electric vehicle charging stations in the next two months.

Kejriwal on Tuesday inaugurated 11 charging stations and said the facilities would also include battery swapping points.

“Earlier, battery swapping points and charging stations were different but these have now been clubbed together. These 11 stations have 73 charging points. In the next two months, Delhi will get 100 charging stations,” he said.

The chief minister said majority of these charging stations were being set up at Metro stations to enable people to leave their vehicles at the charging stations, take the Metro to their destinations, and then return home with a fully charged vehicle.

The charging stations have come up under public-private partnership, for which the Delhi government identified 100 land parcels, he said.

The equipment and the manpower have been provided by the concessionaires.

In a tweet in Hindi, the chief minister said, “Today, I inaugurated 11 charging stations in Delhi. These are based on a unique model. After getting the vehicles charged at these stations, it will be extremely economical to drive them. Today, Delhi has given the world the cheapest model.” He said a user, after charging their vehicle, would spend 7 paise per kilometre for a two-wheeler, 8 paise for a three-wheeler, and 33 paise for a car, which was more economical than petrol, diesel and CNG.

The ambitious Delhi Electric Vehicles policy, introduced in August 2020, aims to increase the share of electric vehicles to 25 percent of total sales by 2024.

Speaking about the showcause notice issued to Dialogue and Development Commission of Delhi Vice-Chairperson Jasmine Shah, Kejriwal said, “The Cabinet appointed him and only the Cabinet can question him.” The Delhi government’s planning department on Monday issued a showcause notice to Shah over charges of “misusing public office” by acting as the “official spokesperson” of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), sources said.

The action came following a complaint by BJP leader and West Delhi MP Parvesh Verma.

The Aam Aadmi Party had termed the notice “yet another attack on the Delhi government due to its rising graph in Gujarat”.

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