1. Fortum India launches prepaid card system for EV charging customers.
Fortum Charge & Drive India has launched a prepaid card system in collaboration with Noida-based fintech company Pine Labs, for making payments for EV charging at Fortum charging stations anywhere in India. The RuPay prepaid card will be available to customers January 1, 2023 onwards through the Fortum C&D App by completing a KYC.
The card can also be used at non-Fortum charging stations if RuPay card is accepted by the station operator.
2. Tender issued for installing EV charging stations in Madhya Pradesh.
Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation has issued a tender for installing EV charging stations at multiple locations. The contract will be for a period of 10 years. The last date for submission of bids is 26 December, 2022. The scope of work includes development of electrical infrastructure and managing the charging stations.
A few months back, Satna Municipal Corporation in Madhya Pradesh had also invited bids to set up 10 EV charging stations in the city.
3. Multi brand EV store chain ‘BLive’ opens outlet in Jodhpur.
Multi-brand EV platform ‘BLive’ has opened an experience store in Jodhpur (Rajasthan). This is BLive’s 17th outlet in India. The store offers a variety of EVs from multiple brands including Kinetic Green, Hero Electric, Ampere, E-Motorad, Gemopai, etc. The new BLive store will have a quick service kiosk, battery swapping facility and EV charging infrastructure. In addition to these amenities, the store will also provide after-sales service packages (including roadside assistance), easy finance options and EV spare parts.
BLive retails electric scooters, electric three-wheelers, light commercial electric four-wheelers, e-bicycles and accessories.
4. Hyundai India launches multi-purpose app right before the debut of the Ioniq 5.
Hyundai India has launched an app named ‘myHyundai’ to offer its customers a platform for products, services and offers. The app allows customers to access services like purchasing a Hyundai car online, easy financing, booking service slots, accessing connected-mobility features, buying & selling pre-owned cars, booking slots at the nearest EV charging station and roadside assistance. The app will also act as a post-sale guide, educating customers with information regarding their vehicles. Hyundai’s ad campaign for the new app features Shahrukh Khan.
Hyundai India is also gearing up to unveil the Ioniq 5 electric car on 20 December, 2022 and will open bookings the same day. The new Ioniq 5 will be locally assembled in India and is likely to be priced less than the Kia EV6. It will be available in two battery packs: 58kWh and the long range 77.6kWh.
5. Mahindra dominates electric three-wheeler sales.
Like Tata Motors dominates the electric car market in India, Mahindra has taken a vast lead in the electric three-wheeler segment. Electric three-wheelers, along with electric scooters, have been the core drivers in India's EV story so far. The three-wheeler segment’s performance has again been impressive. In April-November 2022, a total of 17,470 units were sold, which is a commendable 179% year-on-year growth (April-November 2021: 5,489). This performance sees its share in the overall three-wheeler market grow to 5.9% from 3.9% a year ago. Mahindra has the largest portfolio in this segment with the Treo Auto, Treo Yaari, Treo Zor, eAlfa Mini and eAlfa Cargo. The company sold a total of 13,703 units accounting for a whopping 78% of overall electric three-wheeler sales in the country.
Demand for these EVs will continue to come from cargo carriers who are catering to the boom in the e-commerce industry.
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