Tag: mobility

  • Alt Mobility expands EV leasing to 4W passenger transport • EVreporter

    Alt Mobility, a provider of electric vehicle (EV) leasing and asset lifecycle management, has announced its entry into the commercial 4-wheeler passenger vehicle market. The expansion of its lease services focuses on supporting employee transportation, ride-hailing services, airport cabs, hotels, and tourism segments in their transition to electric vehicles, in line with corporate net-zero goals.

    The global employee transportation market is projected to reach $13 billion by 2030. A company statement said that in addition to environmental benefits, EVs offer significant cost savings compared to internal combustion engine (CNG) vehicles, with an estimated 80% reduction in monthly operating costs (including fuel/charging and service) and 35% in total cost of ownership (TCO), which covers financing, insurance, energy, servicing, battery replacement, and salvage value over a 10-year period.

    For example, the monthly operating cost for CNG vehicles is ₹5.2/km, while for EVs, it is ₹1.2/km, with the TCO at ₹7/km for CNG and ₹4.6/km for EVs. These figures are based on the Tata Tigor Express 2.0, assuming 220 km/day over 26 days a month.

    Dev Arora, Co-founder and CEO of Alt Mobility, stated, “The journey to fleet electrification is complex across the value chain, in the 4-wheeler passenger segment especially where hubs, charging infrastructure and reliable vehicles are required to maintain high uptime and availability for taxis and employee fleets. Our integrated approach in providing managed fleet-as-a-service is designed to provide a tailored service to businesses integrating EVs, hubs, charging, servicing, battery refurbishments, and upgrades, along with uptime management and empowering ESG compliances to simplify the overall EV experience. We look forward to supporting businesses to embrace cleaner, smarter, and more affordable transportation.”

    Alt Mobility’s leasing services help businesses reduce capital expenditures on electric vehicles, allowing them to acquire more vehicles and expand operations. The company’s integrated fleet-as-a-service model also reduces infrastructure setup costs while ensuring fleet reliability.

    Alt Mobility has already supported several fleet operators, including Snap E-Cabs, Zero Leap, and Refex Green Mobility, in deploying EV 4-wheeler fleets in Kolkata, Pune, and Bangalore. The company aims to add 3,000 passenger 4-wheelers to its fleet by March 2026.

    Also read: Alt Mobility secures USD 6M in a round led by Shell Ventures, Eurazeo, EV2, and Twynam

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  • No Respite For Ola Electric

    New Delhi: From a show-cause notice from the government to consumers flooding social media platforms over myriad complaints regarding its e-scooters and service centres—while its share continues to slide—there appears no respite for Bhavish Aggarwal-run Ola Electric.

    On Tuesday, Ola Electric’s share touched its lowest at Rs 86 apiece before recovering a bit—a massive 43-35 per cent drop from its all-time high of Rs 157.40 a few days earlier. The stock made its public debut at Rs 76 apiece.

    In a stock exchange filing, the EV company admitted that it has received a show-cause notice from the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA).

    “The Central Consumer Protection Authority has provided a timeline of 15 days to the company to respond to the show cause notice. The company will respond to the CCPA within the given timeframe with the supporting documents,” said the EV company.

    According to the show-cause notice, Ola Electric “appears to be in violation of several provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.”

  • UrjaMobility secures ₹100 crore in Pre-Series A funding • EVreporter

    UrjaMobility, a New Delhi based start-up focused on battery leasing for commercial electric vehicles (EVs), has raised ₹100 crores in its Pre-Series A funding round, consisting of both debt and equity financing. This funding round, led by Mufin Green Finance Limited and Hindon Mercantile Limited, will support UrjaMobility’s initiatives in energy consumption and supply chain management within the e-mobility sector.

    The funding will help UrjaMobility scale its operations and expand its pay-per-use battery leasing model. This model enables customers to lease batteries on a per-kilometer basis, converting traditional capital expenditures into operational costs, offering a flexible and cost-efficient solution for adopting electric mobility.

    In its first month of operations, UrjaMobility reported delivering 150 kWh of energy per day under its Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) model. This initial achievement has facilitated its growth in the energy sector, responding to demand for sustainable energy solutions. The company has since increased its capacity to deliver 45 MWh of energy per day.

    Pankaj Chopra, Founder & CEO of UrjaMobility, expressed his vision: “This funding round marks a major milestone for us. Our goal is to revolutionize energy consumption in the e-mobility sector while expanding our presence across India. The pay-per-use model we’ve introduced makes e-mobility more accessible, and this funding will help us strengthen our retail presence and provide solutions to a wider audience.”

    Kapil Garg, Founder & Director at Mufin Green Finance Limited, a key investor, said “We are thrilled to support UrjaMobility’s journey. Their unique solutions, combined with their commitment to sustainability, align perfectly with our focus on supporting India’s transition to clean energy”

    With this funding, UrjaMobility aims to achieve a target of 300 MWh of energy sold per day. The funding will also support plans to expand its retail network, specifically in Tier II and III cities, where there is growing demand for e-mobility solutions. This expansion reinforces UrjaMobility’s approach to energy management and its position in the energy sector.

    UrjaMobility plans to raise an additional ₹250 crore in the first quarter of 2025 to strengthen its retail network and address the rising demand for e-mobility solutions in the country. This subsequent funding round will enable the company to continue its expansion and further develop its offerings.

    Also read: Mufin Green acquires 20% stake in Li-ion battery leasing player UrjaMobility

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  • Not just Ola Electric, complaints grow against Ather Energy e-scooters too

    New Delhi, Oct 9: As Ola Electric users continue to flood social media platforms against poor service and myriad other problems, IPO-bound electric two-wheeler maker Ather Energy is also facing a number of complaints against its e-scooters on social media.

    On X (formerly Twitter), Ather customers have shared a range of problems – from hardware to software and delivery delays – to which, the company has responded to resolve their issues fast.

    “Serviced on 14th Sep for 10k odometer, given many issues in scooter, none of them are attended saying no stock spares. Escalated to @atherenergy, suggested to drop scooter for analysis, so dropped on 3rd OCT, Yesterday delivered with Fork, key slot replaced. But incomplete fitting,” posted an Ather e-scooter user on Wednesday.

    Another commented: “@atherenergy I’m having trouble with my 450X. For 2 days when I stop the throttle, the vehicle slows down immediately. Earlier this was not the case. Kindly assist me whether this is a software problem or should I visit the service centre”.

    “@atherenergymy charger has not been working for the past 12 days. Went to the service centre and the new charger will be provided in 7-8 days, still no reply from the service centre when i call they don’t answer the phone, I call from another number they tell me well call you,” said another Ather user.

    “@atherenergy, I’ve been stuck on the update screen with my Ather 450X since yesterday. Restarting doesn’t work, and even if I remove the key, the screen stays on. This is really frustrating,” posted another user on Wednesday.

    Ather, on its part, tried to assuage the frustrated users by reaching out to them clear things up, and get their ride back on track.

    An aggrieved user commented: “Your Indore City services is lame and employees are arrogant not attending complaints, parts not available, my vehicle is in service for 4 working days”.

    Ather Energy has filed Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) with capital markets regulator SEBI to raise funds through an initial public offering (IPO). The proposed IPO is a combination of a fresh issue of equity shares worth Rs 3,100 crore and an offer for sale (OFS) of 2.2 crore equity shares by promoters and investors shareholders.

    “@atherenergy @tarunsmehta, what is this glitch since from my purchase facing and sometimes auto hill hold not working,” another frustrated user posted on X.

  • CCPA Issues Show-Cause Notice To Ola Electric

    Since touching the all-time high, the company’s share is trading around 42-43 per cent lower. As per trade analysts, the stock is currently loss-making and trading at high valuations

    Alarmed at growing customer complaints against Ola Electric and poor conditions at its service centres across the country, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has issued a show-cause notice to the Bhavish Aggarwal-run EV company, asking it to respond to the notice within 15 days of receipt. As per reports, the regulator has taken cognisance of thousands of complaints against Ola Electric which are growing by the day.

    Ola Electric “appears to be in violation of several provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019”, the showcase notice read, taking note of the complaints by consumers related to manufacturing defects, partial or no refunds on booking cancellations, recurring defects despite servicing, overcharging, inaccurate invoices, and multiple issues with batteries and vehicle components.

    Moreover, the National Consumer Helpline, operated by the Department of Consumer Affairs, received 10,644 complaints since September last year related to Ola Electric.According to Nidhi Khare, Secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs, “the CCPA is looking into a large number of complaints about Ola Electric, mainly related to service inefficiencies. We hope the company addresses these concerns promptly and resolves the issues faced by consumers”.

    Ola Electric did not immediately comment on the show-case notice. The company’s shares dropped about nine per cent on Monday to close at Rs. 90.26 apiece. Aggrieved customers flooded social media platforms again with a myriad of issues with its flagship electric two-wheeler. Since touching the all-time high, the company’s share is trading around 42-43 per cent lower. As per trade analysts, the stock is currently loss-making and trading at high valuations.

    The EV firm continues to lose its market share in the Indian EV market and in September, its share further dropped to 27 per cent amid rising competition as well as its crippling service centres.

  • Nissan Magnite facelift: Variant-wise features explained

    Nissan has introduced the 2024 Magnite, available in six broad variants: Visia, Visia Plus, Accenta, N-Connecta, Tekna, and Tekna Plus. Priced between Rs 5.99 lakh and Rs 11.50 lakh (introductory ex-showroom pan-India), the Magnite offers two engine options—a 72 PS 1-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine and a 100 PS 1-litre turbo-petrol engine.

    The base Visia variant features halogen headlights, chrome-finished door handles, 16-inch steel wheels, and functional roof rails. Inside, it boasts an all-black cabin with fabric upholstery, a semi-digital instrument cluster, manual AC, and six airbags. Notably, it lacks an infotainment system and a reverse parking camera.

    The Visia Plus variant, priced Rs 50,000 higher, adds a shark fin antenna, a 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, a 4-speaker audio system, and a reverse parking camera.

    Moving up, the Accenta variant includes front and rear skid plates, body-colored ORVMs with LED turn indicators, height-adjustable driver’s seat, auto AC, keyless entry, push-button start/stop for turbo variants, steering-mounted controls, and a burglar alarm. It also introduces the option for the turbocharged petrol engine.

    The N-Connecta variant adds 16-inch alloy wheels, LED DRLs, a soft-touch leatherette dashboard, an 8-inch floating touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 6-speaker ARKAMYS sound system, voice recognition, rear AC vents, front armrest with storage, and a digital driver’s display.

    The Tekna variant enhances the offering with LED tail lamps, auto-LED projector headlights, LED fog lamps, a dual-tone black and grey cabin theme, semi-leatherette seat upholstery, cruise control, a cooled glovebox, and a 360-degree camera system.

    Finally, the Tekna Plus variant, the top-tier model, features a dual-tone black and orange cabin with leather seat upholstery, orange-finished leatherette elements on the dashboard, and 4-color ambient lighting.

    The updated Magnite competes in the sub-4m SUV segment against notable rivals such as the Renault Kiger, Tata Nexon, Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, Mahindra XUV300, Maruti Fronx, and Toyota Taisor. For more details on variant-wise engine and color options, visit the provided link.

  • Listing of small and light electric 4W commercial vehicles in India • EVreporter

    India’s electric mobility landscape continues to evolve, with a significant shift towards the electrification of commercial vehicles. This listing highlights various electric small and light commercial vehicles that have been launched or will soon be commercially launched by leading manufacturers.

  • Ola Electric’s share crashes to Rs 90 as angry customers flood social media

    Mumbai, Oct 7: Bhavish Aggarwal-led Ola Electric saw its stock crashing to about Rs 90 a piece in the morning trade on Monday, as aggrieved customers flooded social media platforms again with a myriad of issues with its flagship electric two-wheeler.

    The Ola Electric share nosedived to Rs 90.26 apiece, a drop of 8.5 per cent from the last trading session. The EV firm debuted on the stock market with Rs 76 and even touched Rs 157.40, before crashing like a pack of cards over innumerable hardware and software issues with its e-scooters and poor conditions at its service centres across the country.

    Since touching the all-time high, the company’s share is trading around 42-43 per cent lower.

    The EV firm continues to lose its market share in the Indian EV market and in September, its share further dropped to 27 per cent amid rising competition as well as its crippling service centres. It saw 24,665 e-scooter sales last month, from 27,587 units sold in August, according to the government transportation portal Vahan.

    Ola Electric’s rivals have launched newer models which are priced closer to those of Ola, as its flagship S1 series EV scooter has become a nightmare for hundreds of customers who are consistently facing issues like malfunctioning hardware and glitching software and spare parts are hard to come by, resulting in inordinate delays.

    As per trade analysts, the stock is currently loss-making and trading at high valuations.

    An aggrieved Ola Electric customer torched its showroom in Karnataka last month, as the company’s social media platforms were flooded with complaints about its EV scooters. As per reports, Ola Electric receives around 80,000 complaints monthly.

  • KTM 200 Duke vs TVS Apache RTR 200 4V: Comparison of Features, Performance, and Price

    KTM has intensified the 200cc segment with the launch of the updated 200 Duke. While the engine remains unchanged, the Austrian manufacturer has introduced several new features. Let’s compare this revamped KTM 200 Duke with one of the top contenders in this category, the TVS Apache RTR 200 4V. The KTM 200 Duke is priced at Rs 1,98,950, while the Apache RTR 200 4V is more affordable at Rs 1,48,620 (both prices are ex-showroom). This category is significant as it serves as an entry point for performance motorcycles, so let’s explore which one you should consider:

    Engine Specs

    The updated KTM 200 Duke is equipped with a 199.5cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that generates 24.6 bhp at 10,000 rpm and 19.3 Nm of torque at 8,000 rpm, paired with a 6-speed gearbox and a slipper clutch.

    On the other hand, the Apache RTR 200 4V is powered by a 197.75cc oil-cooled engine that produces 20.5 bhp at 9,000 rpm and 17.25 Nm of torque at 7,250 rpm. Notably, it also offers three riding modes—Sport, Urban, and Rain—making it a versatile option. Its engine is coupled with a 5-speed gearbox, also featuring a slipper clutch.

    Features

    The KTM 200 Duke comes with a 5-inch TFT display, replacing the older LCD unit, and integrates the KTM My-Ride app, allowing for turn-by-turn navigation, music control, and call notifications. It also offers two display modes for enhanced visibility.

    In contrast, the TVS Apache RTR 200 4V includes a monochrome digital instrument cluster, which can be connected via a Bluetooth-enabled app that supports turn-by-turn navigation, crash alert, and lean angle data, making it technologically advanced in terms of safety.

    Hardware

    The 200 Duke uses a split trellis frame, 43 mm WP Apex USD front forks, and a 10-step adjustable rear mono-shock. It boasts dual-channel ABS and Supermoto ABS for enhanced braking performance, along with a 13.4-litre fuel tank, a ground clearance of 155 mm, and a seat height of 822 mm.

    Meanwhile, the Apache RTR 200 4V comes with telescopic front forks and a preload-adjustable mono-shock at the rear. It also features dual-channel ABS with Supermoto ABS, a 12-litre fuel tank, a ground clearance of 180 mm, and a lower seat height of 800 mm.

    Both motorcycles offer strong features and performance, but the choice between them largely depends on budget, riding preferences, and the importance of advanced tech and riding modes.

  • Honda Unveils Limited-Edition CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP Carbon Edition Racing Machine

    The motorcycle industry boasts numerous titans from countries like Japan and Italy, akin to mythical figures giving rise to legendary names. One of these legends is the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP, recognised as one of the oldest nameplates in the superbike realm. Staying true to its roots, Honda has introduced the exclusive CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP Carbon Edition, which combines state-of-the-art technology with a sleek, stealthy aesthetic.

    This special edition is described as “the epitome of total black stealth racing straight from the factory,” and it draws inspiration from Honda’s RC213V race bike. The bike features pre-preg carbon fiber for its front and rear fenders, as well as engine covers, aerodynamic wings, center fairing, and airbox covers, emphasising its lightweight design and racing pedigree.

    To add a touch of colour to this dark machine, the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP Carbon Edition features an HRC logo adorned in the iconic blue and white livery. The bodywork is finished with a UV-resistant matte clear coat, enhancing both the durability and stealthy look of the motorcycle. To maintain its exclusivity, only 300 units will be produced, with 70 units allocated for France and 45 for the UK.

    Beneath its striking exterior, the Fireblade SP Carbon Edition retains the mechanics of the standard model, powered by a 1000 cc four-cylinder engine that delivers over 200 hp. It features a servo-actuated Akrapovic exhaust system, optimising performance while adding a distinctive sound. Additionally, the bike is equipped with a suite of racing electronics designed to help skilled riders harness its exceptional capabilities.

    Honda emphasises that this motorcycle is not intended for inexperienced riders, as its outstanding performance demands a skilled and experienced operator, particularly in high-speed riding situations.