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      Zyngo Electric Vehicles Battery Swapping Powered By Sun Mobility

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      Zyngo Electric VehiclesA total of 500 Zyngo vehicles will use SUN Mobility Swap Points by the end of this year
      A host of EV startups are coming up with offerings ranging from last mile delivery services to setting up battery swapping stations in a bid to enhance the dependence on electric power and boost growth in the EV sector. The electric vehicle market in India is expected to register sales of over the 63 lakh unit mark by 2027.
      The Government of each state in India coming up with various initiatives to boost this growth. Some such Indian startups that have been revolutionizing the EV industry in India are Zypp Electric Mobility, Zyngo Mobility, Ather Energy and eBike Go.
      Sun Mobility and Zyngo Join Hands
      SUN Mobility, a Bengaluru based provider of universal energy infrastructure and services has entered into an alliance with Zyngo, is a hyperlocal delivery service catering to the needs of B2B and B2C consumers. Zyngo commenced operations in Jan 2020 and has since then partnered with various brands to provide last mile delivery.
      The partnership was announced in the presence of the Chief Minister of Haryana, Manohar Lal Khattar. Under the terms of the agreement, Zyngo will depoy 500 vehicles linked to SUN Mobility swapping network by the end of this year.
      Zyngo Electric Vehicles
      For a start, 120 vehicles have been deployed in Gurugram, Delhi, Noida and Ghaziabad for last mile and middle mile delivery. The vehicles that will consist of e-loaders and carriers will use SUN Mobility Swap points in 2021 for its last mile delivery services.
      Zyngo’s fleet of e-loaders and carriers will utilize SUN Mobility’s services through the network of battery swap points being offered at Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) stations to boost last-mile delivery services.
      Sun Mobility’s swapping solution
      As per the terms of agreement, Zyngo vehicles powered by SUV Mobility’s swapping solutions will try to alleviate the key EV adoption challenges among which are high battery replacement costs, high battery maintenance charges and range anxieties along with charging time.
      Systemic growth in Gurugram is being projected by the Government especially in terms of electric mobility. The Government of Haryana expects to reduce pollution levels and generate employment opportunities in the state and this alliance between SUN Mobility and Zyngo is a step in this direction in turning Gurugram into the Smartest City in the country.
      Zyngo is the delivery partner for a host of e-commerce, FMCC, retail and pharma organizations. There has been a boom in e-commerce networks over the past 9-12 months causing a surge in last mile deliveries. Other players such has Amazon, Flipkart and Big Basket have also sought a shift towards electrifying their delivery fleet.
      Prateek Rao, Founder and CEO of Zyngo spoke about this alliance with SUN Mobility in their bid to offer pollution free and seamless delivery services to their end customers. It is the company’s endeavor to become one of the leading EV logistics service providers in the last mile sector. SUN Mobility platform has powered over 1 lakh deliveries covering a total of 2 lakh plus emission free kms in association with Zyngo. More

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      Strom R3 Electric Gets Orders Worth Rs 7.5 Cr From Mumbai, Delhi – In Just 4 Days

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      Strom R3 Electric VehicleDeliveries of Strom R3 are set to commence in early 2022 with a limited production run
      Strom Motors, a Mumbai-based electric vehicle startup, commenced pre-bookings for its maiden product, the R3 personal 3-wheeled electric car. Set to have a limited production run, the quirky Strom R3 has already garnered orders worth USD 1 million (~Rs 7.5 crores) in just four days.
      Strom R3 – Order books open
      Pre-orders of the Strom R3 will be open for a few more weeks. It is to be noted that the company neither revealed the number of bookings nor the price of the vehicle. Customers can order one for INR 10,000.
      It is unclear on what basis the company arrived at the USD 1 million figure – based on the booking amount alone or on the full vehicle price which is estimated to be INR 4.5 lakh. It is most likely the latter, considering that the pre-orders are only available for Mumbai and Delhi as of now.
      Overview
      The Strom R3 is an unconventional urban runabout with compact footprint and a single rear wheel. The two-door two-seater electric vehicle is aimed at working professionals, families and fleet operators for journeys that are 10 km or less. The made-in-India mini EV is comparable to a quadricycle in terms of size and looks like a micro car when viewed from front.
      Strom Electric 3 Wheeler
      When viewed from the side, there is nothing conventional about the R3. The profile lines are angular and the single rear wheel makes for a curvy rear fascia.
      The compact cabin seats two people and the car-like dashboard gets triple touchscreen interface. Things should be comfortable enough during short urban commutes. The driver seat is 12-way adjustable and both seats are equipped with 3-point seat belts.
      Feature highlights include power windows, AC, voice and gesture controls, smartphone connectivity, audio system with 20 gb storage, turn-by-turn navigation, and 4G connectivity with vehicle health monitoring (SOC, brake pads, motor and power electronic status, etc). In the future, the company proposes to add automatic vehicle following system and park assist to the equipment package.
      Strom Electric 3 Wheeler
      Powertrain
      Powering the little three-wheeled electric car is a 15 kW AC induction motor which generates a healthy 90 Nm of torque. Transmission system involves a single reduction gear. Three drive modes are on offer namely Eco, Normal and Sports. The regenerative braking also has three modes – aggressive, normal, off.
      The vehicle is equipped with a 48 v lithium-ion battery (kWh unspecified) which claimed to last for over 1,00,000 km. It can be charged in 3 hours and is claimed to offer a maximum range of 200 km, representing a running cost as low as INR 0.40 per km. Top speed is electronically limited to 80 km.
      Strom Electric 3 Wheeler
      The vehicle tips the sales at 550 kg. As far as storage space is concerned, the Strom R3 has a 300 liters of boot space at the rear in addition to a 100 liter compartment at the front. More

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      MG ZS Electric Car Donated To IIT Delhi – Will Help Students Research Autonomous Tech

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      MG ZS Electric Car Donated To IIT DelhiThe alliance will help to further the research being conducted in the field of electric and autonomous vehicles
      MG Motor India has formed an alliance with IIT Delhi – Centre for Automotive Research and Tribology (CART). This partnership is being forged for extensive research in the field of electric and autonomous vehicles.
      The focus of IIT Delhi will be in furthering the MG Motor endeavor on Connected – Autonomous –Shared – Electric (CASE) through research in deployment of electric and autonomous vehicles through urban India.
      In keeping with the new research subject, MG Motor has also donated a ZS EV to IIT Delhi and the research will also include Connected Mobility in terms of Route Planning and Navigation, Obstacle Detection, Seamless and Natural Human Interaction and AI for Inferring and Decision-making.
      Child Car Safety Seat Project
      This is not the first such study conducted by IIT Delhi for MG Motor. Earlier the automaker had worked with IIT Delhi to boost in-car child safety seat project via geofencing. The study also extended to innovation challenge Hackathons in partnership with IIT Delhi for a safer and greener most of travel.
      MG ZS Electric Car Donated To IIT Delhi
      It may be recalled that the MG ZS EV is the first internet electric SUV while the Gloster is the first autonomous Level 1 premium SUV. Both these cars make ideal case studies in developing the future of autonomous vehicles, especially so in an institute that is ranked among the top in terms of technology in the world.
      CART offers high end research into areas such as battery operated electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles along with storage and alternate energy sources and autonomous and connected vehicles.
      MG ZS EV and Gloster
      With electric vehicles becoming popular in our markers, the MG ZS EV competes with the Tata Nexon EV and Hyundai Kona EV. More recently, at the Green Car Award by ICOTY, the Tata Nexon, Hyundai Kona and ZS EV were in the top 3 spots, scoring 106 points, 99 points and 93 points respectively.
      MG ZS Electric Car Donated To IIT Delhi
      The MG Gloster and ZS EV have also been contributing heavily to company sales. In Feb 21, MG Motor India recorded their highest production, booking and sales with 4,329 units sold relating to a 214 percent YoY growth. The company attributed this growth to the ZS EV and Gloster.
      MG Motor India is now working on extending their charging infrastructure and localization of powertrains. MG Motor recently clocked its 50,000th unit production milestone with the Hector and plans to produce 1 lakh units annually by 2022 from its Halol plant. Current production stands at 80,000 units with the Hector 6 and 7 seater, Gloster and EV while the company also plans a fourth car – Model K in the third quarter of this year. More

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      Kia EV6 Electric Car Makes Global Debut – Interiors, Exteriors Detailed

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      Kia EV6 Electric CarKia EV6 will be positioned on the Electric-Global Modular Platform that also spawns the Hyundai Ioniq 5
      As first photos of Kia’s upcoming EV6 electric car get released officially, it can be seen that this will be the first example of the company’s new Opposites United design philosophy. This is a philosophy that is based on the 5 pillars of Bold for Nature, Joy for Reason, Power to Progress, Technology for Life and Tension for Serenity.
      New Kia EV6 is also the company’s first all-electric model and the first vehicle built on the new Electric-Global Modular Platform that also underpins the new Hyundai Ioniq 5. As of now there are no plans for the car to be launched in India.
      Kia EV6 Electric Car
      Exterior Details
      The new Kia EV6 is designed at Kia’s global design network in Namyang (S.Korea), Frankfurt (Germany), and Irvine (California, US). Being positioned on Kia’s dedicated EV platform – E-GMP, the EV6 crossover will made its world premiere later this month in a special online event.
      It will boast of spacious interiors and as first images of its exteriors get revealed, it may be seen that it gets a new Kia logo, a large set of headlamps connected via a narrow upper Kia’s ‘Tiger Nose Grille’, angular DRLs and a larger lower opening that also related to better aerodynamics.
      Kia EV6 Electric Car
      The rear window slopes towards the spoiler with a light bar spanning the entire rear of the vehicle which could relate to less cargo space. Rear haunches and wheel arches along with a swept back windshield are also a part of its exterior features. Aerodynamics are enhanced with a sloping rear C Pillar and a prominent roof spoiler that channels air downwards towards its lower spoiler.
      Interiors sport a more traditional design with ample space, bold lines, a large central console while in keeping with its Technology for Life philosophy, the EV6 gets the latest in on board technologies and in car connectivity.
      It gets a high definition curved screen, a slim dashboard and instrument cluster which is positioned in front of the driver. The infotainment system and navigation are placed above the central console while the width of the screen offers the driver a better experience with minimal buttons and a more uncluttered look.
      Kia EV6 Electric Car
      Below the AVN screen is the HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) settings below which the dashboard slopes away towards the front offering more space to passengers in the front.
      Kia EV6 Performance
      While no electric powertrain specs are revealed, the Kia EV6, being positioned on the Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), like the Hyundai Ioniq 5, could offer a long range of 500kms, fast charging facilities and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 3 seconds. More details will be revealed when the electric crossover makes its public debut later this month.
      Kia Motors in India currently sells the Seltos and Sonet SUVs along Carnival MPV, while the company is also readying a new mid-size MPV for India. More

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      Microlino Two Seater Electric Car To Enter Production This Year

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      Microlino EV
      The compact urban Microlino from Switzerland-based Micromobility Systems AG, borrows inspiration from the Isetta microcar

      Microlino EV is finally ready for the roads. It has been under development for many years and was set to be showcased at the 2020 Geneva Motor Show which got cancelled. Now the Microlino 2.0 is set to enter production, in Sep this year.
      It has received some modifications as against its earlier prototype for better safety and the company even released an image comparing the 1.0 with the updated and safer 2.0 model and a video that draws attention to its design and interior makeup. Below is the 2.0 Prototype of the upcoming Microlino EV.
      [embedded content]
      Microlino electric two seater weighs 513 kgs and has a maximum speed of 90 km/h. It is priced from 12,000 euros (approx Rs 10.42 lakh) and developed to offer just the right amount of space and range. The makers claim that their new EV can be charged in a matter of 4 hours from a domestic plug point.
      Microlino Design
      Having made its online debut in 2020, the Microlino EV borrows inspiration from the BMW Isetta, built from 1956-1962. It gets a single front mounted door and protruding headlamps. It gets a steel and aluminum body for better rigidity and rides on black steel wheels while suspension has been tuned to offer a comfortable ride.
      Microlino EV
      The cabin is kept simple and minimalistic. It houses a digital display offering vital information, a dashboard with a horizontal bar onto which phones and wireless speakers can be mounted and a bench type seat for two passengers.
      The steering column is fixed to the floor and not on the door as was seen on the Isetta. Due to the compact size of the Microlino EV, it will allow users to exit straight onto the pavement and parking can be made possible in the most miniscule of spaces.
      Production Plans
      Micromobility Systems AG plans to build 5 such models for testing before entering production. Pre-production is set to commence from Sep 2021. They expect to receive EU type-approval in August prior to commencing series production in September while deliveries could be made by the end of this year.
      Set to be priced at €12,000 (Rs.10.42 lakhs), the Microlino EV is positioned to compete with the Citroen Ami One. At this price point, it will be more expensive than the Renault Twizy (€7,350) but cheaper as compared to the Smart EQ (€22,000).
      Microlino EV could also be offered on urban car share basis as is seen in the case of Renault’s new Mobilize EZ-1 two-seater. Micromobility could sell this new EV in markets of Europe and China but not in the US markets where it is unlikely to pass US crash tests. More

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      Electric Car Charging Station Inaugurated On Mumbai Pune Expressway

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      Tata Electric Cars at the new EV Charging Station on Pune Mumbai Expressway
      Battery charging/swapping infrastructure needs major investments for EVs to go mainstream

      In a welcome development for electric vehicle owners who use Mumbai-Pune Expressway, a new charging station has come up at Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd.’s flagship Sajgaon Retail Outlet. The EV charging station has been setup by Magenta Group in collaboration with HPCL. Magenta is a leading provider of green energy products and solutions.
      The EV charging facility was inaugurated on March 4 in the presence of Shri Sai Kumar Suri (ED – Retail) and Shri Rajnish Mehta (ED – CS & BD). The charging station has two types of chargers – 122KW (CCS2+ChaDeMo+Type2) and 15KW (DC001) fast charger. Users can choose any of these based on their EV’s charging specifications.
      Magenta ChargeGrid – A hassle-free charging experience
      Magenta’s new charging station on Mumbai-Pune expressway is part of the company’s mission to develop a pan-India EV charging network. It has charging stations in several other states including Delhi, Rajasthan, MP, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal and Bihar.
      As of December 2020, the total capacity of EV chargers installed by the company was 3.5 MW. This is expected to increase in the future, as Magenta opens EV charging stations at new locations across the country.
      Electric Vehicle Charging Station At Pune Mumbai Expressway
      One of Magenta’s key focus areas has been to provide a hassle-free charging experience to EV users. This has been made possible with the use of its ChargeGrid charging stations and an app with the same name.
      If we talk about the hardware, Magenta currently has two types of charging machines, ChargeGrid Pro and ChargeGrid Flare. While the former is meant for commercial and residential use, the latter can be installed in public places such as airports, car parking lots, etc. Both charging machines are fully automated and can be accessed with the ChargeGrid app.
      Magenta ChargeGrid App
      This app makes it easier for users to find a nearest charging station. Both location and availability of charging stations are displayed on a map. Magenta ChargeGrid app offers a number of online payment options including UPI, net banking, wallet payment, and debit and credit cards.
      Tata Nexon Electric at the new EV Charging Station on Pune Mumbai Expressway
      While charging their EV, users can keep track of electricity consumed and time taken for the charging session. The company offers multiple membership plans, so that users can choose the best fit as per their specific needs and preferences.
      While EV charging infrastructure is at a nascent stage in the country, it’s good to see that companies like Magenta are coming up with innovative products and solutions to ensure a hassle-free experience for EV users. This segment will need several such initiatives if EVs are to become the preferred option for customers.
      Electric Vehicle Charging Station At Pune Mumbai Expressway More

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      Toyota X-Prologue Electric Crossover Teased Ahead Of Global Debut

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      Toyota Electric Crossover Teaser
      The Toyota X-Prologue is the first product to be based on the new e-TNGA platform which will spawn fully electric vehicles

      Being the world’s largest automaker, it is in Toyota’s best interest to stay at the forefront of the ongoing crossover revolution. The giant’s e-TNGA (electric – Toyota New Global Architecture) is set to spawn a whole new array of future products and most of them are going to be SUVs, including the X-Prologue which has been teased ahead of its world premiere on March 17.
      Toyota X-Prologue – A mid-size crossover
      The latest teaser not only reveals the name of the crossover but also gives us a glimpse of its unconventional front fascia design. The Toyota X-Prologue sports a unique LED DRL that runs across the width of the car and nestled within it are the 3-part LED headlamp elements.
      Being a fully electric vehicle, the crossover does not require a radiator grille and this gives the designers a free hand in shaping up the front fascia. There is a definitive step in the sheet metal design where a conventional grille would be. We will know more about the design in the coming days.
      The previous teaser suggests that the profile of the crossover is relatively less radical than its front fascia, with a flat roofline and a steeply inclined C-Pillar. There is simply no further detail about the Toyota X-Prologue at this moment.
      Patent image for reference. Credit – AutoWeek
      Toyota e-TNGA
      Toyota had announced earlier that its e-TNGA modular platform will be spinning out a whole new range of electric vehicles. The lineup will include a mid-size crossover, a large crossover, a compact crossover, a mid-size sedan and a minivan. Some of these products will also have Suzuki, Subaru and Daihatsu derivatives to take advantage of the synergies.
      The modular platform is is flexible enough to adopt different wheelbases and drive configurations (front-, rear- or all-wheel drive). Different battery sizes and motor outputs are also possible, giving Toyota and its collaborates a wide range of options when it comes to body styles and powertrain configurations.
      The Toyota X-Prologue will be the first product to be based on the e-TNGA. While it will have Europe as its primary market, it is expected to be manufactured in Japan at Toyota’s EV-specific factory. So, it is reasonable to expect it to be sold in its home country as well.
      Patent image for reference. Credit – AutoWeek
      Launch plans in North America and other leading markets in Asia are not clear as of now. With electrification becoming the focus of mobility sector across the world, we expect e-TNGA derivatives to become global models sooner than later.
      It is too early to speculate about the possibility of X-Prologue’s arrival in India. For now, Toyota Kirloskar Motor is focused on maximizing the potential of its product-sharing partnership with Suzuki in the domestic market. More

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      Tata Nexon Electric Granted Stay Against Delisting From Delhi EV Policy

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      Image – Auto Town
      Under test conditions is an accepted industry norm, so selectively targeting Nexon seems unfair

      In response to Delhi’s government’s decision to remove Nexon EV from its subsidy list, Tata Motors approached Delhi High Court for a resolution. As may be recalled, Delhi govt. had taken the decision based on a complaint filed by a Nexon user. As per the complaint, Nexon never reached the claimed ARAI certified range of 312 km.
      A Tata Motors spokesperson said, “The Honourable Delhi High Court has issued notice on our writ and granted interim relief by directing a stay against the delisting of Nexon EV from Delhi Government’s eligible list of vehicles. The Honourable High Court has granted time to the Delhi Government to file counter affidavit in the matter.”
      Tata Motors case in Delhi HC
      In its plea, Tata Motors stated that Delhi government’s decision is an extreme step and based on a single complaint filed by an unsatisfied and disgruntled consumer. The plea also mentions that actual range of most other vehicles including petrol, diesel and CNG is different from the claimed range. This is because mileage of a vehicle is dependent on multiple factors such as environment, traffic conditions, overall load, use of AC, condition of the vehicle, driver skills, etc.
      Tata Motors response seems valid as there are various consumer goods that come with claims based on tests conducted in a controlled environment. In the auto industry, it would be difficult to find a vehicle that can match its claimed mileage in actual road tests. Unless Delhi govt. is planning to pinpoint the shortcomings of generally accepted industry norms, it has little chance to win this case in court.
      Tata Nexon Electric
      Facts in favour of Tata Motors
      It is to note that the current suspension of subsidy for Nexon EV is a temporary one. The final decision will be taken after the expert committee submits its report to Delhi government. The committee will look into the complaints filed by Nexon users as well as assertions made by Tata Motors. The committee has representatives from Delhi Transport Department, Tata Motors, and Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS).
      In its earlier response to Delhi government, Tata Motors had stated that its claimed mileage is certified by ARAI, which is a govt. approved designated body for testing all mass-produced vehicles. As such, the 312 km range is a proven thing under test conditions. The company has also said that Nexon EV easily meets the minimum range requirement of 140 km, which is necessary to be covered under FAME-II subsidy scheme.
      It further said that Nexon EV has already been approved, as per the eligibility conditions mentioned in Delhi EV Policy 2020. Tata Motors had pointed out that even the complainant has mentioned 200 km range, which is higher than the minimum requirement of 140 km to qualify for the subsidy. These points helped Tata Motors get a favourable decision in the court.
      In response, Delhi government’s assertions seem to ignore all the existing rules and laws and focus solely on the complaints filed by some dissatisfied Nexon users. It’s quite like target fixation as of now. That’s unlikely to have any value in the court of law. More