EV 2025 : Funding futures, battery innovation drive India's EV ambitions
The conversations revolved around the transformative potential of collaborative financing, battery innovation, and policy-powered disruption--clearly underlining that India's EV dream is not just alive but charging forward.
The day commenced with an insightful keynote address titled 'From 2 to 20 million: India's Ambitious EV Journey' delivered by Mr. Mahesh Babu, Global CEO, Switch Mobility.
Setting the tone, he said 'India is not just adapting to change—we're driving it. From policy breakthroughs to grassroots innovation, the momentum in our mobility and technology sectors is unstoppable. But to reach the next milestone, we need more than just investment—we need intent, collaboration, and bold execution.'
Addressing the summit Ms. Ashita Marya, CEO, Franchise India said 'India's EV journey is no longer about catching up—it's about leading with purpose. What we witnessed today is a powerful convergence of innovation, finance, and entrepreneurship. At Franchise India, we believe the future belongs to those who not only build sustainable solutions but also scalable ecosystems. EV 2025
is a clear reflection of that vision taking shape.'
This was followed by a forward-thinking panel discussion: 'Unlocking the Future of EV Funding: Collaborative Funding, Technological Innovation, and Economic Impact.'
Ms. Vasudha Madhavan, Founder and CEO of Ostara Advisors, moderated the panel, which featured Mr. Kunal Mundra, CEO & Founder, Astranova Mobility, Mr. Nandagopal R, President and National Business Head - Green Finance, Shriram Finance, Ms. Akanksha Sharma, AVP, Green Finance, Namdev Finvest, Ms. Nehal Gupta, Founder and MD, AMU Leasing Pvt. Ltd, Mr. Dev Arora, Founder and CEO, Alt Mobility.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Vasudha Madhavan observed, 'In the last decade, we've watched India's EV ecosystem evolve from an idea to an industry. But today, capital isn't just a resource—it's the missing building block that can either make or break innovation.'
Panelists emphasized the urgency of building trust, inclusivity, and accessibility within green finance. Ms. Akanksha Sharma noted, 'Financial inclusivity isn't just a metric—it's a mindset… we must look beyond documents and credit scores and start funding intention. That's how we unlock real, scalable impact.'
Ms. Nehal Gupta said 'Capital is our raw material—and yet accessing it remains our biggest challenge. It's not enough to build assets; we need to build belief—in the model, in the mission,
and in the future.'
A deep-dive panel on battery technology followed, exploring the theme: 'Transforming Battery Manufacturing: Advanced Chemistries, AI, and Regulatory Dynamics.'
In a powerful insight, Guru Punghavan, CEO, Boson Cell said 'Our initial venture was to recycle
end-of-life batteries and retrieve the salts. Now, we've vertically integrated into cell manufacturing, which lets us produce low-cost lithium-ion cells—potentially even more cost-effective than Chinese cells in the EV sector.'
As the event concluded its second day, EV 2025 continued to serve as a vital platform for thought leadership, innovation, and cross-sector collaboration.
With impactful dialogues and clear calls to action, the expo reaffirmed India's growing momentum toward sustainable mobility solutions.
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