Energizing India Podcast

Today we are discussing one of the least understood but most critical parts of India’s energy transition: the electricity distribution system. Solar, wind, EVs, batteries and green hydrogen may get the headlines, but the real test is whether India can deliver reliable, affordable, high-quality power to every consumer, every hour, in every state.  To explore this, we are delighted to welcome Alok K...

India’s electric bus story may become one of the most important chapters in our clean mobility transition. While most EV conversations focus on cars and scooters, buses are where the impact can be massive. India has roughly 20 lakh buses, but only a fraction operate from organised depots where charging can be planned and scaled. In 2024, India registered around 3,700 electric buses, compared with...

Welcome to the Energizing India Podcast. Today, we have the privilege of welcoming back to the podcast for a third time one of India’s sharpest strategic minds — former Foreign Secretary of India. Vijay served as India’s 32nd Foreign Secretary after a distinguished 39-year career in the Indian Foreign Service. He has served as India’s Ambassador to China and Germany, as well as the High Commission...

Five years ago, EV charging in India was a promise… today, it’s a battlefield. Billions of dollars committed, networks being built at speed, and yet—range anxiety, broken chargers, and questions on profitability still linger. The hype phase is over. This is now about execution, resilience, and who actually survives the decade. My guest today isn’t theorising about this transition—he’s building it....

Over the past decade, the energy transition has largely been framed as a technology and capital story—batteries getting cheaper, EV adoption accelerating, hydrogen scaling, and climate capital flowing across borders. But in the last few months, something fundamental has shifted. Geopolitics is back at the center of energy. The escalating conflict involving Iran, the return of a more protectionist...

Designing Cities for People, Not Just Cars: Rethinking Urban Mobility with Zohra MUTABANNA What happens when we plug electric vehicles into cities that were never built for them? Urban designer Zohra Mutabanna joins us to unpack the real design challenges of India’s mobility future...from shared transport to the Avoid-Shift-Improve model, and how our cities can evolve into living, breathing ecosys...

Welcome to the Energizing India Podcast! On this program, we engage with the key protagonists shaping the future of energy, mobility, and sustainability in India and globally. I’m your host, Ravin MIRCHANDANI, and today we’re stepping into a completely new lane of India’s transport story in relation to zero-emission intercity travel going electric. We’re talking about FreshBus, a young but ambitio...

Three decades, countless innovations, one mission...redefine how India moves. PuneetANAND pulls back the curtain on Hyundai’s journey in clean energy, EVs, and community-driven mobility. Buckle up, it’s a ride into the future. Welcome to the Energizing India Podcast. On this program, we engage with the key protagonists shaping the future of energy, mobility, and sustainability, both in India and g...

Today, we welcome back Uday Narang San. Uday is one of the few real innovators of electronic mobility in India. Focusing on the 2-wheeler, 3-wheeler, and 4-wheeler transport space in India.  And it’s always exciting to have Uday on the show to have a candid conversation about what gives and often what does not. Uday San, welcome to the program.

Can democracies compete with China's algorithmic hegemony in the energy transition? In this pivotal episode, we sit down with Peter Varghese AO, former head of Australia's Office of National Assessments (Australia's intelligence agency), former High Commissioner (Ambassador) to India, and former Australian Secretary of Foreign Affairs, for an unfiltered discussion about the new world order reshapi...

⚡️⚡️Energizing India Podcast Alert! ⚡️⚡️ 1991: India’s Near-Default Moment. How Did We Survive — and  in 2025 What  Challenges Come Next? | Montek Singh AHLUWALIA On this program, we engage with the key thinkers and leaders shaping India's economic, energy, and policy landscape. I'm your host, Ravin MIRCHANDANI, and today, honestly, I'm a little bit starstruck. Joining us on the show is someon...

⚡️⚡️Energizing India Podcast Alert! ⚡️⚡️ Bangalore's pollution- a victim of its own economic success. Can EVs change that? | Thirumalai NC, Sector Head - Strategic Studies at CSTEP In this episode of the Energizing India Podcast, we head to India’s tech capital — Bangalore — a city at the heart of innovation, but also at the edge of an infrastructure overload. With startups like Ola, Ather, an...

In 2025, hydrogen is a darling of the energy sector. It represents hope for a greener tomorrow and the opportunity to democratize the energy generation industry, allowing any country to generate energy rather than being subject to the tyranny of the hydrocarbon molecule. Yet, it is underrepresented by women at the senior level and all levels of management globally. The Women Leaders in Hydrogen -...

In this episode, we explore the intersection of policy and industry with a distinguished guest who plays a central role in advancing Australia's engagement with India.   We are honored to welcome Phil Green, Australia's High Commissioner to India, and a seasoned diplomat with a remarkable career spanning four continents. Over the years, Phil has served as High Commissioner or Ambassador to Germany...

In this episode, Vijay Gokhale, former Indian Foreign Secretary, offers a nuanced analysis of the evolving dynamics of geopolitics and global trade. He examines China's strategic maneuvers in supply chain control, its negotiation strategies, and the broader implications for international diplomacy. The episode also evaluates the potential repercussions of Donald Trump’s return to the U.S. presiden...

On Energizing India, we speak with key protagonists in the energy transition and clean mobility sectors to uncover what works, what often doesn’t, and to hear from those who have faced the toughest challenges. While we frequently discuss topics like lithium, hydrogen, and electric mobility, there is another part of the energy transition sector that quietly contributes to making the world a better...

In this episode, we welcome one of the key protagonists for both electric mobility and hydrogen energy in India: Amitabh Kant. A distinguished bureaucrat and policymaker, he is recognized for his substantial contributions to the development of the Indian economy. An alumnus of St. Stephen's College and JNU, he joined the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in 1980. Mr. Kant is renowned for his rol...

India's population is projected to surpass China's in both overall numbers and population density in the coming years. This growth is particularly concentrated in urban areas, which are facing significant challenges. Traffic congestion, increased road stress, road rage, and heightened demand for utilities and essential services are adversely affecting the quality of life for residents. To improve...

In his Independence Day address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed the government's commitment to establishing India as a global leader in green hydrogen through the National Green Hydrogen Mission. In just a year and a half, this mission has placed the hydrogen molecule at the forefront of discussions among energy developers, investors, policymakers, and industry leaders.   The introduction...

The Indian EV and energy transition sector has been in flux for the last three years. If you looked at it just three years ago, there were only a few thousand vehicles on the road. Since then, we've seen exponential growth: today, there are hundreds of thousands of electric two-wheelers, many thousands of three-wheelers, and thousands of new electric buses being added to the roads every year. Tata...

India has 326 million registered vehicles on the road in 2024. Seventy-five percent of these are two-wheelers, including scooters and motorcycles, down from 80% just four years ago. Approximately 12% of these are trucks and buses, with the vast majority being trucks, as only 2% of registered vehicles in India are buses. The fastest way to clean the air in Indian cities is to convert public transpo...

In this episode, Vijay Gokhale, former Indian Foreign Secretary, delves into the complexities of global energy transitions and geopolitics. He discusses China’s rapid technological advancements, strategic geopolitical maneuvers, and the global implications of energy resource control. Gokhale also provides insights into India’s strategic positioning, technological growth, and the intricate balance...

In this episode, we talk to some of the biggest EV Charger OEMs in India, discussing the various challenges in the EV charging space and how Indian charger companies can dominate the global competition. We feature Arth PATEL, Founder & CEO of Tirex Chargers, and Amit KEKARE, Head of E-Mobility at Siemens, along with Ravin MIRCHANDANI, Chief Dream Merchant at Quench EV Chargers and the host of the...

In 2024, hydrogen is a darling of the energy sector. It represents hope for a greener tomorrow and the opportunity to democratize the energy generation industry, allowing any country to generate energy rather than being subject to the tyranny of the hydrocarbon molecule. Yet, it is underrepresented by women at the senior level and all levels of management globally. The Women Leaders in Hydrogen -...

Harshavardhana Gourineni is an accomplished business leader who has made significant contributions to the growth and expansion of Amara Raja Energy and Mobility Limited. Harshavardhana has worked in various roles and industries, gaining a wide range of experience and expertise. After living in the US for 25 years, Harsha moved to India and was appointed as Executive Director of Amara Raja. In this...