Energizing India Podcast

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 and unpredictable United States under President Trump, and the increasingly assertive roles of China and Russia are no longer distant headlines—they are now shaping supply chains, energy prices, and strategic decisions in boardrooms across the world. For CEOs in the energy transition space, this raises urgent questions: Are we entering a new era of energy fragmentation? Will supply chains be redrawn along political lines? And most importantly—how should businesses prepare for a world where geopolitics, not just economics, drives outcomes? To help us unpack this, I’m delighted to welcome Pramit Pal Chaudhary. Pramit is one of India’s most respected voices on geopolitics and global strategy. He has been a foreign policy advisor to the Indian government, a senior fellow at leading global think tanks, and a long-time analyst of how power, policy, and economics intersect. Today, we go beyond headlines—to explore the tectonic shifts shaping the future of energy, and what they mean for India and the world.

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 ecosystems instead of chaotic grids.

Sudhakar Chirra, CEO of FreshBus and founder of AbhiBus, joins us to talk about building India’s first all-electric intercity bus fleet. We dive into what it means to start fresh with 100% EVs, balancing profitability in a capital-heavy space, and how technology is redefining passenger experience on the road. Trust us...you do not want to miss this one!!

Three decades, countless innovations, one mission...redefine how India moves. Puneet ANAND 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 globally. I’m your host, Ravin MIRCHANDANI, and today we’re in the driver’s seat with one of India’s most exciting automotive journeys. The transformation of mobility as we knew it in this country. Joining us is a man who quite literally has his fingerprints across the evolution of the Indian automobile industry. Puneet Anand is the vertical head of corporate affairs, corporate communications, and social responsibilities as AVP with Hyundai Motors, India, and has an enviable 3 decades of experience in the Indian automotive sector. Since 1998, Puneet has been an integral part of Hyundai’s leadership in India, steering pivotal functions and driving growth in a dynamic and often unpredictable automotive sector environment. Today, we look under the hood of Hyundai’s clean energy transition from investments in EVs, hydrogen technology, and renewable energy to localization strategies that boost the resilience of India’s economy. We explore the role of public policy, infrastructure, and community engagement that Hyundai plays in redefining mobility in the next generation. What does the road ahead look like for India’s clean mobility revolution? How does a giant like Hyundai balance cutting-edge innovation with deep local relevance? Puneet ANAND, welcome to the program.

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.