Latest news with #RameshNarasimhan
BBC News
03-07-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
The race is one to better 'the electric vehicle experience'
The deadline is just a decade away. From 2035, if you buy a new car in the UK, it will have to be 100% emissions free. But while the pressure to move to electric vehicles (EVs) is transforming the car making landscape, there are firms in the East seizing an opportunity and creating will, however, have to overcome the barriers that studies show still deter motorists from making the switch – cost, range anxiety, charging time and Department for Transport said one in five new cars sold in May was electric, with the UK leading Europe in EV sales this race to develop consumer-friendly EV technology is on. Rules imposed to speed up the transition to electric vehicles in the UK partly drove the decision to close the Vauxhall plant in Luton in March, with the loss of more than 1,000 jobs. For manufacturers, the goal is to make EVs as quick and easy to use as petrol and diesel cars. The Cambridge start-up company, Nyobolt, believes that starts with battery track tests, in a purpose-built sports car, a new battery developed by Nyobolt charged from 10% to 80% in four minutes and 37 seconds - from a 350kW charger. It also has a long life span – able to charge 4000 full cycles while maintaining over 80% battery president Ramesh Narasimhan says it is "like filling up with fuel"."Most cars today, even with fast charging, take around 40 minutes to charge," he said."That takes time away from the customer, and it means planning journeys more." The race to develop this technology is Chinese company BYD announced an ultra-fast charging battery earlier this year. It has overtaken Tesla as the best-selling EV maker in the world, and has just launched a car in the UK. In China, which has prioritised advances in this area, EVs are now the success of Nyobolt's current technology relies on consumers accepting something is not producing batteries with long ranges, because government data suggests 99% of car journeys in the UK are within 100 miles (161km). The test car had a range of 155 miles (250km)."Who needs a battery that will last 1,000 miles?" said Mr Narasimhan. "Why not have a smaller, lighter, cheaper battery which uses fewer natural resources to make?"But Tom Stacey has his doubts. As a senior lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University, he studies consumer attitudes to EVs."Nyobolt's approach is definitely common sense," he said."But drivers have spent decades using cars that are fast to fill up and last for three or four hundred miles, so it's hard for them to accept anything else."It's different in industry and business because they focus on reducing downtime and cost - so they would see the advantage of technology like this." The secret to Nyobolt's battery lies in the anode - the part of the battery which receives electrons when charging and releases them when the battery is being company uses Niobium Tungsten Oxide which Steve Hutchins, vice president of engineering and operations, says has addressed some of the issues associated with lithium-ion batteries."It means the battery can charge faster, using higher power, without getting mega hot and entering the conditions which cause them to potentially catch fire," he said. The company is manufacturing its anode material at a new factory in Haverhill, Suffolk because "it's really important to have production close to the researchers in Cambridge".About 70 staff are expected to work at the site once fully operational, but that relies on demand for the product. The company is in talks with a number of manufacturers, but even though EV sales are increasing, it takes time for companies to invest. "Given the safety tests that have to take place, it could take around four years to get this to market," the company Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders says the charging infrastructure remains the biggest hurdle in changing attitudes to EVs. "With the UK public charging network expanding but far from complete and still costly, many drivers understandably prefer longer-range models," said chief executive, Mike Hawes. As of May 2025, there were 80,998 public charging points in the UK - 8,284 of them were 150kW or above. Nyobolt's batteries charge with a 350kW device. BYD's newly unveiled battery charges at 1000kW. Gridserve, a company specialising in EV charging infrastructure, has started to roll out 350kW devices at service stations along the M1, M4 and "electric forecourts" in Norwich and Braintree - but they make up a small fraction of the overall public system. Mr Narasimhan, however, thinks there is still time to address that problem."If the manufacturers spoke to the government now and said 'we'll have this technology ready in a few years' then work can start on the necessary charging network at the same time," he Department for Transport said it was investing £4bn in helping people switch to EVs and that the public charging network was "expanding at the rate of one every 29 minutes."As a result, EV uptake is accelerating," a spokesperson said. "One in five new cars sold in May was electric, and the UK led Europe in EV sales in early 2025. Infrastructure will continue to match rising sales." No specific data was available on 350kW chargers. For now, Nyobolt's batteries are powering robots - a market which is faster to break into. It also recently secured $30m in funding to continue its research and to develop batteries for heavy vehicles. The government wants the UK to become a leader in battery technology, and runs a scheme to help, which Nyobolt has benefited from, but it is clear that even when companies develop a viable product, the journey to adoption can be slow and uncertain. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Fashion Value Chain
30-06-2025
- Business
- Fashion Value Chain
Worldline White Paper Unpacks the Future of Contactless Payments: SoftPOS to Surpass 34 Million Deployments
Worldline (Euronext: WLN), a global leader in payment services, today announced the release of its latest white paper titled 'SoftPOS: Transforming Contactless Payments Across Industries'. This comprehensive study explores how Software Point-of-Sale (SoftPOS) is revolutionizing payment acceptance for businesses across sectors-from retail and restaurants to transit, healthcare and insurance across India. As India witnesses exponential growth in digital payments-with UPI transaction values crossing Rs. 24.77 trillion in March 2025 alone-the paper underscores why SoftPOS adoption is no longer optional, but an imperative for businesses looking to stay relevant and competitive. Key findings India's mobile payment market is projected to grow from $792.4 billion in 2024 to $4.99 trillion by 2033, at a CAGR of 21.56%. By 2027, SoftPOS is expected to surpass 34.5 million merchant deployments globally. Over 50% of all transactions in the Asia-Pacific region are expected to be tap-based by 2025. Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) will drive over 60% of SoftPOS adoption, leveraging its affordability and ease of deployment. Sectoral trends and applications Retail and e-Commerce: Enables 'endless aisle' experiences and mobile checkout for both in-store and delivery-based transactions. Restaurants and Food&Beverage: Accelerates tap-to-pay acceptance for small and micro-merchants, especially in Tier II and III cities. Transit and Mobility: Powers mobile ticketing, onboard fare collection and seamless reconciliation in buses, metros, and ride-sharing. Healthcare: Simplifies in-clinic and pharmacy payments, supported by digital health initiatives like ABDM and DHIS 1 . Insurance and Financial Services: Empowers agents to collect premiums and issue receipts in real-time-even in semi-urban and rural areas. Mr. Ramesh Narasimhan, Chief Executive Officer – Worldline India, said: 'SoftPOS represents a game-changing leap in India's payments landscape. With the proliferation of smartphones and growing consumer preference for contactless experiences, this technology empowers businesses-especially MSMEs-to accept payments securely, affordably, and flexibly without the need for dedicated hardware. At Worldline, we are committed to driving this innovation, enabling financial inclusion, and shaping the future of digital commerce.' The white paper further outlines the critical need for modernizing payment infrastructure, key differences between SoftPOS and traditional POS systems, security, compliance, and the role of MPoC standards and five-year projections and India's leadership in SoftPOS adoption. 1 DHIS: Digital Health Incentive Scheme and ABDM: Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission About Worldline Worldline (Euronext: WLN) helps businesses of all shapes and sizes to accelerate their growth journey – quickly, simply, and securely. With advanced payments technology, local expertise and solutions customised for hundreds of markets and industries, Worldline powers the growth of over one million businesses around the world. Worldline generated a 4.6 billion euros revenue in 2024. In India, Worldline is a leading Omnichannel payments technology player building a robust payment ecosystem for over 26 years. Worldline is the preferred partner for over 30 leading public and private sector banks, leading sectors like NBFCs, insurance companies, e-commerce businesses, startups, retail brands, hotel chains and many more.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
PayPal, Worldline secure approvals in India for cross-border payments
Worldline ePayments India and PayPal Payments have secured regulatory approvals from Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as cross-border payment aggregators. The authorisation to Worldline ePayments India to operate as an Export-Import Payment Aggregator – Cross-Border (PA-CB E&I) enables the company to facilitate online cross-border transactions for both import and export of goods and services. Additionally, Worldline is also authorised to operate as an online Payment Aggregator (PA) and as a Bharat Bill Payment Operating Unit (BBPOU). Worldline offers the advanced payments technology that helps global customers realise their goals. In India, Worldline is the preferred partner for more than 30 leading public and private sector banks, leading sectors like NBFCs, insurance firms, e-commerce businesses, startups, retail brands, hotel chains and several others. Worldline India CEO Ramesh Narasimhan said: 'We've been present in the Indian market for over two decades and have established a leadership position across sectors. We serve merchants in diverse segments such as eCommerce, BFSI, Retail, Utilities, Education, Travel, and Hospitality. This authorisation from the RBI is a strong endorsement of our unwavering commitment to the Indian market. It reaffirms our focus on regulatory compliance and underscores the importance of a secure and well-regulated payments ecosystem.' PayPal Payments, the Indian subsidiary of PayPal Holdings, has secured in-principle approval from the RBI to operate as a Payment Aggregator – Cross Border – Exports (PA-CB-E). PayPal India Government Relations senior director Nath Parameshwaran stated: 'The in-principle PA-CB-E approval by RBI is a significant milestone for PayPal. It reflects the strength of India's regulatory vision and the progress toward seamless, secure cross-border transactions. As India grows into a global export hub, PayPal remains committed to empowering Indian businesses with trusted digital payment solutions.' With the in-principle approval, PayPal can continue providing cross-border payment services within a regulated framework, supporting Indian merchants with improved consistency, transparency, and security in their global transactions. PayPal said the move opens new avenues for localised product innovations, improved customer experiences, and enhanced access to the company's worldwide payment network for large enterprises, small businesses, and freelancers in India. In 2017, PayPal launched domestic services in India. Although it had offered cross-border payments for years, it couldn't process transfers between Indian accounts until then. The launch enabled it to support both customers and merchants with domestic payment options. "PayPal, Worldline secure approvals in India for cross-border payments " was originally created and published by Electronic Payments International, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
India Gazette
27-05-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
Worldline gets RBI nod to facilitate cross-border online transactions for import-export
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 27 (ANI): Digital payments firm Worldline ePayments India Private Limited on Tuesday announced that it has received authorisation from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as an Export-Import Payment Aggregator - Cross-Border. According to a statement from its parent firm Worldline India, this authorisation enables Worldline ePayments India to facilitate cross-border online transactions for the import and export of goods and services. Worldline ePayments India received the official communication from the RBI on May 21, 2025. Ramesh Narasimhan, Chief Executive Officer - India, Worldline, said, 'We've been present in the Indian market for over two decades and have established a leadership position across sectors. We serve merchants in diverse segments such as eCommerce, BFSI, Retail, Utilities, Education, Travel, and Hospitality.' 'This authorisation from the RBI is a strong endorsement of our unwavering commitment to the Indian market. It reaffirms our focus on regulatory compliance and underscores the importance of a secure and well-regulated payments ecosystem,' added Ramesh Narasimhan. In addition to the newly granted Payment Aggregator - Cross-Border (PA-CB) licence, the company statement said Worldline ePayments India is also authorised to operate as an online payment aggregator (PA), Bharat Bill Payment Operating Unit (BBPOU), enabling digital payments for domestic merchants across the country. In India, Worldline is a leading omnichannel payments technology player building a robust payment ecosystem for over 26 years. Worldline said it is the preferred partner for over 30 leading public and private sector banks, leading sectors like NBFCs, insurance companies, e-commerce businesses, startups, retail brands, hotel chains among others. (ANI)
India.com
27-05-2025
- Business
- India.com
Worldline Gets RBI Nod To Facilitate Cross-Border Online Transactions For Import-Export
New Delhi: Digital payments firm Worldline ePayments India Private Limited on Tuesday announced that it has received authorisation from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as an Export-Import Payment Aggregator - Cross-Border. According to a statement from its parent firm, Worldline India, this authorisation enables Worldline ePayments India to facilitate cross-border online transactions for the import and export of goods and services. Worldline ePayments India received the official communication from the RBI on May 21, 2025. Ramesh Narasimhan, Chief Executive Officer - India, Worldline, said, 'We've been present in the Indian market for over two decades and have established a leadership position across sectors. We serve merchants in diverse segments such as e-commerce, BFSI, retail, utilities, education, travel, and hospitality.' 'This authorisation from the RBI is a strong endorsement of our unwavering commitment to the Indian market. It reaffirms our focus on regulatory compliance and underscores the importance of a secure and well-regulated payments ecosystem,' added Narasimhan. In addition to the newly granted Payment Aggregator - Cross-Border (PA-CB) licence, the company statement said Worldline ePayments India is also authorised to operate as an online payment aggregator (PA) and a Bharat Bill Payment Operating Unit (BBPOU), enabling digital payments for domestic merchants across the country. In India, Worldline is a leading omnichannel payments technology player, building a robust payment ecosystem for over 26 years. Worldline said it is the preferred partner for over 30 leading public and private sector banks, as well as key sectors such as NBFCs, insurance companies, e-commerce businesses, startups, retail brands, and hotel chains, among others.
