Business briefs

Piaggio Vehicles Pvt Ltd on Thursday launched the new version of Apé Xtra LDX cargo three-wheeler with prices starting from Rs 2.52 lakh (ex-showroom Maharashtra).

The Apé Xtra LDX is available in CNG fuel option and is powered by a 230cc, air-cooled, three-valve engine. It has a 5.5 ft-long deck, the company said in a statement.

It comes with upgrades, including increased grade ability by 26 per cent allowing easy plying on flyovers and hilly terrains, and tubeless tyres for higher efficiency and stress-free driving, it added.

*** IIT Kanpur, Lohum Cleantech partner for R&D * Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur and Lohum Cleantech on Thursday announced a strategic partnership for R&D collaboration in sustainability and other core areas.

Under the partnership, Kanwar Singh Nalwa, Professor at the Department of Sustainable Energy Engineering in IIT Kanpur, will lead the team to work together with Lohum on projects focused on advancing lithium-ion battery testing technology and techniques for battery raw material quality evaluation, the two partners said in a joint statement.

In addition to the research collaboration, Lohum will also provide fellowship to select PhD students from IIT Kanpur to aid them in their research, it added.