The VidyutAI Hackathon 2025 concluded successfully at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN), showcasing India’s emerging talent in Artificial Intelligence and sustainable innovation. The 24-hour innovation sprint brought together some of the brightest young minds to develop AI-based solutions for India’s green energy transition, focusing on Electric Vehicle (EV) safety and next-generation energy management systems.
Fifteen teams from across India and beyond participated in the event, which addressed two major problem domains, Smart EV Battery Safety & Health Monitoring, and Cloud-Enabled Smart Energy Management for Microgrids & EVs. The hackathon also featured the participation of more than twelve industry experts and a special address by Shri Pradip Gandhi ji, Former MP, Chhattisgarh, as part of the Lab to Land Yatra.
The first day of the event began with keynote sessions by India’s leading AI and energy visionaries, while the second day witnessed a live prototype evaluation by a distinguished industrial jury panel. The hackathon provided a unique platform for academia-industry collaboration, enabling participants to engage directly with professionals working on India’s green transition.
The winners of the VidyutAI Hackathon 2025 were announced after rigorous evaluation. In the category of AI-Powered EV Safety & Reliability, Team Neural comprising Sreejan, Mithlesh Singla, and Shivam Kumar from IIT Gandhinagar emerged as the winner, while Team Ampere, consisting of Dhruvpuri Goswami, Sahil Nayak, and Arjav Prajapati from L.D. College of Engineering, Ahmedabad, was declared runner-up. In the second problem statement, Next-Gen Smart Energy Management System (EMS), Team GreenVolt represented by Dhruv Sharma, Astitva Aryan, and Dewansh Kumar from IIT Gandhinagar won first place, while Team Hydro from the National Fire Service College, Nagpur, with members Pirsha S, Rajvi, and Banoth Srija, secured the runner-up position.
The event, organized in collaboration with the Smart Power Electronics Lab at IITGN under the guidance of Prof. Pallavi Bharadwaj, demonstrated how AI can be leveraged to enhance safety, efficiency, and sustainability across India’s power and mobility sectors.
Delivering the inaugural keynote, Hiren Pravin Shah, Founder, MD & CEO of ReplusEngitech, addressed the critical transition to renewable energy, emphasising that “the shift of the grid to energy storage systems is non-negotiable.”
He explained that while companies pursue carbon credits and strive for clean and affordable energy, the increasing variability of power loads is placing unprecedented pressure on power grids. Shah stressed that the key element of this transition must be safety—especially in electric vehicles—noting that any compromise to human life is unacceptable.
He pointed out that current Battery Management Systems (BMS) struggle with efficiency and safety and hailed Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a game-changer for life cycle optimisation, forecasting, degradation monitoring, and fault detection.
Shah concluded with a powerful message on human adaptability:
“Technology will not replace people, but people using technology will replace those who don’t use technology.”
His insights offered a clear roadmap for a safer and more efficient energy transition, positioning AI and smart energy storage as the cornerstones of the future grid.
Mangesh Khare, Head of Advanced Engineering & AI Solutions at HELLA India, presented his vision for the future of mobility and emphasised that research must remain closely aligned with real-world applications. He highlighted that true innovation emerges through collaboration — when individuals with diverse expertise come together to solve complex challenges.
Khare underscored that safety and grid management are paramount in the evolving energy landscape, noting that the industry is rapidly progressing toward full-scale electrification and energy management. He also introduced HELLA’s new product, the E-Fuse, designed to enhance safety and control, and discussed the pivotal role of AI algorithms in improving system efficiency and enabling safe, automated driving technologies.
Dr Shankar Venugopal, Vice President at Mahindra & Mahindra, inspired participants to focus on solving the right problems rather than solving problems quickly. He encouraged innovators to begin with the right questions — Who is affected? Why did the problem arise? How is it impacting stakeholders? What is the root cause? And what kind of solution can truly create impact? To stimulate creative thinking, he shared his key innovation mantra: Create, Combine, Rearrange, Enhance, Adapt, Turnaround, and Eliminate — noting that “Eliminate” is often the most powerful trigger for breakthrough ideas. He further emphasized that impactful and sustainable innovations must balance technical feasibility, economic viability, and novelty — ensuring that new ideas are not only innovative but also practical and scalable.
Sameer Jindal, Director at MG Motor India and SIAM Co-Chair, shared insights into the AI-driven innovations at MG Motor’s Halol manufacturing facility, where Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are central to operations. With an impressive 42% women workforce, the plant reflects MG’s commitment to diversity and technological excellence. Mr. Jindal elaborated on the use of AI tools for big data analytics, market forecasting, and cost optimisation, leveraging Large Language Models (LLMs) and Vision Language Models (VLMs) to interpret vast data streams. He also highlighted MG’s initiatives in renewable energy charging and smart energy management systems; all aimed at promoting sustainability. Concluding his talk, Mr. Jindal spoke about the MG Nurture Programme — an initiative to foster innovation, collaboration, and skill development among young innovators, reinforcing MG’s vision for a smarter, greener mobility ecosystem.
Vaneet Kumar, Senior Vice President & CTO (Battery) at Adani New Industries Ltd., discussed Adani’s efforts to enhance energy storage systems addressing the intermittency of renewable generation. He emphasized that Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are integral at every stage — from conceptualization to deployment — in improving quality, productivity, and efficiency. In energy storage applications, he explained, AI supports performance improvement, battery life extension, and downtime reduction through predictive analytics. Mr. Kumar also highlighted the use of AI in predictive maintenance, revenue optimization, and battery recycling, underscoring its role in sustainable and profitable energy management.
In his closing address, Shri Pradip Gandhi ji spoke passionately about the Vidyut AI Platform, an initiative designed to transform ideas into tangible real-world solutions. He encouraged students to explore, share, and prototype their innovations, emphasizing that true innovation requires depth, effort, and persistence, comparing the process to turning milk into ghee, where refinement brings true value. Through structured mentoring and supportive policies, participants are guided to develop impactful solutions for real industry challenges. Drawing inspiration from the story of Hanuman and Jambavant, he urged young innovators to recognize their inner potential and believe in their strength. He highlighted that youth are the true driving force of innovation and can shape India’s vision for 2027 through creativity, determination, and collaboration. His address concluded with an empowering message of self-belief and action, reminding every student that by nurturing their unique capabilities, they can contribute meaningfully to India’s technological and entrepreneurial growth.
The VidyutAI Hackathon 2025 truly exemplified how Artificial Intelligence can accelerate India’s transition toward a safe, sustainable, and resilient energy future through innovation, collaboration, and real-world application.