Whenever the world is shaken by new technology, it is most probably by a startup. Startups have this innate potential to take up an idea and converting it into a viable business plan then scaling it into a massive success. Amazon and Flipkart changed the way we shop, Tesla has done the same with electric cars they changed the way the world looked at electric cars.
According to reports, the Indian government plans to give EV manufacturers new incentives worth up to $8 billion over the next five years. Nitin Gadkari, India’s transport minister, who has stated that he drives an electric vehicle, has urged people to support the transition to electric vehicles.
Gadkari also stated that 100 % lithium-ion batteries, which are a critical component in electric vehicles, will be manufactured in India, while the government also conducts research on other readily available materials for batteries such as aluminium ion, sodium ion, steel ion, and zinc ion.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman pushed for the Indian Electric Vehicles Mission in the country’s Union Budget 2019-20. The finance minister announced a tax break for people who purchase electric vehicles in an attempt to increase their popularity.
Top 10 Electric Vehicle Startups in India
There are few promising electric vehicle startups in India that have the potential to revolutionise the Indian electric vehicle motor sector.
Today we are looking at the top 10 electric startup companies in India.
#1. Tork Motors
In September 2016, Kapil Shelke’s Tork Motors unveiled its first product, claiming to be India’s first electric motorcycle. The company has since raised money from big players in the Indian auto industry, including Ola’s Bhavish Aggarwal, and Ratan Tata, the former Chairman of Tata Sons.
The company’s first electric motorcycle, the TX6, is expected to hit the market soon. Despite the fact that the company previously released a Yamaha FZ prototype with an electric motor, it failed to gain traction in the Indian market. Tork Motors is currently in the final stages of testing, but an official confirmation is still pending. It has a production facility in Pune that can produce 20,000 units per year.
#2. Okinava
Jeetender Sharma and Rupali Sharma started the Indian electric two-wheeler firm Okinawa in Gurugram in 2015. The company claims to be a 100% Indian electric two-wheeler manufacturer, with a manufacturing facility in Bhiwadi, Rajasthan. The company also produces low-cost lithium-ion scooters, which they displayed at the Auto Expo 2020.
After the partial lockdown was lifted, the company sold over 1,000 electric scooters. In May 2019, the company even obtained FAME II certification for the I-Praise and Ridge+. In the financial year 2018-19, Okinawa reported revenue of Rs 200 crore, and it plans to build a second facility that will be operational in the first half of 2020-21. By the end of the current fiscal year, it hopes to have sold one lakh electric two-wheelers in India.
#3. Revolt Intellicorp
In April 2019, Revolt Intellicorp, which was founded by Rahul Sharma, a co-founder of Micromax, announced its entry into the world of electric motorcycles. It is financed by a Rs 500 crore personal investment by Rahul and aims to disrupt the Indian motorcycle industry.
In Delhi and Pune, Revolt offers monthly installment plans for the RV 400 and RV 300, with monthly payments starting at Rs 2,999. The company has a manufacturing plant in Manesar that can produce 1.2 lakh units per year.
#4. BattRE
BattRE was founded in 2017 by Nishchal Chaudhary, a former Airtel executive, and is based in Jaipur. Through e-bicycles and e-scooters, the startup aims to provide innovative solutions to address issues such as carbon footprints, noise pollution, and traffic congestion. In June 2019, the company launched operations in South India, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.
It currently has over 50 distributors across six states. By April 2020, BattRE plans to expand into Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan. The BattRE GpSie electric scooter was recently launched in India at a price of Rs. 65,000. The BattRE-One is a new product with premium features such as connected instrumentation, keyless ignition, an anti-theft alarm, and a USB charger.
#5. Ather Energy
The Bengaluru-based startup, founded in 2013 by IIT Madras graduates Tarun Mehta and Swapnil Jain, has released two electric scooters – the 340 and 450 – as well as the AtherGrid, an electric vehicle charging infrastructure. It announced the opening of a new manufacturing plant in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, in December 2019.
As part of its new EV policy, the electric vehicle startup has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tamil Nadu government. Ather’s new facility will bring jobs to the area, with the company confirming that over 4,000 employees will be trained on electric vehicles over the next five years as part of this initiative.
#6 Pravaig Dynamics
Bengaluru-based electric mobility start-up, Pravaig Dynamics, unveiled its Extinction MKI luxury electric coupe with some eye-popping specifications.
The start-up claims that this two-door and four-seater electric car can run 504 km on a single charge (battery range). Powered by a 96 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, the Extinction MKI generates an output of 200 brake horsepower (bhp) with a top speed of 196 km/h. It can also accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.4 seconds.
But the standout specification is the battery range of 504 km. To put this figure into context, the Tesla Model Y Long Range has a battery range of a little over 508 km, while the Hyundai Kona claims 452 km per full charge. In India, the MG ZS EV (of MG Motor) claims 340 km, while the recently launched Mercedes-Benz EQC stands at 350 km.
#7. Ultraviolette Automotive
Ultraviolette automotive is a Bengaluru based start-up that introduced F77 electric motorcycle in India. The maximum power output of this motorcycle is 25 kW at 2250 rpm. It accelerates from 0 – 100 km/h in 7.5 seconds. With 3 battery packs in the vehicle, it provides you a range of 130 – 150 km. It could attain a maximum speed of 147 km/h.
The electric vehicle and battery tech start-up has added 3 modular lithium-ion battery pack into the F77 electric motorcycle. The maximum capacity of the battery is 4.2kWh and it charges in 5 hours using standard charger. The fast charging is also enabled in the vehicle and the battery gets fully charged in 1.5 hours.
#8. Strom Motors
Strom Motors is a Mumbai based electric vehicle start-up. The main product from them is the Strom R3 electric personal mobility vehicle. This is a three wheeled two seater electric car. Strom R3 is ARAI certified vehicle and has filed patents for its Vehicle Control Unit (VCU). It uses a 48 V battery system that the company says will result in an additional 5-10 years second life, in applications like UPS storage and emergency backups.
The prebooking has opened for this car that provides you a range of 200 km.
#9. Yulu
Yulu is a technology-driven mobility platform that enables Integrated Urban Mobility across public and private modes of transport. Using Micro Mobility Vehicles (MMVs) through a user-friendly mobile app, Yulu enables first and last-mile connectivity that is seamless, shared and sustainable.
Yulu Miracle is a low-speed electric bike designed for urban traffic conditions. The vehicle can be accessed using YULU mobile app and you can book a ride. After reaching the destination, you have to park the vehicle at the Yulu zone, lock it and end the ride using the mobile app.
There is another vehicle available in Yulu fleet. That is Yulu Move bicycle.
As of now, it is not possible to buy Yulu vehicles in India.
#10. Ola Electric
We know that Ola Cabs is an online cab booking service available in India. They are setting up the world’s largest electric scooter factory in Tamil Nadu. Earlier Ola had acquired Amsterdam based premium electric scooter manufacturing company named Etergo.
The Ola electric is introducing its electric scooter and setting up 1 lack hypercharge network stations for 400 cities.
Conclusion
The electric vehicle startups from India have all the potential and supportive environments to grow and become successful. The thing is, they have to prove themselves and that’s what it counts. The companies have all the support from the government and the market trend is also in their favor and now it’s time for them to make a statement.
The start-ups in India are not limited to the 10 that we listed here. There are many companies who work hard to make premium quality electric vehicles in India.
Could you name some EV startups in India? Share with us in comments!
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Key Points
- Tork Motors
- Okinawa
- Revolt Intellicorp
- BattRE
- Ather Energy
- Pravaig Dynamics
- Ultraviolette Automotive
- Strom Motors
- Yulu
- Ola Electric