Bangalore-based company, Ekovehicles has launched a battery operated electric scooter, the Eko Cosmic-I this year. Chairman, Anil Ananthakrishna discusses his plans to introduce more EVs in the near future…
Sridhar Chari What exactly is your electric scooter all about?
From 1996 onwards I have been involved with the design, development and commercial production of several classes of electric vehicles and subsystems with companies in Taiwan, and China.
During Jan-July 2004, I presented an electric scooter in Finland, Europe which has received regulatory approval there and we simultaneously established Ekovehicles Pvt Ltd in Bangalore, India. The present product, in the form of a two-wheeler, is powered by a 'BLDC' Brushless Direct Current Hub mounted electric motor with 86 percent efficiency. Since the motor is an integral part of the hub, this eliminates conventional transmission elements like chain, sprocket, belts, gears etc. The batteries are sealed and maintenance free. The vehicle is fitted with an intelligent microprocessor-based speed controller. A compact portable transformer-free high frequency switching battery charger is offered as a part of the vehicle. The customer can recharge the vehicle batteries from any domestic charging socket. Moreover, the styling and design of the vehicle is such that it looks and feels like a conventional scooter and not too radical.
There has been talk on an electric motorcycle…
We expect to release the electric motorcycle during January 2006. The vehicle will be offered in two versions, powered by a BLDC hub motor rated for 500 watts and 800 watts. Speed will be about 45-60kph, operational range will be around 60-80km per charge.
From the present market response for the Cosmic-1, which has registered sales of around 400 vehicles since its January 2005 launch, we are confident that 50,000 of these motorcycles may be sold in India during the first year of launch.
What is the extent of localisation, and how do you keep costs low?
With mass production of essential components and parts of the power pack (battery, motor, controller, charger…), and by utilising standard two-wheeler parts (lighting, plastic body parts, and standard steel tube chassis), we have managed to keep the cost (Rs 25,000-30,000) of the vehicle at a price that is lower than a conventional petrol driven scooter. Add to this the fact that electric motors have considerably lower running costs as compared to IC engine powered vehicles.
At present, we import most components from Europe, US and China. We have an EoU in China to help us source components in a cost effective manner. We assemble these components at our Bangalore plant. But we intend to significantly enhance the extent of localisation because it is our intent to make India the manufacturing hub for our electric vehicles.
Electric vehicles have fewer components and the critical element is the power pack. Most of the other parts can be locally sourced. We are talking to Crompton Greaves to supply us with the motors, and samples will arrive in two weeks time. We are also in discussions with Roloform for the supply of wheel rims and to Fiem for headlights and taillights. As of now we source products like tyres and brake shoes from the local aftermarket. In the near future, especially for our motorcycles, we would look to localise to the extent of 80-85 percent. Only high end products like electronics would need to be imported from Japan and Europe.
The present product overcomes the various disadvantages of conventional motorised two wheelers as the power drive is through an electric motor, which is an integral part of the hub of the wheel. Along with present designs, several patented chassis designs have been developed with a plastic shell to fit over it, forming a compartment capable of accepting different sizes of power packs (motor + battery + controller + charger), and thus reduce material and manufacturing costs.
When will you be introducing lithium batteries for your vehicles? And by when do you see rapid charging stations becoming more accessible to EV users?
We intend to introduce Lithium-Ion and Nickel Metal Hydride batteries with our electric vehicles by 2006. These batteries will be capable of providing a range of 80-100km per charge, as against the 40-60km range offered by lead batteries. These battery packs will be offered both for existing Cosmic-1 models as well as for an electric bike called E-Bike, and a motorcycle version of our electric two-wheeler. The batteries are presently undergoing tests. Ekovehicles has plans to establish a joint venture to manufacture these batteries with manufacturers based in the US, and China. Rapid Charging Stations (RCS), by which batteries can be recharged in 10 to 15 minutes, are in the process of being installed at dealer outlets in Bangalore and this facility will become available by August 2005. We hope to set up 140 RCS over the next 18 months - at parking lots and public places like shopping malls. The cost of a station is Rs 90,000 and the capital expenditure can be recovered within a year, assuming a rate of Rs 10 per charge and 30 recharges per day.
Would you also intend to launch electric 3- and 4-wheelers in some time? How big do you think would the market be, for these?
We are now waiting for a clear directive with regard to the Motor Vehicle Act and Rules before we launch our three- and four-wheelers. Ekovehicles is ready to roll out an electric three- and four-wheeler for public transport in volumes of 3,000-4,000 units per month, within 45 days of the receipt of orders, once adequate regulations are in place. The potential market, considering just five cities in India, will be a conservative minimum of 20,000 vehicles per city to begin with. Both the above vehicles will be offered as a replacement to existing auto rickshaws and taxis, for short distance commuting requirements of 80 to 100km.
The product has been designed both as a two- and four-seater. It is my vision that a comfortable 2-seater, 4-wheeler will serve the requirement of providing a comfortable means of transportation as a replacement to existing polluting auto rickshaws and taxis. The right price, the right product, the right time and rapid charging option with sealed maintenance free batteries is an absolute must for electric vehicles to be acceptable. I am also of the opinion that we do not initially attempt to sell the vehicle to individuals. The vehicles will only be offered as public transport.
What are your views on hybrid technology for cars?
I first developed hybrid cars in 1999 and prototypes were tested in Netherlands. A fixed axle trailer electric power pack (TEEP) that consists of battery + motor + controller + charger), hooked on as a trailer to existing IC engine automobiles, can be a viable answer. In such a case the vehicle can run both on conventional fuel and electric power.
However, I feel it will be better to offer an EV with high energy density, state-of- the-art batteries that are now becoming commercially available in the market. The concept of hybrid Vehicles is not new and has only recently become acceptable to the consumer - primarily due to the realisation of the fact that the traffic density in our cities limits speed to an average of around 25kph. It must be noted that a hybrid vehicle will not provide for a pollution free mode of transport. At the most, it will be a little more economical in operation.
Any plans for new investments in the business? And how do you plan to sell your vehicles all across India?
We have already invested more than Rs 10 crore on the Eko Cosmic-I and have further plans to invest about around Rs 24 crore over the next two years towards production -assembly facilities to be established in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharastra, and Punjab.
Only the Karnataka state government has taken the lead and accorded clearance to introduce electric two-wheelers while the central government agencies and other States are dragging their feet. As on date over 16 dealers outlets have been opened and in operation in Bangalore, Gulbarga, Kolar, KGF, Mysore, and additional outlets are under appointment in several towns in Karnataka.
The present status, with respect to the lack of policy decisions and norms for introduction of electric two-wheelers in India hinders national introduction
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