Nashik-based Revamp Moto plans to launch its debut electric scooter this month.
With a 48V architecture, the low-speed offering will also have a 1.2kWh lithium ion battery pack and a 250W motor generating a top speed of 25 kmph, said Pritesh Mahajan, co-founder and CEO.
He told Mobility Outlook that the e2W will be priced at INR 60,000-65,000 (depending on the size of the order) for the B2B segment and INR 70,000 in the mass B2C space. The certification for the vehicle will be done by the Global Automotive Research Centre in Chennai in January 2023.
Revamp Moto also plans to offer an ownership option where the battery can be bought on a rental model. In the process, adds Mahajan, the vehicle cost will be INR 40,000. Talks are on with potential battery providers such as Sun Mobility and this model will kick in after May 2023.
The company initially plans to start off with a D2C (direct-to-consumer) model for which it has partnered with Delhivery with talks also on with Amazon and Flipkart. Mahajan said deliveries will be limited to 15 cities in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Gujarat.
Launch Plans
The idea is to focus on specific markets initially to test the product before expanding in a phased manner and then going nationwide in a year of launch. Beyond the D2C model, Revamp Moto is looking at smart dealership options which will keep retail investments in check. According to Mahajan, this will help build a larger dealership network quickly.
He was also hopeful the product would garner around 10,000 bookings with 60% of the orders coming in for the B2B model. “We have signed MoUs with some B2B clients and the order book is 40,000 units right now,” he said.
Revamp Moto’s products will be assembled at Panache Digilife’s facility in Bhiwandi, Thane, which has an installed capacity of 1.5 lakh units annually. A single shift can roll out 85,000 vehicles.
Mahajan said Revamp has raised $1 million from a pool of 19 investors to develop and launch its first product. Part of the money will also support other products.
Modularity Mantra
The low speed scooter will be followed by a high speed e2W which is undergoing prototyping and will have a motor ranging from 5-6.5 kW peak power. Based on the same principle of modularity, the product will be based on the 48V architecture and offered in the B2B and B2C segments in early 2024.
“Whatever platforms we are putting in front of the world, these are basic skeletons that will allow people to decide if they want a B2B or B2C,” said Mahajan. Besides focusing on modularity, Revamp is keen on standardising the parts for both products. At present, this is around 25% with the commonality target set at 45% by the time the high speed e2W debuts.
Plans are also on for an electric three-wheeler too which could be fitted with the same 48V architecture and have modularity at its core. Likewise, a four-wheeled offering may also follow on these lines.
Mahajan said the company aims to standardise this (48V architecture) across its portfolio since the Centre is “also going to standardise the 48 volt ecosystem over the 60 and 72 volt ecosystem”.
Other Technologies
Besides lithium-ion, Revamp is also looking at other battery based EVs as well as fuel cell vehicles, said Mahajan. Metal batteries, now at the prototype stage, are being explored as an option too. These will use metal plates to generate energy. At present, the company is working on aluminium metal batteries where an aluminium sheet is inserted in the battery packs.
According to him, these battery packs are unlikely to hit the market for the next five years. “It is working for us at the prototyping level, but we are not sure how good this will be on a commercial scale.” As for fuel cells, Revamp is working along with IIT Bombay where “major development is happening”. As in the case of metal batteries, this is still some time away since commercialisation “will take a good amount of time”.
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