Micromobility is a given in India. Two-wheelers (scooters, motorbikes) and three-wheelers (autos, tuk tuks, rikshaws) dominate the automotive sector with the country being the largest market in terms of both sales and production. But the beginnings were not ideal. Companies wishing to build 3-wheeled vehicles would import kits including motors, controllers, and (sometimes) batteries, and go from there.
More recently, government initiatives have made it more profitable to build all three components in India. And the consumers also prefer local products. Things are finally moving in the right direction, but they’re far from perfect. There are two main issues that are significantly affecting the Indian original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and the 3-wheeler market. They also illustrate how the industry at large can get more efficient, profitable, and provide improved products for the end user.
Issue #1
No manufacturer in India is currently offering the option of motors and motor controllers built and sold together as a propulsion system. These are always separate purchases for 3-wheeler companies whose lives would be so much simpler if they could find combined motors and controllers, developed to work well together.
If this was possible, the final product would be improved in addition to the OEMs’ job becoming easier. After all, if the components are made specifically to work together and if they’re tested together, then they are guaranteed to work better than the currently available alternatives. There would be no need to make any changes, improvements, or redesigns simply to make two separately made products work together better.
Everyone benefits
- The OEMs have a simplified job building and testing the 3-wheelers
- The final product is easier, quicker, and more cost effective to build
- The consumer has a better propulsion system with components built and tested together
Issue #2
Some manufacturers in India have been building their motors and motor controller using designs that were tested in other parts of the world. The problem with this approach is that these designs are not fully adapted for local operational conditions.
The main challenges experienced by manufactures in India include:
- Elevated temperatures and humidity
- Bad roads (dust, water to wade through)
- Stop and go heavy traffic that makes it almost impossible to reach full speed
Motors and controllers need to be efficient (and therefore greener), reliable, and up to the task in these conditions. Offering a product that is made for the local market will garner consumer trust and make manufacturers more competitive.
ePropelled solutions
ePropelled focuses on the idea of relatability and efficiency to get the most out of the paired motor and controller propulsion system. In India, our approach contributes to the OEMs’ success that comes from:
A fully developed product that is a combined motor and controller
Motors and controllers tested in their own vehicles for optimal performance
A system that is specifically built to endure Indian environmental and road conditions
Reliability and efficiency enhancements that are future-proofing their vehicles
By developing and testing our 3-wheeler motors and controllers in India and for the Indian driving conditions, we simultaneously solve two problems which have been seriously affecting the local market.
This is because we understand that each market is different and its manufacturers have their own challenges to face. In this case, the localization of our products contributes to the success of the 3-wheelers in their country of use, as opposed to the propulsion system being built and tested in one country and then shipped to be assembled elsewhere.
Our approach to the Indian market is a gauge of how the industry should look at its propulsion challenges. We believe that as innovators and engineers, we have to understand the end user and the end market while making our motors greener.
To learn more about micromobility or ask some questions about our solutions, go here.
