E-trio, a start up focussing on the emerging electric vehicles space, has been testing out prototypes of its two electric vehicles, a hatch and a sedan, for launch over the next few months.
The Hyderabad-based company has already set up an electric car assembly unit at Bolarum in the city outskirts on a six acre site, which will have a capacity to roll out 1,500 cars a month.
Sathya Yalamanchili, Founder of the start up, said, “While the EV 150 hatch, as the name suggests can run for 150 km and the EV 180 sedan, can do 180 km on a single charge. The former has already secured ARAI certification, and the latter is undergoing tests.”
“We have tied up with some original equipment manufacturers in India and one in the US and power train suppliers in China and Taiwan. We plan to assemble Lithium Ion batteries sources from Taiwan for the cars,” Sathya told Business Line.
“Soon, the EV market is expected to get crowded with some of the major players leading the electric mobility drive. Yet we believe we have the technology and right tie ups to play a role in this space. Our focus will be only fleet operators. The immediate goal is to role out first batch of about 300 units over the next few months,” he said.
All the EVs that get to be deployed would be monitored at a central station through a GPS network. In real time, these vehicles would also get information on the nearest charge station. These batteries can be charged up to 80 per cent of capacity within 30 minutes, he said.
“Thus far we have invested about $ 2 million (about Rs 13 crore) on the project. And as we expand, we will look at options to raise funds,” he said.