Micromax co-founder Rahul Sharma plans to enter electric motorcycle segment - Report

27/03/2019 - 16:08 Electric vehicles Suvil Susvirkar

Micromax's co-founder Rahul Sharma aims to venture into electric mobility. Sharma has been working on electric mobility for two years, and he would invest nearly INR 500 crore of his wealth into the project. In fact, the first product, an electric motorcycle, is expected to be unveiled in a few months. However, the brand name and the price of the bike have been kept under covers for now.

Honda PCX Electric cockpit — Rahul Sharma, one of the five co-founders of Micromax, would venture into electric mobility business with a motorcycle. The brand name and details about the upcoming product are yet to be announced. (NOTE: Image of Honda PCX Electric used for representation purpose only.)

Also read: Tork T6X electric motorcycle spotted on test

The electric motorcycle is claimed to be good for 150 km on a full charge and aims to compete against petrol-powered bikes from Hero MotoCorp, Bajaj Auto and TVS.

Speaking to Times of India, Sharma said:

I have done my homework in the EV space, and now intend to disrupt the two-wheeler industry. The idea is to create a motorcycle blockbuster — similar to successes such as Hero’s Splendor and Bajaj’s Pulsar — but with an electric product. This will not only be an environmentally-efficient product, but will provide hugely low running-cost to the users... Every state government is also throwing in additional offers to push the sales of the environmentally conscious vehicles.

The electric motorcycle would be produced at the 1-lakh square feet factory in Manesar. A 45-member team is working on the upcoming bike. The source report adds that the battery cells and the motor would be imported while the EV Control Unit would be made in India.

Sales are expected to start by June-end, and the motorcycle would be first introduced in Delhi while other states would receive the product later. Sharma added:

We plan to expand beyond Delhi soon. The sales model will comprise both franchisee outlets as well as online platforms.

The upcoming electric motorcycle would compete against the existing players like Ather Energy (450 pictured), Hero Electric and Tork Motorcycles among others.

Also read: All-electric Zero SR/F gets smart features and USD 18,995 price tag

The new electric bike would compete against the products from Ather Energy, Hero Electric, Tork Motorcycles and Avan Motors among others. Brands like Bajaj Auto and Benelli have also expressed interest in the electric two-wheeler segment, and they are currently developing their respective products. Ather Energy has also introduced a lease program under which buyers could own its products at relatively affordable rates.

[Source: EconomicTimes.com]

NOTE: Images used in the post are for representation purpose only as Sharma is yet to announce details or reveal images of the upcoming electric motorcycle.