ETI Dynamics has introduced the prototype of their hybrid electric-solar vehicle in India. The company claims the “solar electric hybrid scooter” can travel more than 50 km on a single charge at top speed of 45 kmph.
The scooter, priced at Rs 50,000, comes with a bendable, solar panel-fitted canopy, which gets the vehicle charged on the go. The solar panels help increase the range of the vehicles by 15 to 20 percent, the company has stated.
The first batch of the vehicles is expected between January and March, 2016. ETI has stated that it will be launching several other adaptations of the technology such as auto rickshaws, buses and golf carts in India over the next 12 months.
Rajneesh Wadhwa, the chief operating officer of ETI Dynamics, said: “The electric vehicle market hasn’t yet taken off in India due to high costs and lack of charging infrastructure. The technology is restricted to few platforms such as cars.
“We need the entire ecosystem to come up simultaneously. Electric mobility needs a large number of vehicles with an elaborate charging stations network to succeed. We are committed to bring new technologies on the road coupled with charging infrastructure.”
According to Wadhwa, the company will immediately initiate pilots in about five other cities, including Bengaluru, over the coming months and expects the first batch of vehicles to start operations in the next 12 months.
Sanmit Ahuja, the CEO of ETI Dynamics, said the company was also work to develop mobile applications that would help users of their electric vehicles to locate charging stations, make payments and monitor battery performance, among other things.
“The company is in talks with Digit Group, USA, and Sunon Energy, India, to improve community charging infrastructure in urban areas,” Ahuja said.
Although ETI currently has no plan to begin manufacturing vehicles in India, it is looking to establish assembling units in the country, according to Ahuja, the CEO.
