Bihar's Prashant started electric cycle startup 8 months ago; Now turnover is 30 lakh rupees, 10 people have also been given employment
Petrol prices are skyrocketing these days. Day by day the price is increasing. This is directly affecting our pockets. Especially on the middle class and lower income class. Those who use petrol vehicles for their work or for office, the burden of additional expenditure is increasing on them.
Now the demand for electric bikes and bicycles is increasing. Many big companies are making this type of E vehicle. One such startup has been started by Prashant Kumar, a resident of Muzaffarpur, Bihar. They are making and supplying E-cycle based on new technology across the country. In the last 8 months, he has sold more than 250 E-cycles and generated a business of Rs 25 to 30 lakhs.
52-year-old Prashant Kumar did sales marketing work for 10 years after doing his masters from Delhi University. After this, he worked with motor companies for a few years. Then his interest increased, so he started doing research on different motors. He also developed the Permanent Magnet Generator (PMG). After its success, he started working on developing an electric bike.
Prashant says that in March 2020, I was about to launch a cruise electric bike on the lines of Harley Davidson. Everything was almost ready. Then the lockdown came. This was a difficult time for us. Because along with money, we also spent a lot of time on this. Waited for a few days that everything would be fine, but the situation of Corona was deteriorating day by day and the lockdown was also increasing.
In the meantime, a thought came to mind that why not launch an electric cycle instead of a bike. In this the cost will also be less and people will be able to buy easily. Then in August we took a place in Delhi and started working.
Right now 10 people are working in his team. They are producing more than 10 cycles every day. He has got advance orders for more than 300 cycles so far. Prashant says that we buy raw material from Delhi to make E cycle, then develop it in our factory. It costs 20 to 22 thousand rupees to make a cycle. Whereas they supply to the customers for 35 thousand rupees.
Usually this type of bicycle has a hub motor, but this cycle is based on mid drive motor technology. Its advantage is that we can run it with both battery and pedal. When we drive by pedaling, the motor will stop. This will save our battery power.
This E cycle is a cross product of a common cycle and a scooty. That is, its look is very similar to Scooty. It can be easily operated by men as well as women. They will not have any problem in sitting. Most bicycles do not have a back seat or luggage storage, but this bicycle has a seat like a bike at the back. on which a man can sit comfortably or keep some belongings. It can comfortably bear a weight of up to 140 kg. Its total weight is 27 kg.
This cycle has a 24 volt lithium ion battery. It can travel up to 100 km on a single charge. It takes three hours to charge it. You can charge it at home.
According to Prashant, to a large extent, this E-cycle is like a common bicycle. It is very easy to operate it. In addition, its maintenance is also economical and convenient. If there is any problem, it can be repaired by a common bicycle repairer.
Prashant's company gives one year warranty. If the battery gets damaged during this time, then they provide new battery. If there is any problem related to the motor, then they replace the cycle itself. However, in the last 8 months, no such problem has come so far.
Prashant says that this cycle can run at a maximum speed of 25 kilometers per hour. For this no license or registration is required and there is no fear of deducting the challan. Any woman, elderly, even children can ride this cycle comfortably. Most of our customers are office or school-college people.
Prashant is currently marketing his E-cycle in two ways. He has launched an online website named voltron.in.net. It can be ordered from anywhere in the country. He has tied up with some transporting companies. They deliver within 10 days. For this, a user guide is given to the customer so that they can install it themselves. If there is any problem, then it is tried to remove it through video call or by sending local staff.
Along with this, he has created dealership chains in many states including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Delhi, South India. E cycle can also be purchased from there. They are also expanding their network in many more states. He says that his work has been affected a bit due to the lockdown. As soon as the market starts opening and people start leaving for work, their business will increase. They say that we have arranged for the customers to pay in installments through EMI and credit cards.
Prashant says that in the coming four to five months we are going to launch E harvester for the farmers. Right now farmers not only need more money for harvesting the crop, but also time is wasted. To overcome this we have developed E Harvester. It will harvest maximum crop in less time. Due to this, the expenditure on the farmer will be negligible.
