16 - 30 November 2011
TWO WHEELER SPECIAL
Auto Monitor
25
Bhargav TS Chennai
T
he ongoing increase in fuel prices has led to greater focus on alternative technologies like hybrids. EVs also known as battery-operated vehicles (BOVs) come in various configurations including bicycles, mopeds, scooters, motorcycles, three-wheelers and cars. Given the current conventional fuel crisis, these maintenance-free and zero emission vehicles are drawing considerable number of buyers. Over 300,000 electric scooters were sold last year in India. This is a clear indication that customers are moving towards electrification instead of gasoline. To address the increasing demand in this segment, Chennaibased BSA Motors is gearing up to launch its new eScooter ‘Fusion’ in the Indian market. Currently the company has three variants and this new model is expected to attract the working women and school students. In a recent interaction with Auto Monitor, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing BSA Motors, Arun Alagappan said, “We will be launching the Fusion model next month, which is targetted at working women and school students. The vehicle is designed to be lighter, takes a payload of 75 kg, is fitted with a 250-watt motor and can travel 70 km per charge. The Fusion is 30 percent localised and we are expecting to increase the localisation level soon.” In early 2012, the company is also looking to launch another model which is powered with a 500-watts motor, which is under testing and has a top speed of 45 kmph. The Fusion has gone into extensive testing for the past six months in the road conditions. Therefore the company sees this particular model is well positioned for its segment and hopes to sell around 3,000 units by the end of 2011. “We carried out extensive market research to understand customer preferences in terms of features, colours and graphics. The product has been specifically designed to suit Indian conditions and has gone through extensive tests and validation to suit to the Indian road and weather conditions,” Alagappan said. From the date of inception, BSA Motors has made around 280 changes in vehicles to meet customers’ expectations. The manufacturer is working on an energy metre concept, which will help the users to fi nd the amount of electricity consumed for the charging the vehicle. After implementing this, users can charge their vehicles anywhere and can pay as per the electricity consumed. When asked about the light weight technology, Arun said, “For the past two years we are working towards this and we have made few changes in the tube structures. To increase its strength and to reduce its weight, we had two specialists from Japan who suggested changes in the tubular structures to make it lighter by 20 kg. As a result, we are getting a mileage of 70 km per charge and are looking to improve further,” he said. At present, the vehicles are fitted with lead acid batteries that weigh around 30 kg. To reduce its weight, the companies have
to opt for lithium ion batteries, which are lighter in weight and more efficient but the cost is three times higher compared to lead acid batteries. The cost of the lithium ion batteries is more since the cost of the technology is higher. Therefore if the cost is reduced, the company would opt for lithium ion batteries. According to Alagappan, electric scooters are selling well in China. “It is actually a paradox that we are emerging only now. As an industry, the time has come for automotive majors to seriously consider India as a market. In China, currently, two-thirds of all two-wheelers sold are EVs but India is much behind from what is happening in China. As far as Indian companies are concerned Hero Group and Yo Motors are already into this segment and many other companies are plan-
Photograph: Bhargav TS
BSA Motors to launch two new eScooters
eScooters being assembled in Ambattur facility
Arun Alagappan, Sr Vice President, Sales & Marketing, BSA Motors
ning to come out with their EV products. Thus the entire auto industry is focusing on this segment.” Currently, the company’s Ambattur plant has a production capacity of 150 eScooters a day, which can be ramped upto 300 units per day as and when
required. The plant is equipped with painting, assembly and testing of eScooters. Key parts like motors, controllers, batteries, lamps, wheel discs, tyres and tubes have been sourced from reputed automotive vendors. The plant is equipped with latest technology for comprehen-
sive full vehicle performance, a test track and a motorised conveyor assembly line with modern assembly tools. In the current year, BSA Motors will be selling around 17,000 units and due to this upcoming new launches it is targeting to sell around 30,000 vehicles in 2012.