Pranav Dandekar (44) confronted a refrain of recommendation from his mates to forgo his formidable plan of constructing an electrical micro-car in favour of a extra sensible two-wheeler or three-wheeler. They argued that these digital car alternate options have been extra common, simpler to construct, and higher suited to the present market calls for.
But, Pranav stood his floor, resolute in his pursuit regardless of the intensive rules for EV vehicles in India, together with the necessity for a brand new driving license and countless trials.
“Individuals typically assume that creating new EVs ought to be easy, but it surely nearly by no means works out completely on the primary strive,” explains Pranav, who beforehand labored as a software program engineer at Amazon. He insists that an engineer’s method is essential, contemplating elements such because the car’s weight, sturdiness, and the way successfully it may be assembled.
For Pranav, the enjoyment is discovered within the ongoing journey and the a number of iterations alongside the best way.
Whereas lounging of their Indore courtyard, his father organized two armchairs in a row and mentioned, “That is precisely how compact I would like the automotive to be.” Prakash Dandekar’s thought was for a car akin to an 1800s buggy — easy and comfortable, good for having fun with a leisurely experience with the wind in your face. Pranav, nevertheless, had a distinct thought. He most well-liked a sturdier automotive fitted to lengthy distances. “I knew it could be a tricky mission, so I attempted to speak him out of it,” Prakash laughs.
This led to the creation of ‘Robin’, their first electrical micro-car — a two-seater EV that Pranav and Prakash declare shall be as agile as a bike. The car is about to be launched subsequent yr by Wings EV, their startup primarily based in Indore.
With 46 years of expertise in electrical engineering, Prakash had lengthy been smitten by creating an EV. “We used to joke that we wished to create an electrical car designed fully by electrical engineers, given that the majority EV firms in India design their automobiles via mechanical and automotive engineers,” he recollects.
The daddy-son group has now efficiently turned that concept right into a actuality.
Throughout a go to to his son within the US, the place Pranav had been primarily based for 17 years, Prakash and Pranav mentioned how EVs could possibly be adopted in India. They debated whether or not to retrofit current automobiles with electrical motors or design fully new ones.
To discover this, they bought a tricycle from Walmart and remodeled it into an electrical mannequin with a hub motor, battery, and microcontroller that allowed the rider to talk whereas in movement. Prakash thought this electrical tricycle could be ultimate for navigating India’s crowded streets as an alternative of utilizing a cumbersome automotive. “We joked that with a roof, our tricycle could be like an auto rickshaw,” Pranav chuckles. Nonetheless, Pranav felt a four-wheeler electrical automotive may be a extra thrilling possibility.
Within the early levels, Pranav and Prakash experimented by drawing rectangles of various sizes on the ground to search out the perfect dimensions for his or her automotive. Robin began as a easy prototype — a two-seater with 4 wheels and no physique — for which Prakash created a software program program.
They then had completely different drivers check the car, having them drive in circles to substantiate the car’s viability. The prototype ultimately handed the rigorous checks of the Automotive Analysis Affiliation of India (ARAI), and Prakash beamed with pleasure because the automotive’s spectacular efficiency caught the examiners off guard.
When Pranav and Prakash began their automotive design course of in 2018, they used cardboard cutouts to construct a tough prototype and invited individuals to check it. They requested for suggestions on the way it felt, what options they anticipated, and any issues that they had. This enter was instrumental in shaping the ultimate design. Over the subsequent 5 years, they carried out quite a few surveys with professionals in varied cities to determine their target market.
Pranav believes their method units them other than conventional automotive firms who usually view automobiles as both two-wheelers or four-wheelers. “For customers, the precedence is environment friendly and fast transportation, not car kind,” he says.
As they labored on Robin, Pranav prioritised designing it with the footprint of a two-wheeler. “Dad and I insisted that if we may maintain it throughout the dimension of a bike, it could be versatile sufficient to entry any space the place motorbikes are allowed and parked,” Pranav notes. “This concentrate on dimension made Robin extremely helpful but additionally very difficult to construct.”
“Robin is roughly half the dimensions of the Tata Nano, which many Indians already seen as fairly small,” Prakash says. Regardless of the automotive’s small dimensions, the father-son duo efficiently integrated all important options, together with seat belts, steering, brakes, headlamps, taillights, and even an air con system. Prakash provides that the AC was added particularly for buyer consolation, regardless that it’s uncommon to search out such an amenity in a automotive as small as Robin.
The daddy-son group now gives check drives in six cities, and whereas individuals are initially enthusiastic, additionally they have reservations about electrical vehicles. “Their issues fade away as quickly as they start driving,” Prakash shares. They primarily based the automotive’s design on Prakash’s dimension — he’s over 6 toes tall and weighs 110 kg. “If Dad is comfy, then anybody ought to be too,” Pranav believes.
Of their surveys, Pranav and Prakash discovered that many individuals both didn’t know how you can drive or had stopped driving. Some have been involved that Robin would possibly really feel too cramped or unstable. “But, inside 5 minutes of driving, most customers shortly adjusted and felt very comfy,” Pranav shares. The automotive’s computerized options get rid of the necessity for clutches, and the flexibility to sit down proper in the course of the automotive gives customers clear visibility in all three instructions, serving to them really feel safer.
Those that normally avoid giant automobiles on slim streets discovered Robin’s dimension good for higher management and security. “Customers felt it was like driving a bike however a lot safer,” Pranav explains.
‘Our aim was to create a private mobility car’
Prakash, an avid driver, typically discovered himself alone in his automotive. “Driving my Wagon R, it aggravated me that, regardless of it being a five-seater, it was all the time simply me within the automotive. I couldn’t ignore the emissions of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide; it felt nearly prison,” he reminisces. He believed {that a} smaller automotive would utilise assets higher.
As the previous head of Pc Methods at Tata Motors, Prakash typically mentioned smaller electrical vehicles however confronted scepticism from friends who felt such automobiles would require too many assets and wouldn’t promote. “Automakers usually aren’t eager about making smaller vehicles,” Prakash notes. Most vehicles available on the market cater to households of 4 or 5, leaving a distinct segment for compact automobiles like Robin, ultimate for solo or duo use, similar to grocery procuring or choosing up a toddler from faculty.
“Our aim was to create a private mobility car,” Pranav explains, noting that they intentionally selected to not design a household automotive. Prakash, drawing from his expertise at Tata Motors, realized that smaller, extra reasonably priced household vehicles typically didn’t succeed out there. “I noticed how poorly the Tata Nano carried out,” he recollects. As an alternative, Prakash views Robin not as a compact household automotive, however as an enhanced various to a two-wheeler. “Although it’s a two-seater, it’s actually designed for a single individual to navigate the town effectively and conveniently,” Pranav provides.
“Most every day commuters journey simply tens of kilometres, not a whole lot, so a smaller, compact automotive could be far more sensible for them,” Prakash explains. He notes that whereas many workplaces battle with restricted parking for four-wheelers, there’s normally ample room for two-wheelers. “Our intention is to supply the consolation of a four-wheeler whereas permitting customers to park in two-wheeler areas,” he provides. The price of driving a typical four-wheeler is round Rs 10-12 per kilometre, however with Robin, it drops to only Rs 1 to 2 per kilometre.
Robin is particularly fitted to older individuals and girls who could not really feel assured on two-wheelers. Prakash shares that in check drives carried out throughout the nation, “nearly each girl has reported feeling each liberated and excited.” It is because the automotive permits them to journey independently without having the help of husbands or drivers, he explains.
Dinesh Keerthy, who took Robin for a check drive earlier this yr, has been wishing for a car prefer it. “Robin is as small as my Royal Enfield bike, which is ideal for dealing with Bangalore’s visitors. Its modern and trendy design is an added bonus,” he remarks.
Praveen Vadavi, an enthusiastic biker and automotive engineer, agrees with Dinesh, labelling Robin because the “want of the hour” for metropolitan areas due to its consolation and pace.
Srikanth, who drives a Tata Nexon EV — thought to be one among India’s high electrical automobiles — is contemplating Robin for his spouse. “It’s on par with Nexon EV and is good for households wanting to make sure their youngster’s security,” he explains.
Bargava Subramanian was left shocked after getting behind the wheel of the two-seater electrical automotive. “Robin stands out and is definitely creating a brand new class within the Indian market,” he remarks. “This automotive will redefine our idea of mobility.”
Creating an electrical car from scratch
Two-seater vehicles haven’t gained traction in India as they’ve in Europe or China. Pranav explains that traditionally, India’s decrease financial standing meant that patrons most well-liked vehicles with 4 seats, viewing them as extra reliable. There have additionally been issues about battery vary and charging amenities. But, with the development of electrical car expertise, together with high-quality motors and sensors, shopper confidence in EVs is rising.
Establishing an electrical car from scratch was no small feat. “The toughest problem was discovering producers who may create elements for an electrical automotive like ours,” Prakash reveals. A notable instance is Robin’s central steering wheel, which contrasts with the traditional left or proper placement present in most vehicles.
Prakash, who manages all mechanical and electrical capabilities of the automotive, has geared up it with a drive-by-wire powertrain — a expertise much like fly-by-wire methods utilized in fashionable plane. By means of this setup, driver inputs are relayed to a pc, which then communicates with the automotive’s motor controller.
As a result of Robin couldn’t accommodate a traditional differential gear, its rear wheels are geared up with hub motors — a function generally utilized in scooters and small automobiles. Prakash tackled the problem of pace regulation throughout turns utilizing digital differential expertise and ensured its security by having race automotive drivers push the car to its limits in testing.
Finding compact headlamps, that are authorized for two-wheelers however not usually for four-wheelers, was additionally a problem. The true problem, nevertheless, was making a battery system that customers may handle on their very own, as importing a battery system from one other nation was not possible as a consequence of attainable restore points.
“Not one of the firms have been prepared to construct a battery administration system for us,” Prakash shares. “They informed us that and not using a important order, they couldn’t accommodate our wants.” This example prompted the duo to turn out to be their very own battery producers.
Constructing an entire car diagnostic framework
Moreover, they’ve created a sophisticated pc community that frequently transfers and shops all car information on the cloud. This community screens elements, similar to motor temperature and GPS coordinates, together with a complete diagnostic system that gives real-time insights into the well being of every car.
The diagnostic system permits them to pinpoint issues in any automotive successfully. “Consider it as having an individual linked to an ECG and coronary heart price monitor on a regular basis,” Pranav describes. The system gathers real-time information, processes it via an AI mannequin, and detects anomalies like an overheated battery. “Such information evaluation supplies a clearer image of auto well being than any driver’s subjective enter,” notes Prakash.
What occurs if one thing goes improper with the automotive? Can an peculiar mechanic repair it? “Most certainly, an everyday mechanic would make issues worse,” Pranav explains. Robin options distinctive elements that aren’t simply repairable or replaceable with standard instruments. Its important parts — sensors, software program, batteries, and motors — are specialised and never usually recognized to common mechanics. “Our diagnostic system addresses this by detecting points early and permitting us to carry out predictive upkeep or updates earlier than the person even notices an issue,” Prakash notes.
Robin will come geared up with an app designed to maintain customers knowledgeable about their automotive’s well being and upkeep. This app will ship real-time updates on car efficiency and supply ideas for higher use. The duo can be planning to arrange cellular after-sales service models in a number of cities to carry out inspections following the automotive’s launch. With car information saved within the cloud, technicians can have a head begin in diagnosing points, making the service course of extra environment friendly and fewer reliant on troubleshooting.
“Robin has efficiently handed ARAI Pune’s security checks, so it’s safer than present two or three-wheelers,” states Pranav. “We’re aiming to promote 3,000 models within the first yr, regardless that our Indore plant can produce 10,000 models every year.”
Its lineup contains three variants — a fundamental model with no AC and a 65 km vary priced at Rs 2 lakh; a mid-range possibility with a fan and a 90 km vary for Rs 2.5 lakh; and a premium model providing a 90 km vary, AC, and patented audio alerts for enhanced security at Rs 3 lakh.
Pranav and Prakash are actively conducting check drives nationwide to increase their attain. In response to Pranav, there’s no want for aggressive advertising, as a result of “the utility of Robin turns into clear to individuals as quickly as they see its pictures and movies.”
“Creating a wholly new class of auto isn’t one thing you get to do daily,” Pranav remarks. “If Robin efficiently merges the benefits of each two-wheelers and four-wheelers, it could be a fairly neat contribution to make. I additionally hope it encourages others to construct revolutionary automobiles of their very own.”
“We’ve put our heads down and labored at this for over 5 years. It’s satisfying to see that our efforts have resulted in one thing that folks really need and recognize,” he provides.
Edited by Pranita Bhat; Pictures Courtesy Pranav Dandekar
