E-rickshaws are catalyzing a positive change in the transportation ecosystem by offering a sustainable, cost-effective, and last-mile connectivity solution to the masses.
Emerging from the shadows of conventional commuting mediums, e-rickshaws are becoming new epicenters of sustainable transportation and last-mile connectivity. Not only is their significance becoming evident in offering emission-free mobility but also in how they offer a cost-effective medium of transportation to the masses across the globe. Here’s a close look into the transformative potential of e-rickshaws and how these battery-driven mediums of mobility are changing the very face of mobility.
E-rickshaw: Revolutionizing Mobility
The need to offer sustainable and affordable transportation that also ensures last-mile connectivity is paramount today. E-rickshaws meet all these requirements and by offering greener, cost-effective, and last-mile commutes, these are emerging as potent symbols of modern transportation systems. In India, the E-rickshaw revolution started in Delhi and Kolkata and now has spread to many states with stakeholders realizing the immense potential that these battery-driven vehicles offer to the masses. Around the world too, the appeal of E-rickshaws is catching up with many global cities successfully demonstrating their all-around utility to stakeholders.
E-rickshaws: Striking Characteristics
Ownership Cost:
In comparison to other conventional vehicles, E-rickshaws are economical to own, run, and maintain, thereby making them an ideal proposition for starting the business with less investment. The upfront cost of buying an E-rickshaw is somewhere between Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 2.8 lakh while any conventional auto rickshaw costs in the range of Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 4.5 lakh. Further, the running and maintenance costs of E-rickshaws are also significantly lower than gasoline auto rickshaws. In addition, subsidies offered by the government under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME-II) scheme on E-rickshaws further enhance their appeal on the ownership cost front.
E-rickshaws : Striking Characteristics
Greener Credentials:
Counted among the most notable contributions is the ability of E-rickshaws to offer emission-free transportation to the masses. Unlike conventional mediums, E-rickshaws are driven by the battery with no tailpipe emission associated with their operations. This zero-emission aspect is playing an instrumental role in improving air quality, reducing pollution, and combating the dangerously progressing climate change. Further, the drive-train architecture of e-rickshaws has significantly fewer moving parts which helps in containing losses and delivering more efficient drives than conventional means of commuting.
Cost Dynamics:
To offer mobility to 1.4 bn people in India is no mean feat. The challenge becomes even more intense as policymakers need to take into account the cost factor associated with transportation. E-rickshaws are among the most affordable mediums of mass transportation and by offering low-cost commutes, it has the potential to emerge as a game-changer for the mobility scenario in the coming years. Whether you need to commute short distances, tackle congested spots, or take intracity travel, an E-rickshaw is your one-stop solution that offers a fast, reliable, and hassle-free commute without burning a hole in your pocket.
Mitull Batraa is the co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Energy Electric Vehicles aka Udaan E Vehicles. Passionate about environment-friendly products that offer holistic benefits for society, Mitull is revolutionizing the mobility sector in India by offering E-Rickshaws and E-Autos to both consumer and commercial categories of the EV market. These solutions are now playing an instrumental role in achieving last-mile connectivity in India and that too in a very cost-effective manner.
With the E-rickshaw market in India poised to reach $1,394.2 million by 2025, the time is opportune to further step up efforts and make the category a shining example of success in the sustainable mobility ecosystem. E-rickshaws offer a plethora of benefits such
Last-mile connectivity:
Compact dimensions, easy maneuvering, and lightweight body help E-rickshaws offer last-mile connectivity to commuters. Especially when it comes to congested roads, broken patches, and narrow streets, E-rickshaws ensure commuters reach their desired place in minimum time and botheration. While taxis and buses are important for intercity and long-distance travel, they can’t match the prowess of E-rickshaws in ensuring last-mile connectivity to commuters. From bust stands to metro stations and shopping complexes, E-rickshaws today have become a popular commuting mode capable of offering last-mile connectivity to the masses.
Economic Perspective:
The E-rickshaw ecosystem has today become a holistic one with stakeholders generating sizable and attractive opportunities across the value chain. From components suppliers and manufacturers to owners, operators, and service channels, a large number of people are employed and earning their livelihood from the segment. Further, transactions in the ecosystem are generating income for the government as well in the form of taxes and duties levied on the industry. Moreover, the industry has also started attracting investment as the growing demand for E-rickshaws is encouraging new players to come into the segment with better products.
as sustainable mobility, cost-effective commutes, and last-mile connectivity and this coupled with their positive impact on entrepreneurship, economy, and employment make them a catalyst of change for society.
Before co-founding Udaan, Mitull had worked with Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and HMT and learnt valuable skills in the fields of mechanical engineering, design, and development procedures among others. He also learnt profoundly about robotics, automation, and other new-age technologies during his professional stint with these renowned organizations. All those insights are proving extremely helpful as Udaan is catalyzing the EV adoption in India and becoming an instrument of change for the masses.
Authored by : Mitull Batraa
B.Tech (Mechanical & Automation) and MBA (Marketing and Operations), Co-founder and CEO of Udaan E-Vehicles
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