New Delhi: Greaves Electric Mobility will launch a top-of-the-line connected two-wheeler to democratize electric mobility by offering advanced features at an affordable or no additional cost, a top official of the company said.
In a recent interview with ETAuto, Ram Rajappa, the Chief Technology Officer, Greaves Electric Mobility, shared the company’s vision to revolutionize electric mobility in India by launching a top-of-the-line connected two-wheeler. The aim is to democratize electric mobility by offering advanced features at an affordable or no additional cost.
Rajappa emphasized the symbiotic relationship between EVs and connected technology. According to him, electric vehicles are predominantly software-based entities, with software driving every aspect of their functionality, from powertrain management to battery performance. The integration of connected vehicle solutions allows OEMs like Greaves to customize powertrain performance based on regional conditions and user preferences.
The connected technology also addresses concerns related to range anxiety, providing users with accurate estimates of their vehicle’s true range. This information enables users to plan their charging needs more efficiently, making electric mobility more convenient and accessible. The data generated by the vehicle, sent to the cloud, becomes a valuable resource for users to plan their journeys, taking into account factors such as road temperature, etc.
Ashim Sharma, Senior Partner & Group Head Business Performance Improvement Consulting (Auto, Engg. & Logistics) at Nomura Research Institute, said, “Just like we saw in cars, even in two wheelers, customers prefer to get all the connected features, especially because many of them are the next generation customers. And they like that connectivity between the smartphone and the vehicle to come in as the first thing, and then more and more services to come in as well. The electric ecosystem also allows it as it’s always a good idea to have the connectivity between the vehicle and between the charging stations, as well as because more and more software content is going into the electric vehicles, and even over the air updates and all necessitate that you have connectivity in the vehicle.”
Regarding Greaves’ specific strategy, Rajappa highlighted its focus on ensuring reliability and dependability of the vehicles. The connected features are utilized for predictive maintenance, giving users advance notifications of potential issues. The system also helps users make informed decisions, offering alerts for aggressive driving patterns that may impact battery life.
Greaves Electric Mobility, being an established player in the EV market, has accumulated a substantial amount of data from its fleet, covering millions of kilometers. Rajappa explained that this data has been crucial in gaining insights for the development of the next-generation vehicles. It has also provided valuable information for users, helping them optimize their usage, route planning, and charge station installations.
As a culmination of these efforts, Greaves Electric Mobility is gearing up for a significant product launch in 2024. The company plans to introduce a new two-wheeler with enhanced features and advanced connected technology, reinforcing its commitment to making electric mobility accessible to the masses. The company aims to roll out this ambitious addition to its portfolio in the coming quarter.
Sharma mentioned that, “it’s not that you need to get a rupee for everything that you’re offering. There is a value to that data that can be utilised later on also, because that’s the gold mine that a connected ecosystem or a connected vehicle offers to a large extent. So I think from those perspectives, it certainly could be something which in the long run can be monetized, whether it’s for improving the vehicle, or for using that data for players who are coming on board, like usage-based insurance.”
“Once we have a completely connected ecosystem interconnected between the infrastructure and the vehicle, it could be used even for condition monitoring of roads, “ he added.
Rajappa provided a comprehensive overview of how connected technology is shaping the future of electric mobility, emphasizing the company’s commitment to democratizing this transformative technology in India.
