E-Scooter from IIT-H backed startup: Full charge gives 3-hr ride, 120 km mileage

Hyderabad: Now reach your destination even 120 km away by charging your e-scooter with just one charge. You know how? The IIT-Hyderabad incubated electric vehicle startup 'Pure EV' has come up with a new e-scooter named 'EPluto 7G' that can go up to 116 km in just one charge for approximately 3 hours.

This e-scooter was launched at the IIT-Hyderabad auditorium in Sangareddy on Sunday. Dr G Satheesh Reddy, Chairman, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and B S Murty, Director, IIT-Hyderabad, were present at the launch. The startup 'Pure EV' was founded by Dr Nishanth Dongari, a professor at IIT-Hyderabad, and Rohit Vadera, an alumnus of IIT Bombay in 2016.

Speaking to THI, Dr Nishanth Dongari, Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, IIT Hyderabad, and founder of PURE EV, said, "Many EV makers received this decision with concern, and apprehension because they import many of their components, particularly the lithium battery. Our startup is designing and manufacturing its own high-performance lithium batteries. Our EV can withstand tough ambient Indian conditions marked by extreme temperatures, humidity, steep gradients, and high altitudes."

It takes about less than three hours for the batteries to charge fully, but the researchers at PURE EV are working on reducing the charging time to below two hours by strengthening its active cooling mechanism. If the consumer has to charge the battery from 40-80 percent, which customers do most frequently, the charging time is around an hour.

The cost of the EPluto 7G (ex-showroom) is Rs 79,999. The vehicle offers affordability, long-range, a top speed of 60 KMPH and battery warranty for 40,000 km. A salient point of this vehicle is that the battery and the vehicle has been designed and developed factoring in Indian terrain and weather conditions. Rohit Vadera, the chief executive officer of Purenergy, said, "PURE EV was founded keeping in mind the aspirational needs of Indian customers to deliver to them a reliable, cost-effective scooter that also speeds up the transition from petrol to EVs in the two-wheeler mobility segment. EPluto 7G is the embodiment of years of hard effort of our research and development team and we hope it will delight all categories of prospective EV buyers. The company already has a presence at 50 outlets pan-India and intends to expand this to over 200 outlets in the current calendar year."

Portable batteries and charging

The portable batteries that the start-up offers are adapter-based lithium battery chargers. In any 16 amp socket, whether at home or office, you can pull out the battery and put it on for charge. On a single charge, the true on-road range for the scooter is around 120 km, irrespective of the speed, loading conditions or sloping gradients. The scooter can hit 0-40 kmph in 7 seconds, which addresses a major complaint of electric two-wheelers—the lack of pick-up speed, particularly if they have to climb a slope with a gradient of 15-20 degrees.

The Battery is 2500 Wh Portable with Battery Casing of IP65 and Cells of NMC 18650 3C Ultra Performance.

A UNIQUE SCOOTER

The cost of the EPluto 7G (ex-showroom) is Rs 79,999. The vehicle offers affordability, long-range, a top speed of 60 KMPH and battery warranty for 40,000 km. A salient point of this vehicle is that the battery and the vehicle has been designed and developed factoring in Indian terrain and weather conditions

In any 16 amp socket, whether at home or office, you can pull out the battery and put it on for charge. On a single charge, the true on-road range for the scooter is around 120 km, irrespective of the speed, loading conditions or sloping gradients. The scooter can hit 0-40 kmph in 7 seconds, which addresses a major complaint of electric two-wheelers

– Rohit Vadera, CEO, Purenergy

The e-scooter has an ICAT-certified range of 116 km per full charge, which is the highest in the country in this particular class of product and comes with a patented battery technology

– Prof Nishanth Dongari

♦ The startup 'Pure EV' was founded by Dr Nishanth Dongari, a Professor at IIT-Hyderabad, and Rohit Vadera, an alumnus of IIT Bombay in 2016

♦ It takes about less than three hours for the batteries to charge fully. PURE EV is working on reducing charging time to below two hours