Kinetic Engineering Ltd. (KEL) is planning to launch its hybrid electric three-wheeler (auto) in the next 12 months.
“Research work on the development of the hybrid electric auto engine in collaboration with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is in advanced stages, and we are hopeful of completing the project in the next few months,” Vice-Chairperson of KEL Sulajja Firodia Motwani said here on Thursday.
Speaking on the sidelines of the third Mega Trends Road-show, organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Ms. Motwani admitted that it would be a challenge to keep the cost of the hybrid electric three-wheeler as low as possible. “With the help of smart engineering and new technology, we will try to keep its price much lower though expecting parity with the traditional three-wheelers will be too much for asking in the initial stages,” she noted.
Stating that manufacturing renewable energy-based transport vehicles was an evolving sector, she said the automotive manufacturers working on the technology were expecting sops from the government to keep the prices low. Ms. Motwani noted that the Centre had already promised to spend Rs.20,000 crore on the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan 2020.
“The industry is expecting a law (an Act) to support the national policy on electric mobility in the next session of Parliament,” the Vice Chairperson said. She envisaged a huge demand for vehicles run with renewable energy in the next ten years.
On the battery-operated vehicles launched by KEL earlier this year, Ms. Motwani said they were doing well in the eco-tourism, leisure/sports, corporate, pharmaceutical and hotel sectors apart from airports and railway stations.
Some companies were importing the vehicles and there were some local players but KEL was the only national player in the segment, she said when asked about the competition.
