Raptee.HV, a Chennai-based electric motorcycle manufacturer known for pioneering the use of high-voltage electric car technology in two-wheelers, has announced strategic funding from the Technology Development Board (TDB), Department of Science & Technology, Government of India. This milestone makes Raptee.HV the country’s first electric motorcycle OEM to receive TDB support, reinforcing its position as a deep-tech innovator in performance mobility. The funding will help Raptee.HV scale its proprietary high-voltage platform, accelerate product development, and tap into the USD 1 billion performance electric motorcycle market.
“This backing from TDB is a strong validation of our mission to engineer world-class performance motorcycles from India,” said Dinesh Arjun, CEO & Co-Founder of Raptee.HV. “In the absence of a high-voltage motorcycle ecosystem, we built our own through relentless engineering. Support from both TDB and ARAI-AMTIF shows the government’s commitment to fostering indigenous innovation and strengthens our resolve to redefine motorcycle electrification.”
Raptee.HV previously received a ₹3.25 crore non-dilutive grant from ARAI-AMTIF in 2021, becoming the only OEM to be awarded such support. With TDB now investing in the EV motorcycle segment for the first time — historically backing breakthrough innovations like the Tata Indica and Bharat Biotech’s COVID-19 vaccine — Raptee.HV joins an elite list of transformative Indian ventures.
Over six years of R&D have enabled Raptee.HV to create India’s only electric motorcycles built entirely on a high-voltage architecture, delivering car-level performance, reliability, and CCS2 fast-charging capability. Unlike incremental upgrades to existing two-wheeler platforms, Raptee.HV’s approach represents a leapfrog in technology, crucial for achieving India’s target of 30% electric two-wheeler penetration by 2030.
Founded in 2019 by Dinesh Arjun (ex-Tesla) and three co-founders, Raptee.HV is headquartered in Chennai and operates a 4.5-acre production facility with a capacity of 100,000 units annually. The company has filed 156 patents, developed all critical electronic systems in-house, and employs over 120 people. Raptee.HV motorcycles are the only two-wheelers compatible with the CCS2 car-charging network, giving riders instant access to India’s expanding EV charging infrastructure.
The company has raised USD 5 million in pre-Series A funding and is closing a USD 20 million Series A round through a mix of debt and equity. Raptee.HV has also secured 40 acres of land in SIPCOT, Cheyyar, for future capacity expansion as it works to redefine the performance electric motorcycle category.
