Raj Electromotives, the initiative by the World’s Youngest Founder of Automotive OEM Raj Mehta started with providing conversion kits for converting bicycles to Electric bicycles. Greta electric scooters, by Raj Electromotives, have bagged approval from International Centre for Automotive Technology. Raj Electromotive is in the process of expanding its manufacturing facility in Ahmedabad, expected to create many new employment opportunities in the growing eMobility sector. Managing his business on one side, Raj has also entered the final year of his education in BE.
The history of innovation is essentially a story of a young mind, irrespective of biological age; it chooses to go the extra mile where the rest of the lot prefers to stop. People wonder about the accomplishments of innovators with a sense of awe and with a dim notion of missed-out opportunities. More so is the case when the innovator is a dynamic and enterprising prodigy in his or her late teens. The narrative gets an even better twist if the enterprise is associated with some greater cause, in this case, a cleaner environment.
Hailing from Ahmedabad, Raj Mehta, the founder of Raj Electromotives and the brand Greta Electric Scooters, had few resources when he began his journey, both in terms of support and funds. All he had was the passion and grit to give shape to the enterprise that he was nurturing in his mind. Speaking to Machine Maker, Raj Mehta shared the story of his journey and the incredible experience, for others to take note of his intelligence and resourcefulness.
Pedal Cycle to Powered Cycle: Young & Passionate
At the age of fourteen Raj began to come up with a solution of converting his pedal bicycle to a powered mode of transportation. Raj says, “I researched on my own about the type of motors and components, and from where to purchase. I had to import electrical components from abroad which led to a shortfall in funds. My grandfather, Late Shri Bipinchandra Badamilalji Mehta, lent me a sum of rupees eight thousand on the condition that he would be monitoring the expense of the amount.” This followed the learning phase for Raj, to understand the details of banking, import-export policies and the way business is done.
Raj is India’s youngest person to attain an import-export license at the age of seventeen. The first consignment that arrived for Raj was from Korea. Confronted by his father Shri Shailesh Bipinchandra Mehta, Raj explained his intention to make an electric bicycle and of doing something on his own. “At that point in time no one, including me, was aware that in days to come I will be the world’s youngest founder of an automobile company.”
Commuting on his first electric bicycle, a journalist approached him to videography the product. Raj recollects, “The video went viral with six lakhs views in less than twenty-four hours of time on ABP News Facebook page. That is how the demand was generated and the business took off.” Raj Electromotives has just finished phase one of its journeys and is presently bracing for corporate entry. The company now focuses largely on the manufacturing and procurement of high-quality components for production.
“The real challenge is to maintain the quality and technical aspect of the product. Being a student of class nine, I had no idea of marketing, logistics and customs. I learnt it all through my failures.”
The wheels begin to roll
Raj founded the company in 2015. He named the company inspired by the very concept from his academics which led him to his adventures “Raj Electromotives”. The Company Started by Providing conversion Kits for Converting Pedal-operated Bicycles to Electric. The demand for the e-bicycle was increasing but Raj thought of the people who are differently-abled.
“I had introduced a Tricycle Conversion Kit for them. As an extension of the application, the conversion kit can be used to convert any tricycle. But the innovations were done keeping in mind the economical aspect of the Indian users. The general conversion kit costs Rs 7500 and Rs 2500 for battery, so in a total of ₹10000 payment you can get your conventional peddle bicycle converted into electric,” Raj says.
The range of converted e-bicycles the company offers is twenty kilometres and is scalable by increasing the battery capacity. Raj Electromotives is India's First Electric Bike Conversion Kit, a Retro-Fitment kit for converting Petrol bikes to Electric.
Raj Electromotives is now a multimillion-dollar valued company and its manufacturing facility in Ahmedabad is thirty-five thousand square feet. The expansion is on cards with the acquired one lakh square feet of land for the setting up of a state-of-the-art production unit. “We envision to create many new jobs in the emerging EV industry with our upcoming facility in Ahmedabad” Raj added.
Affordable & Utility: Greta for Global Market
In June 2019 Raj introduced the newest lineup of electric scooters, through the Subsidiary company Greta Electric Scooters. . The range of e-scooters comes in four models. “Greta has already been approved by International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT), Manesar for selling the product in the Indian market. The permit came in January 2020.”
“The technology and components including batteries are natively procured from within the country “, says Raj. “We are using both 40 volt and 60 volt batteries on our vehicles, with the options of 70 km per charge and the top model is 100 km per charge. The range per charge varies with the driving conditions. The scooter can carry a weight of 140 kg.” The rider does not need a licence and Pollution Under Control Certificate to drive Greta.
Greta as a brand has to deliver to more than twenty-four countries in the coming year. Raj Automotives conversion kit has already been to nineteen countries. “The sales volume we are targeting is one lakh eighty thousand per annum for the Indian market.” Raj is building a team of enthusiasts for Greta for the pan India market and distribution. The price range is between rupees sixty thousand to ninety-two thousand.
”It is affordable for middle-class customers who need to commute daily. Greta has smart shift option, can be driven in reverse mode, keyless ignition and anti-theft alarm for all its models.” The brand has also recently tied up with Kotak Mahindra for pan India finance and with IIFCO Tokio for insurance facilities.
E-Mobility for Daily Commutes; COVID19 boosts EV Ecosystem in India
The electric vehicle is the talk of the town and the industry for the recent few years. With the issues of green emission and eco-friendly getting a push globally, the market is ready to welcome any commercially viable e-mobility solution. The pandemic raging since 2020 and the subsequent solo-travel concept have also added to the cause of e-scooter adoption, along with the global rise in conventional fuel prices. Raj says, “The EV is definitely the next big thing in the automotive segment. During the pandemic in 2020, the EV market got eight times the growth compared to the previous financial year. Simply put, we are expecting a growth of more than two hundred times in the coming years. People are becoming aware of the technology as EV being a solution to their daily commute.”
One key insight that Raj has developed during 2020 was due to the pandemic. “The EV manufacturers in India, who were heavily dependent on China for parts and components, have utilized their own innovative skills to produce indigenous products. Both for the big automakers and start-ups, new vendors have come up to serve to this end. All we need is to cater to the demands of the volume.”
Raj has major expansion plans with his company and in the coming years and will foray into the industrial inter-commute B2B segment and agro tractor, and is also diversifying to other areas of the e-mobility segment.
“The government and authorities are pushing for maximum possible benefits for the customers to make electric vehicles affordable to the citizens of India.I must convey that the Indian government is doing a great job of making the country a place where one can do business with ease. It's a green signal for the growth of the country in the years to come ”, Raj shared his optimism.
Education is what we should revolutionise
Raj is currently pursuing B.E in Swarnim Startup university. “I was fortunate to go through a path of practical learning in my childhood. And every kid in India should have that opportunity. The education system should be more focused on practical things. They should enable the young to think and explore and not to memorise. That way we'll have more entrepreneurs and innovators for our country” concluded Raj Mehta, the youngest owner of an automotive OEM, who is all geared up to launch the highest altitude Electric Vehicle showroom in the world, at Ladakh.