Twenty Two Motors Unveils AI-powered Flow E-scooter
Gurgaon-based startup Twenty Two Motors unveiled the prototype version of Flow, a vehicle enabled by Artificial Intelligence that will cater to the needs of the young commuters. Estimated to be priced between Rs 65,000-70,000, the zero-emission vehicle will be rolled out by early next year and will be taking on other e-scooters in the market. It will be equipped with features like sensors, smart storage, Internet of Things IOT), telescopic suspension, in-built mobile charger with storage space for two helmets, etc. While the company was established in 2016, the Research and Development for this model was carried out for an extensive period of time.
While unveiling the model, Parveen Kharb, CEO and Co-Founder, Twenty Two Motors told BW Businessworld, "We found a gap in the entire ecosystem (of e-vehicles). The electric vehicles in India are not up to the mark as they are not serving the right purpose. That's why we have developed the right product to suit the local tastes and conditions. To be launched at the Auto Expo (2018), this scooter can go up to 60km per hour on a single charge and would be launched with a dual battery option. We have conducted surveys with 500 customers in Delhi, NCR, Pune and Jaipur and the response to the model were overwhelming. We may export this model to other countries in the long term."
The vehicle weighs approximately 85 kg and is equipped with a DC motor, which is powered by a Lithium-Ion Battery, which can be charged within a short span of 2 hours and can travel through a distance of more than 80kms with a speed of 60 KMPH with a single charging session. The product will be available with an option of dual battery at the higher-end.
When asked to shed some light on Flow, "Until now, we have invested over $8 million on CapEx and product development. We have built a facility at Bhiwadi (in Rajasthan) which will be having an annual production capacity of 10,000 units per annum. Initially, we will manufacturer 50 scooters per day and later will be ramping it up further. In the first year of the launch itself (in 2018), we are aiming to sell 50,000 units. We will be coming up with other variants of e-scooter in the subsequent phases. We will also be venturing into three-wheelers in the long term."
Flow is connected to cloud server throughout the time, thus ensuring that users can keep an eye on systems performance even when the user is thousands of miles away. Servers analyze data through complex data analytic algorithms and suggest any upcoming service requirements. As the vehicle performs, aggregate rider and vehicle data help with customized vehicle updates which are delivered automatically on the touch dashboard display.
Furthermore, user-centric mobile application provides one-touch solution to control every aspect of the vehicle. The user can track the vehicle remotely, while the in-built Geo-Fencing allows security against theft. The vehicle automatically alerts the vehicle owner once its owner is beyond the defined geographical boundaries, whereby the owner can shut it down using the smart APP.
It is to be noted that another startup operating in this space is Ather Energy, which is backed by two-wheeler major Hero MotoCorp.
