OK Play, a Roto-Moulding plastic company has announced its entry into the automobile industry with the next generation, environment-friendly, zero pollution green e-rickshaws.
The potential market for this vehicle is estimated at a whopping Rs 50,000 crore, according to the company.
The company claims that the rickshaw manufactured by them will be the first ever indigenous built e-rickshaw.
“Our rickshaw will be equipped with over 90 per cent of Indian components unlike other 99 per cent e-rickshaw’s in the country which have 95 per cent Chinese component,” the company said in a statement.
Rajan Handa, managing director, OK Play India Limited said, “The next generation OK Play e-rickshaws will be India’s first 100 per cent indigenously designed and developed, zero emission green e-rickshaws to be manufactured in India.”
He further stated that the lightweight, maintenance free nature of the finished product along with the flexibility in design that plastic moulding allows, should make the process ideal for the purpose of developing safe body shells for this vehicle.
Market for e-rickshaw in India is very big but scattered. The recent initiative of government to curb pollution in big cities will require use of pollution free automobiles. Though the rickshaws come with many advantages there are issues concerning lack of legislation on electric motor-powered vehicles. Last year, e-rickshaws were banned in Delhi due to lack of regulation to regulate them.
Earlier this year two-wheeler maker Hero Electric launched an electric rickshaw 'Raahii' priced at Rs 1.10 lakh (on road, Delhi) to tap the growing demand for e-rickshaws.
BW Reporters
The author is Senior Correspondent with BW Businessworld
