The founders of Hulikkal Electro India Pvt Ltd claim to be manufactures of India’s first lithium-Ion battery powered electric vehicles, with a state of the art manufacturing facility and corporate office located at Coimbatore. Founded in June 2012, this company currently makes and sells electric bicycles and scooters and they have plans of launching e auto rickshaws and mini-buses that are powered by lithium-Ion battery across India in three months time. If all falls in place, we will get an opportunity to travel in these eco-friendly vehicles in Coimbatore.
A.Rajasekaran, Founder Director better known as Hulikkal Rajesh shares with SimpliCity “With a vision based on an ecological and a socially responsible framework, with the idea of becoming a green, clean, economical and a ‘Zero Pollution’ country, we aim at transforming the transportation service provider sector through our wide range of electric vehicles.”
Currently, this company makes and sells six varieties of electric cycles. We are told that the e auto rickshaw and the mini bus are currently being tested on the roads before they are formally launched.
“Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) has suggested a few modifications in our e auto rickshaw and mini bus which we are working on and testing it on our roads. We are confident that our eco-friendly vehicles will clear all tests and they will be approved by ARAI soon. They will be ready to hit our roads in three months time. We are aiming at a pan-India launch of both our vehicles.” Rajasekaran said.
We ask Rajasekaran about the selling price of this e auto rickshaw and much to our surprise we discover that this vehicle is as expensive as a brand new car. The cost of the e auto rickshaw alone will be rupees 2,00,000 while the battery will cost another rupees 2,50,000. The battery is the Unique Selling Proposition (USP). This lithium-ion has many advantages. Compared with traditional lead acid batteries, lithium-ion batteries charge quicker, last longer, and have a higher power density for more battery life in a lighter package.
The lithium-ion batteries are manufactured in Hulikkal’s in-house unit with a little infrastructure help from another company that is based in America. The founders of this company are confident that very soon this dependency on another company for making its batteries that powers its vehicles will be no more.
The lithium-ion battery that will be used in the e auto rickshaw when charged for two-hours will be able to run for 100-kilometers in a single charge. “We have not finalised what warranty and guaranty we will offer for our e auto rickshaw. However, we are confident of the battery life which will be more 100 thousand kilometres.”
Considering the cost of the e auto rickshaw, we ask Rajasekaran how confident is the company in selling this product and in a jiffy comes the answer “In December 2014, when we stated making and selling our lithium-ion battery electric cycles, we sold just 70 of them in the first year. Currently, we are selling 10,000 every year. Our aim is to sell 500 electric cycles every month. We are positive that our e auto rickshaw and e mini bus will do well.” Rajasekaran shares. While the e auto rickshaw will come with a capacity to accommodate six to seven passengers, their mini bus will have a seating capacity of 42.
In order to make the e auto rickshaw affordable, Rajasekaran tells us that Hulikkal has plans of leasing the e auto rickshaws. Those who take it on lease will pay the company for the number of kilometres driven and he is tight lipped about other information about the e auto rickshaw. For all practical purposes Rajasekaran does not share images of the e auto rickshaw as the company is waiting for ARAI certification. SimpliCity accessed images of the e auto rickshaw through a video that was shared in social media. The video was shot by a source when this e auto rickshaw was being tested on the road.
Hulikkal Electro India Pvt. Ltd. (Hulikkal) has manufacturing unit located in Narasimhanaikanpalyam, Coimbatore and their corporate office located in R S Puram, Coimbatore. Prashant Goel serves as Managing Director, A.Rajasekaran is Founder Director, while Senthilkumar and Poonam Goel are Directors. Hulikkal can be reached at 98436 40490.