<p>Range anxiety is every electric vehicle user’s default first thought. But what if an e-scooter lets you banish that fear over the battery running out, with a range exceeding 200 km?</p>.<p>This is precisely what Bengaluru-based mobility startup Simple Energy wants to do with its e-scooter, launching this June.</p>.<p>Founded in 2019 by Suhas Rajkumar with a background in design and robotics and Shreshth Mishra, Simple Energy had rolled out a prototype Mark-1 of the e-scooter last year. “The Mark-2, with 240 km range for a single charge, 0-50 kmph speed in 3.6 seconds, removable battery and a sim-enabled 7” touchscreen dashboard, will be made in our first factory in Whitefield,” Suhas told <span class="italic">DH</span>.</p>.<p>Tackling the range problem was critical in a market dominated by Internal Combustion Engine (ICE)-driven vehicles. Charging infrastructure, even in Bengaluru, with its growing number of EVs is far from inspiring confidence among e-scooterists. “Typically, ICE vehicles have ranges of 230-240 km. We had to innovate to appeal to this market habituated to this range.”</p>.<p>The targeted innovation meant Simple Energy had to build better thermal systems, power trains, battery packs, motors and motor controllers, all inhouse.</p>.<p>“The initial manufacturing will be in Whitefield, producing about 10,000 e-scooters in the first batch. Our battery assembly will be completely automated,” Suhas informed.</p>.<p>The one-and-half-year-old company has proposed to set up a bigger factory later in Hosur with an estimated investment of Rs 130 crore. Another Bengaluru-headquartered firm, Ather Energy has already started production from its Hosur factory, while Ola is setting up the largest two-wheeler factory near Krishnagiri.</p>.<p>The nascent e-scooter market is getting populated fast. But as the competition heats up, range, styling, comfort and performance could become critical. “Many players offer e-scooters in the 50 to 60 km range. Their batteries go out in two to three years and the build quality is poor. We had to make the e-scooter serviceable. We are planning our own service vans and a strong supply chain.”</p>.<p>To boost the charging infrastructure, Simple Energy has proposed to deploy its Matrix chargers across Bengaluru, its first market for the Mark-2. “The EV will be charged in 1.5 hours for a 240 km range, and in 40 minutes for an 80 km range.”</p>
<p>Range anxiety is every electric vehicle user’s default first thought. But what if an e-scooter lets you banish that fear over the battery running out, with a range exceeding 200 km?</p>.<p>This is precisely what Bengaluru-based mobility startup Simple Energy wants to do with its e-scooter, launching this June.</p>.<p>Founded in 2019 by Suhas Rajkumar with a background in design and robotics and Shreshth Mishra, Simple Energy had rolled out a prototype Mark-1 of the e-scooter last year. “The Mark-2, with 240 km range for a single charge, 0-50 kmph speed in 3.6 seconds, removable battery and a sim-enabled 7” touchscreen dashboard, will be made in our first factory in Whitefield,” Suhas told <span class="italic">DH</span>.</p>.<p>Tackling the range problem was critical in a market dominated by Internal Combustion Engine (ICE)-driven vehicles. Charging infrastructure, even in Bengaluru, with its growing number of EVs is far from inspiring confidence among e-scooterists. “Typically, ICE vehicles have ranges of 230-240 km. We had to innovate to appeal to this market habituated to this range.”</p>.<p>The targeted innovation meant Simple Energy had to build better thermal systems, power trains, battery packs, motors and motor controllers, all inhouse.</p>.<p>“The initial manufacturing will be in Whitefield, producing about 10,000 e-scooters in the first batch. Our battery assembly will be completely automated,” Suhas informed.</p>.<p>The one-and-half-year-old company has proposed to set up a bigger factory later in Hosur with an estimated investment of Rs 130 crore. Another Bengaluru-headquartered firm, Ather Energy has already started production from its Hosur factory, while Ola is setting up the largest two-wheeler factory near Krishnagiri.</p>.<p>The nascent e-scooter market is getting populated fast. But as the competition heats up, range, styling, comfort and performance could become critical. “Many players offer e-scooters in the 50 to 60 km range. Their batteries go out in two to three years and the build quality is poor. We had to make the e-scooter serviceable. We are planning our own service vans and a strong supply chain.”</p>.<p>To boost the charging infrastructure, Simple Energy has proposed to deploy its Matrix chargers across Bengaluru, its first market for the Mark-2. “The EV will be charged in 1.5 hours for a 240 km range, and in 40 minutes for an 80 km range.”</p>
