Electrotherm eyes Asian markets

The Electrotherm India (ET)'s automotive division, Indus Elec-Trans, which manufactures electric battery operated two-wheelers under the brand name YO Bykes, is planning to export its electric two-wheelers to Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

The company has been getting export orders from several countries including the US and UK but plans to foray into Asian countries first by establishing dealership networks once it begins to export.

Speaking about the company's export plans, Avinash Bhandari, director Electrotherm, said the company would be exporting its entire range of electric two-wheelers to Asian countries in the next 6-8 months.

Based on the company's study of these nations, Bhandari said Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are still predominantly petrol using countries, which offer a lot of potential for YO Bykes to be used as utility vehicles.

He added that the company had been mulling exports to the US, since the electric two-wheelers could be used as recreational vehicles.

The company had recently launched YO Speed, which is India's first Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI)-approved electric two-wheeler in the 750 watts category.

YO Speed registered sales of 4,000 units in the first month. Demand for the 750 watts two-wheeler has led the company to look at more higher-powered vehicles in the near future.

The company is, at present, working on a two-wheeler of around 1,000 watts, which could be submitted for approval to the ARAI in the next 6-8 months. The vehicle is expected to have a high level of indeginisation.

Electrotherm has inked an MoU with Canadian firm Electrovaya to form a joint venture for manufacturing lithium ion polymer batteries.

The joint venture will set up an advanced lithium super polymer battery plant with a capacity of up to 10 Mw per hour a month. The batteries will be sold in the zero-emission electric vehicle market in India and abroad, said Bhandari

The location of the plant would most probably be in Kutch, within the company's current premises and investment could be around Rs 60 crore, it is learnt.