Hyderabad-based EV start-up Gravton Motors has forayed into the electric mobility business with the launch of the Quanta electric motorcycle. The Quanta gets an introductory price of Rs. 99,000 (ex-showroom), while deliveries will begin around October this year. The model has been under development since 2016 with the frame, motor casing and battery pack locally developed. The cells and the magnet for the motor are imported, says the company. Gravton says the design is aimed to appeal to a wider audience in both urban and rural markets. The Quanta will compete against the equivalent of 100 cc commuter motorcycles on sale. The company will set up at a charger at the customer's residence with every vehicle sold.
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The Gravton Quanta is powered by a 3 kW BLDC motor that develops around 4 bhp and 170 Nm
Speaking on the launch of the new electric motorcycle, Parshuram Paka, Founder & CEO - Gravton Motors said, "Quanta resonates the true essence of not just Made in India but also Made for India. While this product is largely meant for riders from across the segments, we also have one coming up in the sports category, primarily meant for action-oriented passionate young bikers. We have architected and engineered every component in-house and appointed vendors who can create components as per our configuration. We are also delighted to see some of the top component manufacturers agreeing to manufacture components as per our design and specifications and this truly shows the credibility and believability of our products he further added.
Gravton Motors says the Quanta gets a world-first rib-caged chassis that has been designed to provide agility and safety to the battery compartment. The suspension set-up has been optimised towards comfort with effortless riding being the key point. Power on the Quanta comes from the 3 kW BLDC electric motor that is engineered and manufactured in-house. The motor makes about 4 bhp of power, while peak torque stands at 170 Nm. The top speed is rated at 70 kmph.
The Quanta has been designed keeping Indian rural road conditions in mind and rides on 17-inch alloy wheels while the battery placement offers a low centre of gravity. The motorcycle gets a removable battery pack that can be charged at home. It's a 3 kWh lithium-ion unit that promises a range of 150 km on a single charge. The company says this can be extended to 320 km in the Eco mode.
The Gravton Quanta is completely developed in India and sales will begin in Telangana first
Furthermore, Gravton's SES (Swap Eco System) further allows users to swap their empty batteries at Gravton's battery station for a recharged one. The company is in the process of setting up battery stations across Telangana first and will expand to other markets later.
Other features on the Gravton Quanta include two-mode charging that comprises fast charging that can juice up the battery in 90 minutes at a rate of 1 km per minute. The regular model, meanwhile, takes three hours, according to the company. There will also be a smartphone app that will allow features like remote lock/unlock, lights turn on and off, roadside assistance, mapping service stations and more. The company is offering a warranty period of five years, while the payload capacity stands at 250 kg.
Gravton Motors aims to sell about 5000 units of the Quanta by the end of this year, which will increase to 18,000 units by the end of 2022. Operations will begin in Telangana first before expanding to other markets and bookings are currently open on the start-up's website. Gravton is also in talks with the state government for land to set-up a new production site.
