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Chennai-based EV startup Jedlik Motors is developing a fully enclosed electric two wheeler, e-POD, aimed at combining the maneuverability of a scooter with the comfort and safety of a car. In an interaction with Entrackr, Raguram SK, founder and CEO of Jedlik Motors, discussed the company’s product roadmap, business model, technology, funding plans and expansion strategy. Raguram, a mechanical engineer by background, started his entrepreneurial journey with an online electric vehicle dealership in 2019. After the business was impacted by Covid 19, he worked as a mechanical designer at an MNC before starting Jedlik Motors. The startup is currently at the MVP stage and has developed a prototype of the e-POD. According to Raguram, the company has secured two patents, of which one has been granted and another has been published. The e-POD is designed for urban commuters who want protection from weather conditions without compromising on the maneuverability associated with two wheelers. The vehicle is expected to feature air conditioning, pushback seats, an infotainment system and around 600 litres of boot space. The e-POD will also feature crab walking steering, which is designed to allow tighter turns and easier maneuverability in dense urban traffic. “Essentially, we are developing a vehicle that combines the comfort and safety of a car with the maneuverability of a motorcycle,” Raguram said. For consumers, Jedlik Motors is targeting an on road price of around Rs 2.5 lakh. The company is also exploring a battery as a service (BaaS) model, which could bring the upfront vehicle cost down to around Rs 1.5 lakh. The battery subscription is expected to cost approximately Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500 per month, although the final pricing is still being worked out. Jedlik Motors is also developing a separate B2B version of the vehicle for applications such as food delivery, quick commerce and large industrial campuses. The startup has initiated conversations with companies including Mahindra, Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland and Maruti Suzuki. It is also reaching out to Rapido, Yes Madam, Tiffit and Ajego. On the technology front, the company is developing autonomous driving capabilities along with its own motors, controllers and steer by wire systems. The autonomous driving stack is being designed to eventually operate in increasingly complex traffic conditions. The startup currently has a team of around 10 people and carries out assembly at its Chennai facility. Around 90% to 95% of its component designs are developed in house, while battery cells are currently sourced from Taiwan or China. Jedlik Motors plans to launch the e-POD by June 2027, starting with a pilot in Bengaluru before expanding to Chennai and other tier 1 cities. It also plans to target markets such as the UAE and other Asian countries, with broader global expansion targeted by 2030. The company has so far received around Rs 26 lakh in government grants and Rs 47 lakh in angel funding. It is currently looking to raise Rs 7 crore in a pre-seed round to support its next phase of development.
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