We have interacted with several EV startups and companies to understand the current situation when it comes to EV Battery Protection, Our latest conversation was with CEO Nemin Vora, odyssey electric vehiclewho shared his views on the current regulations on EV manufacturing and battery pack assembly in India and the brand’s product and manufacturing expansion plans.
Do you think we need stricter regulations when it comes to EV battery development and manufacturing in India?
We strongly feel that there is a need for stricter regulations regarding battery pack manufacturing and development. Today, there are many battery manufacturers in India who import substandard cells, BMS etc. from abroad and simply collect and sell the battery pack.
Currently, standard industry standards to certify the safety and durability of batteries only apply under certain conditions. Thus, standard certification is the need of the hour after thorough testing of each battery manufactured for use in EVs. It will be recommended that each battery type used in an EV be tested, certified and approved by authorities under the aegis of NATRiP, and that the Government of India and each EV be registered to ensure that their sub-components Only approved and tested vehicles are sold with Indian markets.
How do you ensure battery safety Odyssey EVs to ensure that there is no fire incident?
In recent times, accidents in EV batteries have raised red flags across the industry. At Odyssey we make sure that every vehicle has a battery that has passed through 50+ checkpoints during its manufacturing process and are thoroughly tested by our technicians before they are fitted. However, as it is a well known fact that optimum compatibility of batteries in Indian weather conditions is still under research, we are continuously putting our time and effort into providing a foolproof battery pack by using heat shrinking sheet and gel. There are investments that enable us to reduce heat generation and further ensure that heat flows out of the box.
How has the customer response been for Odyssey EVs? Would you share the total sales numbers?
Today, customers are ready to experiment with new technology, products and brands if they see the value we are creating and experience satisfaction in that regard.
Odyssey family is growing fast with a lot of positive and commendable opinion about our product range. Our customers have also demonstrated their satisfaction with our products with respect to performance, stability and usage. Our sales are growing MOM and we have reached an average monthly sales of 725 units.
new products in the pipeline
We have recently launched our new product V2 on 16th May 2022. We have two upcoming launches planned this year which will be a transition to an electric bike and a cargo scooter for last mile delivery service providers.
Expansion of product line, if any (Electric Three-Wheeler, Electric Cargo Two-Wheeler)
For now, we are focusing only on electric 2W i.e. scooters and bikes. We have been conducting extensive R&D and developing many new products as well as upgrading our existing models.
Expansion Plans (Geographical and Manufacturing)
As an introduction, Odyssey is a company bootstrapped and we started it in 2020 with a small set-up in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Today we have expanded our manufacturing to 3 factories, first in Ahmedabad, second in Mumbai and third in Hyderabad. , At present, we have a manufacturing capacity of 30000 units annually.
Within two years of operation, with the ongoing pandemic, we have established our presence in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana and Tamil Nadu. We aim to expand our horizons in the existing states as well as reach the new states of Chhattisgarh, Goa, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal in the near future.
How would you say that consumer buying behavior is different for EVs as compared to their ICE counterparts?
Consumer behavior is very different for EVs and ICEs. With ICE there are select brands and models that people love and book over the life of the vehicle without even calculating the cost of ownership. The EV industry is still at a very nascent stage and hence customers have many queries regarding rideability, speed, charging options etc. Thus, acceptance of EVs highly depends on what the company offers to its customers at the time of purchase. Even after the sale.
With regard to electric vehicles, the decision making of the customers is not as quick and it depends on their experience during the test drive, the product, user friendly features, convenient access to after sales services, reviews gathered through research Doing and then comes in the form of a conscious decision. Whether he wants to buy EV or ICE.