Three Wheeler EVs Can Solve The Problem Of Connectivity As Well As Of Environment: Pavan Chavali

BW Auto World talked to Pavan Chavali, Managing Director, ETO Motors on their collaboration with DMRC.

How has been your journey so far with your three-wheeler EV products? 

The journey has been amazing because three-wheelers are the major source to commute for last-mile connectivity, especially in the metro city. Many cities are adopting the metro as a solution for improving public transport but for last-mile connectivity, putting thousands of cars on road will not solve the problem. Only three-wheeler EVs can solve the problem of connectivity as well as the environment. They don't require much space on road and they are even very easy to drive. 

As the government is focusing on the indigenous production of goods, how much indigenous material you are using? 

This product is completely Made in India. Because to get some level of subsidies, it is very necessary to have some 70 per cent indigenous material in the EV product.

Are you collaborating with any company for bringing more EV products? 

We have collaborated in Gujarat. There is a place called Kewadiya where we have a complete EV zone. For the last two and half years we are successfully running about 75 EVs which are driven by women, and one with Nagpur metro as well.

As the number of charging stations in India so far are bit less according to demand, do you have your own charging infrastructure?

We are not just focusing on making vehicles and putting them into the market and selling it out. We are looking at the 360-degree EV solution, whether it is the vehicle charging infrastructure or the applications that are running the entire vehicle. We are providing vehicles along with charging infrastructure and independently installing charging stations not only for ETO vehicles but for others as well.

This is because EV adoption in our country is still slow due to a lack of charging infrastructure. With good charging infra, the adoption will be much quicker.

This time you are collaborating with DMRC, so are the female drivers hired by your company or by DMRC? And what kind of perks you will be providing to them?

They are independent drivers and not hired by anyone. DMRC has given certain locations where we will put our charging infrastructure and vehicles will be available on those places. These women drivers will come and do their trips according to the guidelines given by DMRC. They will pay some amount as daily rentals and earn probably three or four times with the trips they will be making. But we have given them a long-term option as well. If they will be able to do this for a longer period of time, for three or four years, they would be able to own vehicles by themselves. As of now, no expenditure of charging infrastructure or maintenance is on women drivers.

Who will decide the price of the distance covered?

There are standard fair meters and the first couple of distances will be standardised with 25 rupees, which is the government's fixed rate. Based on it, they will be planning their earnings and all vehicles are fitted with fair meters.

What are your future projects? 

We are looking at launching a 6-metre bus, and also a truck.