ELECTRIC THREE-WHEELERS GAIN MOMENTUM

Electric three-wheelers gather momentum, courtesy the involvement of bigger players.

The electric mobility division of Mahindra and Mahindra recently announced the launch of a new electric three wheeler cargo model, Treo Zor. It is powered by an eight kW lithium-ion battery with a life that exceeds 1.50 lakh km. With a payload of 550 kg, the e-three wheeler features an advanced IP67-rated motor that gives a driving range of 125 km. With a wheelbase of 2216 mm, the Treo has a clutch-less automatic transmission. Priced at Rs.2.73 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi, net of FAME two and state subsidies), the electric cargo three-wheeler offers savings of more than Rs.60,000 per year as compared to an equivalent diesel cargo vehicle. This amounts to a fuel cost saving of roughly Rs. 2.10 per km. Aimed at first and last-mile deliveries, the Treo Zor is backed by an investment of Rs.1000 crores in technologies and infrastructure.

To add to over 5000 Treos (passenger carriers) already running on the roads, the cargo e-three wheeler, with over 50 patents in the electric vehicle space, is expected to enhance the efficiency of e-commerce players; of individual fleet buyers and others. Packed with cloud-based connectivity features, the Treo Zor joins an increasing market space of e-three wheelers that include new and existing players, some of them closing on the fine line that separates the unorganised players.

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