Ensuring an EV-friendly supply chain and to manufacture whole drivetrain

By OEM Update Editorial April 18, 2022 4:17 pm IST

Crayon is collaborating with many firms in charging, clusters, and battery swapping, among others, to provide our clients with an end-to-end solution.

Talking about his journey with Crayon Motors in 2020, Mayank Jain, Director, Crayon Motors shared  with OEM Update how he pursued MBA from the elite IE Business School in Spain after completing the Bachelor of Business Studies from University of Delhi. He co-founded Dirty Laundry, an eclectic innerwear brand, to become Director at U.P Telelinks Limited, a leading cable and e-rickshaw manufacturer. And how he spent a significant amount of time and effort on R&D/Technology to carve a niche for the brand and build products that provide value for money to our customers.

Opportunities in electrical mobility

With 100 per cent FDI possible, new manufacturing hubs, and an enhanced drive to improve charging infrastructure, India’s EV sector is picking up speed. Other development factors for the Indian EV sector include central and state subsidies and policies, a production-linked incentive scheme for the automotive industry to boost the production of electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and Fame II Policies.

The industry is full of opportunities and is developing at a rapid pace. Possibilities are endless. Technology is also improving regularly, which manufacturers must now grasp and work with. Start-ups and manufacturers are active in all categories, including batteries, drive trains, clusters, charging, switching, and so on. Start-ups can collaborate and leverage each other’s capabilities to develop a robust eco-system that includes all stakeholders. Crayon is collaborating with many firms in charging, clusters, and battery swapping, among others, to provide our clients with an end-to-end solution.

Products range

The lead-acid battery is old technology. Lead-acid-based products are often less expensive to purchase. However, the battery has a shorter life and requires more maintenance than modern technologies like Li. This was also one of the reasons why it has been excluded from the FAME – 2 policy. While the initial investment is lower, we are seeing a switch towards Lithium.

Lithium batteries are easier to maintain, requiring almost no maintenance. They are smaller, lighter, and have a longer product life – weight being an essential factor in EVs. Hence, Lithium results in relatively better mileages as well. Keeping customer ease in mind, we recommend using Li over Lead Acid batteries.

Range anxiety certainly is a problem with EVs. While our conventional products have some of the finest mileages in the industry, there has always been a need for greater mileages. As a result, dual-battery products have become popular. Customers can drive greater distances by using two batteries. Consider this to be analogous to carrying a mobile phone battery bank. We have taken on the challenge of redesigning automobiles in order to increase their performance and mileage. Now, we have electric scooters with mileages of up to 170 kmpc as well.

Investment plans in setting up factory for Motor manufacturing

Motor manufacturing has been one of the critical project for us, something that has been planned for a long time. We feel that a robust drive train is the most crucial factor in ensuring vehicle success. Hence, we have built a team of experts for the same. We are pleased to announce the successful prototyping of our in-house motor. We have now begun the process of preparing for commercial production. We have planned investments for this project and will also make our products available for our counterparts. Our goal is to make India an EV hub by supplying high-quality goods. We are concentrating on hub motors in the initial phase. Axial flux motors are also being developed. We plan to steadily increasing capacity to 1 lakh motors every month.

Expansion plans for manufacturing capacity expansion

Strategies to meet challenges in taking EVs to the Indian markets

The path forward is clear to us. It is not only about the product, but the entire experience. This starts from the moment you buy an EV. While the product remains at the centre, we want the complete experience to be enjoyable. This includes simple access to components, dependability, simplicity of service, and ease of maintenance. One such move is our recent collaboration to provide roadside assistance PAN India. Users of Crayon can now enroll into the RSA scheme and ride their vehicles, without any worries.

Advantages in getting empanelled for FAME II and GEDA eVehicle subsidy Yojana

The EV sector has overcome a slew of obstacles ranging from quality to dependability to hefty initial investment, among others. These vehicles are designed to address many diverse and significant difficulties that we face today. The highlighted point is that we must reduce our dependency on oil and reduce pollution. For the third year in a row, New Delhi was named the world’s most polluted capital in 2020, wherein automobiles have been a strong contributor.

With Fame II & GEDA Yojana, subsidies from the central government and the states are a step in the right direction. Through these schemes, the governments have reduced the originally high cost of acquiring automobiles, making it more accessible to consumers. Not to add, such empanelment serves as a validation of the quality of the products supplied. In consequence, these rules are assisting the sector in increasing volumes and achieving economies of scale.

Local manufacturing facilities to meet accessories and spare parts demand

Until recently, not all suppliers in the automotive industry were on board. However, this is no longer the case. EVs are becoming more popular. We at Crayon, are devoted to EVs as a company and have built a strong vendor network to assure easy and consistent supply of quality spares and accessories. This foundation is made up of firms who have been in the automobile industry for many years and those striving to establish themselves and provide excellent products at affordable costs. As a result, our customers’ pockets will be relieved of some of the strain.

Cutting edge technologies for electrical mobility

Customer satisfaction is important to us as a company. We have been working for this on several fronts. For example, our designed motors outperform their industry contemporaries in terms of higher efficiency. Aside from that, I am a firm believer in boosting the experience of having an EV. For the same, we have engaged in several connect programmes to build awareness on the EV Automobiles. In essence, all solutions are geared towards creating the ultimate consumer experience and satisfaction. Our recent and the unique collaboration of Road side assistance would ensure that our items are not stranded in the unlikely case of a breakdown. Several other similar partnerships are in the offing and will be announced soon. We are making use of the right technology to enhance the whole consumer experience of owning a Crayon Vehicle. This is one of several efforts that we have done, to make every purchase successful.

Future manufacturing plans for Indian markets?

We have big ambitions for EVs and it extends beyond automobiles. We want to ensure an EV-friendly supply chain. For this, the initial stage in this process is the drive train. Motors serve as a stepping stone. Our long-term goal is to manufacture the whole drivetrain. This is critical to ensuring that the consumer receives a reliable product at a cost-effective price. We aspire to see India as a worldwide leader in all things EV, and we want to help make that happen. Many state governments have expressed interest in our concepts for developing manufacturing, and we are in discussions with them. We have a vision of India being a worldwide leader in all things EV, and we want to be at the forefront of this journey.