Calcutta-based electric vehicle company Motovolt Mobility has rolled out the Motovolt M7 scooter, marking its entry into the competitive high-speed electric scooter segment. Till now it has been making e-cycles and e-mopeds. Company founder and CEO Tushar Choudhary said, “We have kept the introductory offer price of M7 at Rs 1.22 lakh, with the initial booking amount being Rs 999.” That should make it a sufficiently competitive deal given the flexibility of the product.
Motovolt calls the M7 a multi-utility e-scooter, or MUSe for short, and says it is the first of its kind in the country. There are two major things about which this e-scooter is flexible. The first is it can switch to a load carrier in minutes, with a carrier being bolted on over the pillion passenger seat. The seat itself, with a small storage compartment under it does not have to be removed for that. Motovolt itself is offering a fairly comprehensive range of accessories for the conversion, including bags and steel frame carriers. The company says that its e-scooter’s mild steel dual cradle frame can handle a payload of 180kg and has a gradability of 9°. The maximum power output is 2.5kW and maximum torque is 120Nm.
The second point of flexibility is the range. The M7 can be purchased with either one or two batteries. The Rs 1.22 lakh at the showroom version comes with two 1.5kWh units, while there is a soon to be launched M7L version with a single battery that can be had for a lower price. The L version can be upgraded to dual battery. The batteries are swappable and can be charged outside the scooter as well. With two batteries, which are placed in a centrally located compartment under the rider’s seat, the M7 has a range of 166km in Eco mode, that has been certified by ARAI. The batteries are good for 1,000 recharge cycles, the company says. It adds that they “come encased in aluminium, adhering to AIS 156 standards (IP67), ensuring it is both fire and waterproof”. The batteries come with a warranty of three years or 30,000km, whichever is earlier. Motovolt has also partnered with Swobbee, a European battery-swap tech company, for the M7.
According to Motovolt Mobility founder & CEO Tushar Choudhary, “At Motovolt, our mission is to provide an efficient and sustainable commuting alternative. The M7, is made in India and made for India and seamlessly integrates advanced features, providing a personalised and connected experience for our riders. By addressing the unique challenges of urban mobility, we aim to enhance the quality of life and contribute to a cleaner environment.”
Motovolt M7 was launched by West Bengal transport minister Snehasis Chakraborty (third from left), in the presence of West Bengal transport secretary Soumitra Mohan (left), German consul Barbara Voss (right), actor Abir Chatterjee (second from right), eROCKIT CEO Andreas Zurwehme (second from left), and Motovolt Mobility founder and CEO Tushar Choudhary (third from right)
Talking about the M7, Andreas Zurwehme, CEO, eROCKIT, the M7’s German technology collaborators, said, “The exchange of technology between our German engineers and their Indian counterparts has been a cornerstone of this project. I am confident that the M7 will appeal to Indian consumers and deliver a distinctive and gratifying experience on the road. Looking ahead, we are also exploring opportunities to introduce the M7 into European markets.”
The M7 can be paired with the Motovolt app on the phone and a telematics system can be used. This application offers real-time location tracking and over-the-air software updates. It also sends service reminders and monitors the health of the vehicle to ensure timely maintenance. The M7 comes in six colours. Following its debut in West Bengal and Orissa, the M7 is scheduled to be introduced in other major cities in a phased succession.
