{Startup Watch: Ultraviolette Automotive} A No-Compromise Electric Bike Experience

This Electric Vehicles (EV) startup is gearing up to launch its high performance electric motorcycle F77.

The Indian automobile industry is one of the largest in the world and its Electric Vehicles (EV) segment is slowly but steadily rising year after year. Additionally, the Union Budget for 2021 introduced vital policies for the automotive sector that can favour consumers and manufacturers.

The government’s support in easing regulations, reducing battery cost, and the availability of charging infrastructure are expected to be instrumental for the mass adoption of EVs. If successful, India’s EV startup sector will prelude economic growth for the automotive industry and will play a pivotal role in the evolving electric mobility space in India.

Read more: EV Bharat: The Common Man of India Has Started Thinking of EVs

As such, the Indian EV market is seeing many startups coming into the space. According to the Bloomberg NEF report, the country is forecasted to become the fourth-largest EV market over the next 20 years, and startups are taking on the opportunity.

We need to understand that the switch from IC engines to EVs is inevitable in the near future

The Tech Panda spoke to Narayan Subramaniam, Founder and CEO of Ultraviolette Automotive, which is developing an ecosystem of high-performance EVs and future ready energy infrastructure.

“We need to understand that the switch from IC engines to EVs is inevitable in the near future. The common man is already on the move to make this switch happen. We’ve seen a huge migration of population to EVs recently in the two-wheeler market,” he says.

Origin and Inspiration

Established in 2016, Ultraviolette Automotive was founded by Subramaniam and Niraj Rajmohan. Subramaniam informs that what inspired them to venture into the EV segment was wanting to cater to the niche that is ´waiting for a no-compromise electric bike experience.´

The reliable nature and its predictability built around the available resources and also the usage of energy is needed beyond just a good product

“The idea was to build tech that can, in the future, take Ultraviolette into different segments,” he says. “The EV industry in India has been associated with low performance and zero desirability. The reliable nature and its predictability built around the available resources and also the usage of energy is needed beyond just a good product.”

F77: A High Performance Electric Motorcycle

The company unveiled its electric motorcycle F77 in November 2019 and is now gearing up to the launch of the bike. The F77 is a high-end technology oriented, high performance electric motorcycle. It has been developed ground up, with principles used in the aviation industry – right from the advanced engineering simulations, multi-level safety systems to the design identity of the motorcycle. It is an urban sports motorcycle with a battery range in three-digit figures 0-100 kmph in sub 8 seconds and a power output to the tune of 25 KW.

A smart and connected electric motorcycle, it comes with remote diagnostics, over-the-air (OTA) upgrades, regenerative braking, multiple ride modes, bike tracking, ride diagnostics, and a whole lot of other features.

For electric mobility to become mainstream in India, it is important to build and develop vehicles that are desirable and come with a certain pride of ownership

“At Ultraviolette Automotive, we have always believed that for electric mobility to become mainstream in India, it is important to build and develop vehicles that are desirable and come with a certain pride of ownership. The genesis of the F77 was rooted with this single insight,” says Subramaniam.

“Over the last three years, we have been on an extensive journey of researching, innovating and developing various prototypes, and the F77 is a testimony of our vision of building an entirely new ecosystem of electric mobility in India,” he adds.

Now in its seventh generation, the F77 has undergone design refinement and several thousand kilometers of testing and Ultraviolette is confident it will be an attractive and evocative alternative to those who are willing to seek out new solutions and experiences.

“We also believe that the F77 is the perfect opportunity to further our ambition of building superior and futuristic mobility solutions in India,” he says.

Read more: {Startup Watch: Ather Energy} An EV Scooter So Swanky You Want to Go Green

The bike will be priced at INR 3-3.25 lakhs (Ex-Showroom).

“The switch to EVs is inevitable and we are catering to the niche that want an excellent product and ride experience. We already see a healthy rate of adoption and therefore we’re extremely confident of a healthy demand for our product,” he adds.

Future Plans

While the startup is primarily focusing on the F77 at this point in time, they might look into EV cars as well if the market demands, says Subramaniam.

“We are a technology company, and our first line of products happens to be in the automotive sector. The opportunities are enormous, and we would look into product diversification based on the changing landscape,” he concludes.