Avon Cycles launches e-bike

People need not panic anymore when they hear the news of increase in petrol and diesel prices.

After spending three years on research and development, Avon Cycles of Ludhiana has become the first manufacturer in India to offer electric bicycles. Named Avon e-bike, once charged, it can go up to a distance of 40 km.

Avon e-bike has a maximum speed of 23 km per hour and is available at Rs 15,000. It comes fitted with a 36 V lead acid, sealed and rechargeable battery and it uses a mix of British, South Korean and Chinese technologies in different disciplines.

Speaking to Business Standard on the launch of Avon e-bikes, Onkar Singh Pahwa, managing director said their e-bike "will cater to the urban population which is in search of a clean, hassle-free solution in personal mobility in the midst of ever growing road traffic, parking blues, pollution and rising costs."

He said, "We plan to target boys and girls in the age group of 12 to 16 years, city folk desiring maintenance-free short commutes in congested areas and office-going ladies. These days children want to own a bike. But their parents as well as their school authorities don't allow them to drive one. For this e-bike, one does not need a driving licence, number plates, registration, pollution check certificate or even a helmet."

He added, "For safety, reflectors are provided in the front and rear, in addition to lights and an effective drum breaking system. Its total weight is just 46 kg. Overall, the vehicle design is simple and free of clutter. Being absolutely pollution-free gives it an edge over other bikes.''

Though, Avon e-bike is available in only Punjab, Haryana and New Delhi currently, "within two months time, Avon e-bike will be available all over the country," said Pahwa.

The e-bike based on triple mode power ie manual, motor and pedal assist. "The battery installed in our e-bike has a shelf life of one year and the company provides a two-year warrantee on it. Once charged for 6 to 8 hours continuously, the bike can move a distance of 40 km and if the driver also uses pedals, the distance can be further increased to 60 km. The battery used in it costs Rs 3,000 and will have to be changed every year. It will give an average of 10 paisa per km," said Pahwa.

Pahwa said currently they didn't have any competitor in India as nobody manufacture such bikes.

"Only Chinese e-bikes are available in the market but the warrantee provided by our company is what gives them an edge over them. Right now, we are paying 16.32 percent of excise duty and 12.5 percent of value added tax (VAT) on this e-bike. We request the government to waive off the excise duty and VAT should also be 4 percent, which is being levied on normal bicycles."

Taking note of the world-wide trend of utility bikes going electric and realising their potential, the company plans to manufacture about 10,000 e-bikes in the first year of operations, starting with one model and later adding more options within a year.

"The total sales expected in the first year of operation is Rs 150 crore," Pahwa added.