101
/
4
Min Read
On Electric Vehicle Day, BGauss Founder Hemant Kabra spoke about the company EV journey, the launch of its new premium scooter, and the future of electric mobility.
In this exclusive conversation, Kabra shared insights into BGauss journey in the EV industry, the challenges the company faced in its early years, and its growing dealer network. He also discussed the key features of the new premium lifestyle electric scooter and the need for faster adoption of electric mobility in India.
How did you start this journey? What made you decide to enter the electric vehicle industry when everyone was looking in the same direction? What did you decide to do differently?
Hemant Kabra: When I looked at the industry in 2019-20, we felt that this was a sector where a major transition from internal combustion engines (ICE) to electric vehicles (EVs) was going to take place. I felt that we had around 8-10 years for this transition to settle before the industry entered a hockey-stick growth phase.
Today, it appears that the last 6-7 years have given the sector enough time to prepare, and the industry is now ready to compete and grow.
We were clear in 2019-20 that the automobile sector was going to undergo a major transformation. Secondly, it is a large sector worth more than ₹2 lakh crore. If the entire sector was going to change over the next decade, we felt that it was the right time and the right opportunity to enter the space.
When you started the business, what were some of the major challenges you faced?
Hemant Kabra: When we started the business in 2019-20, hardly any companies had launched electric vehicle products in India. At that time, the biggest challenge was finding the right talent.
To run a business successfully, develop products and manage the entire product development journey, you need the best talent. At that time, there was very limited experienced talent available in the EV sector. That was our biggest challenge.
However, we overcame this challenge successfully. Today, I can say that some of the best people in the industry are working with us.
You have launched several electric scooters before. What is different about this new scooter?
Hemant Kabra: There are several differences. The C12 MaxR is a very premium electric scooter. It has a top speed of 75 kmph and offers a range of up to 178 km.
It features a crystalline design, good boot space, a TFT screen, a connected app and several smart features. It is a lifestyle product and one of BGauss’ first premium lifestyle scooters.
The C12 MaxR Electric scooter also has good boot space. Was it specifically designed to offer more storage capacity?
Hemant Kabra: Absolutely. Generally, electric scooters have limited boot space, where you can barely fit a helmet or a charger. However, this scooter offers good boot space. Along with the electric charger, you can also carry your shopping items. You can easily fit handbags and other everyday items in it.
How large is your dealer and distribution network?
Hemant Kabra: Our dealer network is growing very rapidly. Today, we have around 225 dealers working with us and selling our products across different markets.
What message would you like to share on Electric Vehicle Day?
Hemant Kabra: It is a very good day. I believe it represents a major step towards green energy. There are several conflicts taking place around the world, and oil and energy have a significant impact on the global economy. I believe electric vehicles are the future, and we should adopt them as quickly as possible. At the same time, it is important that the EV industry grows in a strong and sustainable manner. We are happy that we launched our lifestyle electric scooter on this special day.
