Que: How does iGOWISE Mobility differentiate itself from other electric mobility startups in India, and what are its key solutions?

Ans: iGowise is not just an electric mobility startup; it is a deep tech smart mobility innovator. Our core focus lies beyond building vehicles and extends to creating a new category in the lightEV space through our technology solutions that enhance safety, comfort, capacity, and accessibility. I believe these four major pillars rightfully define our commitment to our vision and consumer needs. On the other hand, we offer OEMs, particularly micro and mini OEMs, a smart mobility platform. Our platform allows them to build their own trikes three times faster and at a cheaper cost without the need to start everything from scratch. We aim to bridge the gap that smaller OEMs face with R&D and other processes by offering them readymade and customizable solutions. And, for me, this unique approach distinguishes iGo from other players not just in India but across the world.

Que: What are the competitive advantages of iGOWISE’s patented stabilization technology?

Ans: The key aspects of our patented stabilization and anti-topple cornering technology distinguish us from traditional Japanese and European trikes, which had the first-mover advantage. Come to think of it, our solutions are more effective and energy efficient. Unlike many players, we do not use a gyroscope, which consumes a lot of energy. In addition, the way we have designed our solutions makes them more affordable, compact, and lightweight, adding to their uniqueness and giving us a competitive advantage. However, this technology is just one of our key patents, as we are working on other technologies simultaneously.

Que: How does BeiGo cater to the heavy-duty requirements of eCommerce logistics?

Ans: BeiGo caters to more than just the traditional e-commerce space. We should note that in India, the livelihood and rural utility sectors are much bigger than the e-commerce space. These spaces typically include our farmers, kirana store owners, cigarette hawkers, and street vendors. A quick scan of the market will tell you that these individuals seek a versatile vehicle that can support their livelihood needs, similar to gig workers. To meet this specific need, we developed a solution in the form of BeiGo that has a multi-utility design and offers a balance between livelihood and personal needs. We designed the vehicle to balance performance with range, comfort with safety, and capacity with speed. I believe this thoughtful balance has allowed us to offer huge value for various markets and extensive customization for the logistics space.

Que: What kind of software or firmware is embedded in the twin-wheeler trike for real-time performance monitoring?

Ans: On the performance monitoring side, our trike is an intelligent vehicle powered by AI and the latest IoT sensors, which enable it to capture hundreds of data points every second. The vehicle analyzes the collected data to gain insights related to safety and vehicle health, ensuring optimal performance throughout. In addition, its system provides a framework for advanced features such as auto navigation, shared mobility, and auto-summoning technology. It is also compatible with Bluetooth and 4G, which again makes it a one-of-a-kind multi-wheeled trike in lightEV spaces. Our premium model in particular comes with an automatically synchronized system and a self-learning electronic differential. Above all, the technology improves over time by leaning into the data collected from all the vehicles in operation. Notably, our trike goes beyond basic functionalities like geo-tagging, remote handling, and immobilization. For instance, our advanced trike version will provide features such as self-navigation, self-parking, and self-summoning, setting a new standard in the industry.

Que: How is the demand for sustainable micro-mobility solutions evolving in India, and where does iGOWISE fit in?

Ans: LightEV is no longer a future possibility and has become a part of our present reality. As urban centers increasingly struggle with managing traffic congestion and inadequate infrastructure, it has become essential to adapt to micro-mobility and mini-mobility solutions. As a nation, we can no longer afford to accommodate millions of new cars on the road, whether petrol or electric. Instead, we must adopt solutions that can minimize both carbon and road footprints. This thought is in line with the global trends.

Today, several international cities, including New York, have implemented congestion pricing to address concerns related to pollution and traffic. I must say this shift is making more individuals recognize the impact of the prevailing challenges and seek better technologies and appropriately sized solutions. As a result, the micro-mobility trend is gaining traction in several regions of South Asia, Latin America, Africa, and parts of developed nations.

I believe our efforts towards the cause make iGowise a key contributor to this movement. We are not only pioneering multiple technologies and providing products but also partnering with several entities to help develop more conceptual solutions specific to their countries and markets. We are currently working on multiple partnerships that are in the pipeline, including collaborations with European and Latin American companies.

Que: With the recent budget announcement on providing social security to gig workers, what impact will this initiative have on the growing economy of India with e-commerce thriving on a large scale?

Ans: I think the social security initiative for gig workers is a welcome development, but at the same time, it is just a first step. It is great to see that we are finally addressing the long-standing issues within the sector and are willing to initiate a change. The Karnataka government has also taken the first step to provide better facilities and insurance to gig workers. Judging by this wind of change, we can say that progress is being made at both the center and state levels. However, as I said, this is only the beginning, and there’s a lot more that needs to be done to uplift the growing community.

Over time, we must focus on enhancing the experience of gig workers and addressing issues like road safety, vehicle safety, high capacity, fatigue management, and comfort to support them. In addition, many vehicles currently in use are not designed for such use cases, leading to abuse and overuse. Hence, we need to promote better vehicles that offer decent speed and capacity without compromising safety.

Additionally, we have a long way to go to foster inclusion and equity, particularly for women workers in the gig economy. However, we had to begin somewhere, and this social security initiative is definitely a commendable step.

Que: What challenges does iGOWISE anticipate in scaling production for mass adoption, and how does iGOWISE plan to tackle range anxiety for delivery fleet operators?

Ans: We anticipate supply to be the most significant challenge in this market when it comes to mass adoption. The market has immense demand within segments like personal use, livelihood use, traditional e-commerce, and both organized and unorganized logistics. Over time, this demand is increasingly becoming evident in both domestic and international markets as well. To support this demand, we are providing a reliable product that’s in line with our innovation and ensures the quality of every component across the ecosystem while working with multiple players. However, I believe that maintaining effectiveness without compromising quality is the aspect we need to master first to scale operations on the level of China or beyond.

For us, manufacturing is only one aspect, as we are trying to create an entire quality supply chain ecosystem. Hence, we try to focus right from the R&D stage to anticipate challenges related to supply chain variations and component quality. By effectively incorporating those considerations during the tech and product development phases, we plan to address the underlying issues.

I believe this approach cannot be achieved by a single player, which is why we are working with multiple corporations that share our DNA for quality and reliability. There’s ample capacity, talent, machines, and facilities available that are currently underutilized, so we do not need to establish new gigafactories. Instead, we plan to maximize existing setups to scale mass production in the domestic market. Additionally, we are partnering with international players in Saudi Arabia and Colombia who wish to establish their own facilities. In such setups, our role will be to support them with technology and components so that they can build locally, reduce costs, and develop quality solutions tailored to their markets.

When it comes to the heavy vehicle market, range anxiety and charging concerns are quite critical. However, for LEVs, the average usage range is 80-100 km, which most available solutions can readily accommodate. Similarly, when it comes to logistics and personal use, accessible charging points—such as simple home 15-amp sockets—can make LEVs more comparable to smartphones than to electric trucks, cars, or buses.

Indeed, for fleet operations, range anxiety continues to pose practical challenges, but we expect to create exceptional cases. For instance, at iGo, we have pioneered an "energy as a service" model and are currently collaborating with a partner to enable home delivery of extra battery packs during emergencies. Our idea is to deliver power banks to those without access to charging points at home using our electric trikes. Through these efforts, we aim to ease concerns that are not limited to range anxiety. However, we voice the need for more standardized charging protocols to ensure interoperability across different brands.