IIT-M incubated venture to disrupt e-tricycle market

The initial funding of the IIT-M-incubated enterprise was done by Keiretsu Forum, which has given it scope to perfect the solar range of its tricycles.

Jacob Thekkekara, CTO, told DTNext that there are lot of three-wheeler dependent vendors, especially in the city. But for around 40 years, the design has remained unchanged. Identifying this as an opportunity, the team decided to commercialise the vehicle by tweaking the design for easy manoeuvrability. The company had so far sold over 160 such vehicles.

The pedal-assisted three-wheelers can withstand a load of 300-kg. Water cans, gas cylinders or piles of refuse, this vehicle promises to provide an easy way of transporting goods. The start-up is also partnering with CUMI, a Murugappa group company, when the two struck the alliance in mid-2017.  “They are our channel partner as their companies are involved in a lot of material handling activities,” he said, adding Entron in Hyderabad was another such partner, which had used their tricycle for Tata Trust.

In Chennai alone, there are 11,000 plus tricycles that are typically rendered useless after being deployed for six months. Such being the market opportunity, Pi Beam decided to focus on this segment by giving it an eco-friendly approach. In factories and industrial environments, the scope to use solar-powered tricycles is tremendous, Thekkekara noted, adding that their customers included Michelin, L&T and Murugappa group companies like CUMI.

While a manual version costs Rs 25,000, a full-scale electric 3-wheeler is priced at Rs 75,000. A solar version is also available for Rs 95,000 though it is still in the “perfecting” stage.