E Rickshaw shows the way: an electric vehicle success story

 

Statistics from Delhi Government show that the number of E Rickshaws grew by by 140% in just one year.

In an industry which has literally grown on its own with minimal advertisement this is a huge figure. 

A look around on Indian roads in any part of India will show a similar story. E Rickshaws are every where. (See my post E Rickshaw the ubiquitous vehicle).

How has this happened? Is there a success story here? Can it be repeated?

How has this happened?

I have given a possible reason for this in my blog post An Idea Becomes a Reality. My premise in this post is that this has happened within an enabling space. 

The lines which define the space are low tech, inexpensive and immediate usefulness through earnings. The E Rickshaw is low tech, it is affordable and immediately leads to some earnings. So in my view this is the reason this has happened.

Is there a success story?

Yes. Anything which is a self starter and which happens without much pushing and which is useful to a large number of people is certainly a success.

Can it be repeated?

It may. Say if we make cars which can be assembled with the minimum effort and can be made in large numbers. If these cars are affordable and if they can be useful for a large number of people. It may be a success. 

The problem of not being able to drive too far on a single charge. The problem of a long time to charge. These problems exist with E Rickshaws, but E Rickshaws are still a success. 

There is therefore an outside chance that if similar conditions are met cheap and low tech cars may also be a success.

An outside chance but maybe it may happen.

 

PS: also see my blog post

 My take on the future of EVs

Electric Vehicles in India: we are at a cusp of change