Dr. Prajwal Sabnis, Co-Founder of Orxa Energies, sheds light on the company’s pivotal role in India’s electric vehicle (EV) revolution. With a focus on high-power EVs and cutting-edge battery technology, Orxa Energies is set to redefine the future of electric mobility. In an exclusive interview with TimesTech, Dr. Sabnis discusses their innovative approach, local manufacturing commitment, and the potential impact of their EV tech in defense and aerospace sectors.
Read full interview here:
TimesTech: Can you discuss Orxa Energies’ role in India’s EV revolution?
Dr. Prajwal: The current EV industry focus is on mass-market EVs that are typically low-cost and low-power. However, as the EV ecosystem matures, we anticipate a growing demand for high-power systems. This is because high-power EVs offer a number of advantages, including longer range, faster acceleration, and the ability to tow heavy loads.
Orxa Energies is well-positioned to meet this growing demand for high-power EVs. We have a team of experienced engineers who are developing cutting-edge electric propulsion systems. Some of our products that showcase our engineering expertise have already been deployed in the Agri-tech and Drone sectors. Our flagship product, the Mantis electric performance motorcycle, is a testament to our engineering expertise. The Mantis is one of the most powerful electric motorcycles on the market, and it offers a range of over 200 kilometers.
In addition to our focus on high-power EVs, Orxa Energies is also committed to localizing our manufacturing and R&D This is a first for any Indian OEM, and it demonstrates our commitment to the Indian EV ecosystem. By localizing our manufacturing and R&D, we are able to create jobs and boost the Indian economy.
TimesTech: What sets Orxa’s next-gen battery technology apart from traditional lithium-ion batteries?
Dr. Prajwal: Orxa’s batteries are significantly lighter than traditional lithium-ion batteries. We build our lithium-ion battery pack in-house, and it has a total storage capacity of 9kWh. Most Battery manufacturers in India have made their batteries heavier in line with the recent updates to the safety standards. By using high-energy-density cells, a lightweight battery pack design, and innovative thermal management solutions, we have been able to engineer lighter battery packs while keeping the safety protocols and standards intact. The batteries are also able to deliver high power output, even in demanding conditions. Using a passive thermal management system, which is more efficient and reliable, we are able to reduce both the weight and cost of the battery pack.
Orxa’s next-gen battery technology is a key differentiator. It allows us to offer vehicles with a longer range, better performance, and a lower weight. This makes the Mantis one of the finest bikes to ride.
TimesTech: Could you highlight key milestones in Orxa Energies’ battery technology development?
Dr. Prajwal: We began our battery technology development journey in 2017 with imported battery packs and a massive imported BMS. While we initially relied on third-party BMS’, we quickly began developing our own batteries. Our initial work in this segment was the Christmas tree BMS, named for the infinite number of indicator LEDs on the board. Today, we have multiple BMS boards, some as small as credit cards.
Our work in the drone sector helped us develop extremely dense batteries and address some core challenges in the battery swap ecosystem. Some of our latest battery packs are capable of full charge in as little as 30 minutes.
Our engineers are constantly innovating and pushing the boundaries of what is possible, and we are confident that our technology will play a major role in the EV revolution.
TimesTech: How do battery innovations impact the performance of electric motorcycles like the Mantis?
Dr. Prajwal: Batteries are at the centre of the electric mobility revolution and safety has been the largest primary concern in this latest wave of EVs. We have witnessed instances where many EV makers have either undersized the batteries, or underestimated the importance of engineering batteries with sufficient safeguards. This negligence can turn catastrophic from an engineering and a human safety perspective. However, with the regulations in place, the EV industry has come about with very quick learnings and has made strides in addressing these concerns.
In our electric bike, the Mantis, we have used high-energy-density cells, a lightweight battery pack design, and innovative thermal management solutions. This has resulted in a motorcycle with a long range, fast acceleration, and a high top speed.
Battery innovations are essential for the long-term success of the electric motorcycle industry. As electric motorcycles become more popular, consumers will demand motorcycles with longer ranges, faster acceleration, and higher top speeds. Innovations in this space will be key to meeting these demands and making electric motorcycles the mainstream choice for riders.
TimesTech: What’s your vision for the future of EV battery tech, and Orxa’s role in it?
Dr. Prajwal: We are on a mission to change the EV perception in India, with a future target of 500km and 1000km range electric motorcycles. As a company are working on a host of core EV technologies that are not limited to battery innovation.
India’s domestic EV market is set to encounter a 49 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 2022 and 2030, with an estimated 10 million annual sales by 2030. We are committed to the Government of India’s ‘Make-in-India’ initiative and manufacture our batteries in-house with imported cells and very few other imported components. 100% of our design and 80% of our component sourcing and manufacture are in India.
We are excited to be at the forefront of the electric vehicle revolution in India and believe that our Made in India technology has the potential to make a real difference in our drive for sustainable transportation.
TimesTech: How is Orxa’s EV tech applied in defense and aerospace, and what’s the potential impact?
Dr. Prajwal: We have been collaborating with the aerospace and defense sectors since 2017. Our biggest success story has been powering agri-tech drones that were deployed across all corners of the country, through 400 of our battery packs. Each of these batteries enabled operators to cover about 2 acres of operations per charge. We feel fortunate to have been able to contribute in this small way, to support the farmers of our country.
We have also engineered and supplied batteries and other technological systems to select defense customers. We maintain rigorous safety standards in our battery packs while ensuring they meet the most advanced and innovative tech offerings the sector demands. The same technological expertise has also been implemented in our electric performance motorcycle ensuring that we offer the best to our future customers.
