It is strongly suggested by the VVI team that the User / Customer go through each of the questions provided below as FAQ’s thoroughly, prior to contacting us or our Dealer. This would answer most of the queries you would have prior to deciding on the EV conversion and would ensure that your expectations are met completely thus ensuring a successful ride!
Please use the link below to access the ‘VVI Questionnaire’ which is an Information detailing sheet and fill up the requested information about yourself, your vehicle details, your routine commute / travel and usage along with other required inputs and submit to Vidyuth Vaahan India. The ‘VVI Technohow’ team would review these details and revert with the options for EV Conversion accordingly.
Note : You may opt to email your response to
vidyuthvaahan@gmail.com.
Q1. Why should I consider EV conversion of my ‘old’ / ‘legacy’ vehicle instead of buying a new EV?
A1. Major ‘Pros’ in favour of EV Conversion are :
a. COST of electric conversion of an existing IC Engine based 2-wheeler is about 2 to 3 TIMES LOWER than purchasing a new Electric Vehicle of comparable capacity / rating.
b. EV Conversion gives you a unique opportunity to retain and re-cycle the STRONG & ROBUST chassis and body frame of your existing conventional vehicle in combination with a high-efficiency EV Motor, Battery Pack, Smart Controller and required accessories which are retrofitted to give you a brand new EV which would transform your mobility !
c. The converted EV retains the CONTROL & STABILITY of the original vehicle while in motion. This covers :
resulting in SUPERIOR RIDING COMFORT & SAFETY as compared to a new EV in most cases.
d. Re-use of some of the major components such as
e. Recycling of other parts by such as –
Note : These parts are to be scrapped as per the Vehicle Scrappage Policy of the Govt. of India (Refer : https://morth.nic.in/vehicle-scrapping-policy-overview) at the Authorised Scrapping facility.
Q2. Is EV conversion of my vehicle going to be really cost effective?
A2.a. ECONOMICAL: YES - in terms of savings on fuel (avoided cost of petrol / diesel)
b. PAYBACK: ATTRACTIVE - recover the investment on EV kit within the first 12–18 months of use.
c. RUNNING COST : LOWER – no dependency on conventional fuels like Petrol / Diesel
d. MAINTENANCE COST : LOWER - lesser moving parts
Q3. Are there any adjustments to Travel / commute plans which I need to make before starting a trip / journey on my converted EV?
A3. YES - In terms of the usability of a converted EV – there are a few points to be noted and followed as you adapt to EV riding in the first few weeks of usage (if you are a first-time user).
To make best use of an EV you would need to understand a few concepts related to the operation, capability and performance of the major components of the EV such as the Motor (Power) & Battery pack (capacity) and their impact on the range and speed.
Some of the MAJOR POINTS TO BE NOTED are :
a.RE-CHARGING : Normally, the Lithium battery packs of a converted EV do take a good 3 – 4 hours to charge under Type 1 charging (depends on the kWh of your battery pack and the kW output of the charger).
SO, ensure that your vehicle is fully charged the previous night if you want to set out to work early morning.
b. SPEED:
Typically, in almost all the converted EV’s used for light mobility the Motor-Controller combination is fine tuned to reach optimal levels of performance and hence are capable of reaching the defined speeds that smaller petrol powered scooters of the 90 - 110 cc category do.
However in the higher capacity ranges (> 110 cc ) the standard converted models would not fully replace the existing Petrol-powered scooters in terms of their rated power & top speed as you would have used them.
SO, ensure that top speed riding is taken up only when essential and not during normal riding time / avoid unwanted acceleration.
c. RANGE ASSESSMENT & DISTANCE COVERAGE with available Battery charge Before commencing a journey make sure that you assess whether the balance amount of charge in the battery (SoC – State of Charge) / capacity remaining is sufficient to take the ride / trip in the desired route effortlessly without any anxiety.
SO, make it a habit that whenever you ‘Turn On’ the key-switch of the Vehicle, CHECK the BATTERY SoC provided on the Digital Display unit fitted to your Dashboard and note the Battery discharge condition (number of bars remaining) and the Battery voltage before deciding on the Travel to ensure adequacy of charge.
d. NEGOTIATING GRADIENTS / SLOPES
EVs are able to go up gradients / slopes between 6 to 8 degrees uphill without any challenges. In fact, the instant torque of an electric motor is better suited to drive up a hill than a regular IC engine based vehicle.
Upward climbs on steeper slopes of 10 degrees or higher uses up a lot of energy and will therefore put a heavier load on the battery.
SO make sure that you plan the route to minimise steep upward climbs wherever possible.
Q4. Does a converted EV meet all my needs of daily commute?
A4. a. In terms of the range / mileage : Yes it does*
b. In terms of acceleration : Yes it does*
*VVI team endeavours to provide the best EV conversion option to match your mileage & speed expectations based on the details of your usage provided initially. If there are any gaps / shortfalls in these expectations the same is highlighted or brought to your notice at the beginning of the conversion itself so that you may be able to accept and adapt to these variations/ changes and move forward.
Q5. Does a converted EV require any maintenance and if so, what are the associated costs?
A5. All the converted electric scooters require much lower and infrequent maintenance as compared to regular scooters since there are lesser moving parts. Thus the related costs would be nominal in comparison to normal scooters.
Q6. How much does the EV conversion of a scooter cost?
A6. Cost of Electric conversion of scooters for Standard City / Town commutation (light electric mobility) is lower than the new E-Scooters and starts from Rs. 70,000 to Rs. 85,000** depending on the range & speed. On the other hand, EV conversion of Scooters for higher range, load carrying capacity & speeds start from Rs. 80,000 to Rs. 100,000** based on the Conversion model selected by the customer.
**(i) These costs are for the EV components only and are indicative based on the prevailing costs of the Motor, Batteries, Controller, etc. Furthermore these costs are subject to fluctuations of raw material pricing in the market.
**(ii) The final budget / estimate for EV conversion could also be higher based on the actual work carried out during conversion (for example – any additional work involving tinkering, painting, replacement of parts such as Seat/ Cover, Stand, Electricals - Lights, horn, indicators, etc) or opting for new accessories / add-ons such as the LED Cluster to replace existing Dashboard). Hence the final conversion cost varies on a case to case basis based on vehicle condition and customer needs.
Q7. What are the models available and which one would suit my requirement?
A7. There are four different types of conversion models offered. The best suited model is recommended by the VVI team based on the inputs received from your end (the nature of usage).
VVI offers its standard models which use Hub motors and are suitable for EV conversion of vehicles that are normally used in City / Town limits and do not require very high speeds or acceleration or to carry 1-2 persons (rider and pillion).
VVI also offers special - custom built models where the customer requires higher speeds and range which cannot be met by the standard models. These models would have a powerful mid mount motor as part of the EV kit which is integrated with a part of the existing transmission / gear box at the driven end using a customised Belt drive or a custom built reducer gear box (Torque converter) to professionally complete the conversion.
Note : We recommend that you contact our VVI team before deciding to opt for the specially customised Model to check its compatibility with your requirement.
Q8. Does the EV kit used for conversion consist of all the necessary components displayed on the web site of VVI as EV Kit? Secondly, are all these EV components of good quality and approved ?
A8.
a. The EV components / kits displayed on the website form about 80% of the items that are required for conversion. Though these components form a major part of EV Conversion there would be other components / accessories / add-ons to be used for conversion of your vehicle based on specific needs such as :
b. All Brands / Make of key EV components used by Vidyuth Vaahan India (VVI) in the conversion process are accredited and ARAI / BIS approved. All these products carry back to back Warranty from the respective suppliers - free from any defect, both in material and workmanship, under normal use. VVI also uses custom built transmission sub-assemblies, Reducers, Belt drives, etc in some cases which are covered under the Warranty.
Q9. Do we really get the top speed as per the Model rating or is it just hype?
A9. No, it is not just hype. A highly efficient BLDC motor is used in most conversions and the rating is chosen based on customer needs. Hence you would be able to achieve top speeds to a large extent
Note : Top speed is dependent on the converted Vehicle weight, the terrain and the Battery pack - Voltage & Amp-hour (or C-rating of the battery). Hence this varies from vehicle to vehicle and is not easy to define either.
Q10. How long would it take to charge my electric vehicle?
A10. The amount of time your vehicle takes to charge depends on the kWh of your battery pack and the kW output of the charger. If you have a 2 kWh battery pack and your charger can output 0.5kWh then this pack will charge from 100% DOD to 100% SOC (State of Charge) in ~4 hours (2kWh/ 0.5kWh = 4 hours). This value could vary based on fluctuations in the power output / supply voltage but it's a good rule of thumb. Almost all the converted EV’s have Lithium Battery packs and hence charging times average between 4 – 6 hours. To note that due to constant technology changes / upgrades and with new battery technology you could expect faster charging times in future.
Q11. What is the estimated lead time for delivery once I have confirmed the order for conversion and handed over the vehicle to VVI ?
A11. Usually, it takes between 2 - 3 weeks for the entire conversion process right from dismantling, through re-engineering, sizing, procurement of the EV components and their positioning / mounting to final assembly, trial runs, performance testing and handing over. However, lead times of critical items such as Battery pack, Controller, etc do fluctuate so we recommend reaching out to our VVI Conversion team to confirm the current estimated lead times.
Q13. How do I ensure that my EV Conversion is ‘road legal’?
A13. It is your responsibility to carefully check all requirements relating to the law pertaining to usage of EV’s prior to handing over the vehicle to start conversion and ensure that your EV
Conversion will be ‘road legal’. As these laws will be unique to each state and may change from time to time we may not be able to provide or validate this information.
VVI would not be involved in activities such as obtaining clearance from RTO, effecting changes to RC (after dismantling and scrapping the Engine) and conversion to Green Board. These are not in scope of VVI and are to be handled by customer.,
Q14. Does VVI also take up conversion of Motorcycles or Cars ?
A14. While a few prototypes have been taken up for conversion as samples VVI team would be completing the re-engineering, re-modelling and roll out of the converted EV Motorcycles in Phase 2 and for cars in Phase 3 of 2023.
Q15. What is the life expectancy of the battery pack ? How long would it be before we would need to change the battery pack on a Converted EV?
A15. Battery suppliers offer warranties covering atleast 2 years of riding on the lithium-ion batteries. Replacement of these battery packs is not required for the first 2-3 years of normal use. There also some cases where some of these battery packs have lasted for over 3 years.
Q16. How much does it cost to charge a Converted EV ?
A16. The exact cost would vary depending on the vehicle and electricity rates. On an average, it would be less than Rs 30 per charge for an all-electric scooter. Your overall energy (fuel) bill will be lowered by riding an EV.
For example, a Honda Activa provides a mileage of 50 – 60 km per litre. At Rs 100 per litre of Petrol, the scooter would require, say 1 litre to cover 60 kms – thus a total cost of Rs 100 for the trip.
In contrast, the EV converted Honda Activa would need just 2-3 units of power for a full charge of 60 km. At Rs 10 a unit that would work out to about Rs 30 per full charge. Thus a rider using an EV saves about Rs 60 to cover 60 kms which is about Re. 1 per km as savings.
Note : If you install Solar Panels at the charging point you can run your Scooter using the power of the sun for free !
Q17. Why are Lithium-Ion based battery packs expensive as compared to normal batteries?
A17. There are quite a few factors which make Li Battery packs expensive -
SO, in order for the costs to come down, people have to buy more and create more demand, which will create more manufacturing, lowering prices. Though the cost of these batteries have dropped down significantly over the last 3-4 years it may take another few more years for the Battery packs costs to drop further. Thus when the cost of the electric vehicle batteries have dropped enough, the incremental cost of an electric vehicle will not be as high as it is now.
Q18. Where do you recharge a converted electric vehicle?
A18. Most users recharge their Converted vehicles overnight in their own premises – either the garage or basement etc. For those living in Apartments / Shared buildings etc the driveway, basement would be suitable and in some cases Public charging units in Parking slots / Shopping Centres, etc.
Q19. Should I get an insurance policy for my Converted Electric scooter?
A19. Yes, you must obtain an Electric Scooter insurance to keep your converted EV and yourself as a rider financially protected. As per the updated Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, all vehicle owners must have third-party insurance for their vehicle, including electric vehicles. There are a few Automobile Insurance Service providers / Companies who offer specific insurance plans for electric vehicles. VVI team can provide more information in this regard once the EV conversion plan is finalised.
Enthusiasm for EV and sustainability is contagious - when people show off their converted EV in a given city area, adoption rates subsequently increase in that area!
FOOTNOTE:
The 1st WORLD EV DAY was celebrated in 2020. It is a campaign that encourages drivers to recognise the benefits of Electric Vehicles and make a commitment that “THE NEXT VEHICLE YOU DRIVE OR RIDE WILL BE ELECTRIC AND NOT RUN ON CONVENTIONAL FUEL.”
VVI encourages its customers to participate in the “EV RALLY” riding their converted EV’s which demonstrates the social commitment from every responsible EV user and inspires others to take up EV adoption as well thus contributing to reducing pollution and dependency on conventional fuels.
This is a large grassroots EV event, and takes place in all major cities—and it is entirely free for you – to proudly display your converted EV!
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