Zbee e-3W production to start in India in August
Clean Motion is taking the initiative to manufacture the Zbee in India through its local subsidiary Clean Mobility Solutions India Pvt Ltd. Venture capital fund India Accelerator has invested in the company’s local arm to help it localise the EV. The agreement between the two companies includes an initial investment of SEK 6.8 million (604,425 euros) and a licensing agreement to manufacture and sell in the country.
Production of the Zbee in India will take place in Pune, a city roughly 150 km away from India’s financial capital Mumbai. Clean Motion says it will start manufacturing the electric three-wheeler at its upcoming Indian plant this fall. The company expects to ramp up output quickly and has set a goal of increasing the monthly production to 1,000 vehicles within three years.
The Zbee measures just 2.4 metres in length, 1.25 metres in width, and 1.5 metres in height, which makes it easy to drive on tight and busy Indian roads. It is made of fibre-reinforced plastic, so it weighs just 280 kg. It can accommodate three people, including the driver, and it has a 3-point safety belt on all seats.
The Zbee uses brushless hub motors in both rear wheels and a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack. Charging the battery pack takes approximately four and a half hours (AC)/one hour (DC). The electric moped has a top speed of 45 kph and can be driven up to 80 km on a full charge.
Clean Motion launched the Zbee in India in February 2016, starting with units locally assembled units in Faridabad, a city about 50 km away from the national capital Delhi. Currently, the company offers the commuter version of the Zbee on a wet lease. It provides first and last-mile transport services for commuting between metro stations, office hubs, colleges, commercial landmarks, hospitals, etc. In the future, it will introduce a cargo version of the Zbee to enter the quick commerce service sector, although it hasn’t stated a specific timeline for the new venture.
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