Strom Motors, an electric vehicle start-up company from Mumbai, unveiled an all-new electric car in April 2018 in India. It is compact, two-door electric vehicle uses reverse trike configuration. The promotion of the vehicle is going on and initial response of the target customer which is urban commuter is extra-ordinarily good. Because of the highly positive response and growing e- commerce market in the country, the company planned to design all new 3 wheeled, reverse trike configured electric delivery vehicle on the same platform as R3.

About the e- commerce market, India is the fastest growing market for the e-commerce sector. Being driven by a young demographic profile, increasing internet penetration and relative better economic performance, India’s E-commerce revenue is expected to jump from US$ 39 billion in 2017 to US$ 120 billion in 2020, growing at an annual rate of 51 percent, the highest in the world. This supports the proposal to design the all new electric delivery vehicle.

The target customers are the e-commerce logistic companies like e-kart, Gati, Amazon etc. The key drivers for the project are increasing pollution and congestion on road, lack of innovation in commercial vehicles and government policies for the penetration of electric vehicles. Initial study is done to understand the cabin packaging. Tata Ace cabin was studied for the dimensional and ergonomic analysis. Also volumetric analysis helped to compare with the competitor’s product. Problems with existing delivery vehicles are analysed to integrate unique features like desktop to keep documents or swiping machine etc. Thin swappable battery pack drawers helps for ease of access and usability which also add a distinctive design element on the side. Both interior and exterior of the vehicle are designed with advanced technology and material for the best experience.

Prof. Sugandh Malhotra

Onkar Khot MDes (2017-19), IIT Bombay