Interview with Anurag Chaudhary: Chief Executive Officer at IME Vehicles

An exclusive interview with Anurag Chaudhary: Chief Executive Officer at IME Vehicles, a leading electric vehicle manufacturer company

In the rapidly evolving landscape of electric vehicles, visionary leaders play a pivotal role in shaping the future of sustainable transportation. Today, we have the privilege of speaking with Mr. Anurag Chaudhary, the Chief Executive Officer of IME Vehicles, a pioneering force in the electric vehicle industry.

With a track record of innovation and a commitment to sustainability, IME Vehicles has emerged as a prominent player in the field. Mr. Chaudhary’s insights into the company’s journey and the broader EV landscape promise to shed light on the path to a greener, more efficient future of transportation.

Can you provide an overview of IME Vehicles Pvt Ltd and its mission in the electric two-wheeler industry?

Anurag Chaudhary: IME Vehicles Pvt Ltd was established in 2022 with the aim to be a trusted name in the electric two-wheeler business. IME stands for Indian Made Electric vehicles and true to its name, the company manufactures 100% Indian-made parts and products for its EV range, contributing to the development and growth of the nation.

We are headquartered in Uttar Pradesh with three manufacturing plants including a 6460 sqft Spare Parts Warehouse in Sikandrabad, a 21,530 sqft Low-Speed Vehicle Manufacturing Plant in Manesar and a 27,000 sqft High-Speed Vehicle manufacturing plant in Dasna.

Ours is a dynamic and forward-thinking company that is focused on delivering the best possible products and services to its customers. We are leveraging our robust R&D to overcome all the challenges and roadblocks that the EV industry is facing currently while constantly seeking new ways to improve and innovate.

We aim to deliver smart, innovative, stylish, comfortable and energy-efficient vehicles that are also safe, affordable and dependable. 

What inspired you to venture into the electric two-wheeler manufacturing industry, and what sets IME Vehicles apart from its competitors?

Anurag Chaudhary: In a country like India, which is highly dependable on petroleum and is struggling to curb air pollution, going electric is the only way forward. Electric vehicles are the future of mobility for Indian roads and mass adoption of electric vehicles will play a vital role in the country’s struggle with air pollution and carbon emissions. This was one of the key inspirations to venture into this sector.

Additionally, the team comes from an aerospace engineering background which is the epitome of engineering excellence. We try to bring in the same kind of precision and quality in EV manufacturing as well. We have been in electric two-wheeler manufacturing since 2016 and share extensive experience in this area. 

We have made major strides in innovation, learned from our mistakes and finally built a range of products that is par excellence. When we launched IME Vehicles in 2022, we made sure not to make the same mistakes as our competitors and we focused on making e-mobility solutions that are in line with global standards.

What makes us different from our competitors is that we have not just focused on manufacturing an excellent vehicle, but have also put equal focus on building a robust after-sales and service forum for customers. This is an area where the EV market is facing major hurdles and we have addressed it beforehand.

Could you share the company’s long-term vision and strategic goals for growth and sustainability in the electric vehicle market?

Anurag Chaudhary: When we founded this company, we made sure that we would not just be an e-mobility manufacturer, but instead, be ready to adapt to the future dynamics of this versatile industry.  Today, the industry is focused on going electric, but in the future, the market might demand vehicles with alternate forms of fuel like hydrogen.

Hence, our long-term vision is to be an alternate fuel vehicle manufacturer and leverage sustainable mobility solutions. We are future-ready for any kind of eco-friendly automotive requirements of the industry. 

What specific innovations or technological advancements have IME Vehicles introduced to improve the performance and sustainability of its electric two-wheelers?

Anurag Chaudhary: The USP of our electric two-wheeler is that our vehicles give the longest range of 300 kilometers on a single charge. This is a feat that none of the other manufacturers in India have achieved yet. This is based on our propriety Smart Range Technology (SRT) which enables us to control the peak current that the vehicle consumes from the battery. 

Every vehicle consumes some amount of peak current from the battery. However, if the peak current is very high, the range of the vehicle gets reduced. At IME, we have controlled the peak to the very minimum value enabling the longest range.  

Secondly, the motor and the controller of the vehicle are manufactured by the same vendor which ensures an optimal and synchronized performance. Most manufacturers prefer to use different vendors to reduce cost, however, this leads to issues in the vehicle in the long run due to the mismatched performance of both these entities.

With this, we are at 93% performance efficiency whereas our competitors have achieved around 88%. These are some of the innovations that keep us ahead of the game.

Electric vehicle adoption is closely linked with charging infrastructure. How is IME Vehicles addressing the challenge of charging infrastructure for electric two-wheelers?

Anurag Chaudhary: The government is working towards creating an infrastructure ecosystem across the country, which will definitely change the dynamics of the EV industry. However, at IME vehicle we have addressed the issue of charging by increasing the range of our vehicles to 300kms on a single charge.

This diminishes the dependency on public charging infrastructure as the vehicles can be easily charged at home and individuals can travel carefree for 300 kms.

What are the key challenges you see in the electric two-wheeler industry, and how is IME Vehicles working to overcome them?

Anurag Chaudhary: Although the market is brimming with various models of EV vehicles and customers have also opened up to the idea of investing in a sustainable and eco-friendly e-mobility solution, the quick availability of spare parts is the major problem that the industry is facing. This is due to the fact that the supply chain of EV vehicles in India is heavily dependent on China.

However, the Chinese manufacturers are more inclined towards selling the vehicles and not the spare parts as the profit margins of the former are high. Hence, every time there is a breakdown in the vehicle or there is a need to replace a part, the time and cost of importing the spare parts are extremely high which eventually discourages the customers.

IME Vehicles believes in manufacturing ‘Made in India’ vehicles. Every component of the vehicle is manufactured by Indian vendors. We have also put a huge emphasis on creating robust after-sale services. Before expanding our outreach to a new region, we first establish an after-sale service ecosystem that helps us to immediately address any spare parts or service issues.   

IME Vehicles has a range of electric two-wheeler models. Could you highlight some of the unique features and benefits of these models?

Anurag Chaudhary: We have two categories of vehicles: the high-speed range and the low-speed range models. IME Rapid is the latest addition to our high-speed range models. It is the best-in-class model available in the market today that has a peak power of 3.1KW with a speed of 80 km/hrs and a range of 300 kms on a single charge.

The model comes with fast charging capability and a range of safety features including- Speed Control Switch, Side Stand Sensor, Anti-Theft Alarm, Reverse Parking, One Button Repair and Remote Keys. IME Rapid is positioned to bring a revolution in the EV two-wheeler industry by addressing all the challenges that the e-mobility sector faces today. 

Safety is a critical aspect of two-wheeler transportation. What safety measures and features do IME Vehicles prioritize in its electric two-wheeler designs?

Anurag Chaudhary: Several recent cases of batteries catching fire have tarnished the growth of this industry. However, these incidents occurred due to the use of compromised-quality of the battery. These were isolated incidents that created widespread fear among customers over the safety of electric vehicles.

To address this issue and ensure the safety of our customers and the vehicles, IME Vehicles only use AIS 156-compliant batteries, which aligns with the new policies of the government of India. These batteries do not catch fire as it has a sealant inside the battery to control the fire. 

Furthermore, the BMS in the battery immediately cuts off the current in cases of temperature spikes. This is one of the best technologies currently available in India and only certain manufacturers are certified by the government of India to manufacture them.

Also, we take absolute precautions while transporting the vehicles to avoid any incidents of fire.  We do not connect the battery and scooters while shipping. The batteries are stored separately and are kept at 30% charging instead of full charge to reduce the possibility of any mishap.

For aspiring entrepreneurs and individuals interested in the electric vehicle sector, what advice or lessons learned would you like to share from your journey as CEO of IME Vehicles?

Anurag Chaudhary: Customer satisfaction is the key to a successful business. At the end of the day, all your technological advancements and marketing strategies succeed, if they focus on the customer’s need.

Furthermore, if you are entering the market, bring a product that is par excellence. Focus on nurturing indigenous manufacturing the leverages the Indian economy instead of importing cheaper versions. Incorporate sustainability, safety and surety in your products.

In this exclusive interview with Mr. Anurag Chaudhary, CEO of IME Vehicles, we have gained valuable insights into the dynamic world of electric vehicles and the visionary leadership driving it. As IME Vehicles continues to push the boundaries of innovation and sustainability, Mr. Chaudhary’s dedication to pioneering solutions that address the challenges of our time is nothing short of inspiring.

With the electric vehicle sector poised for exponential growth, it is leaders like him who are leading the charge toward a cleaner, more sustainable future of transportation. We thank Mr. Chaudhary for sharing his time and expertise, and we look forward to witnessing the continued success and impact of IME Vehicles in the EV industry.

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