Robin, India’s revolutionary new electric microcar

September 4, 2024 Innovation Valli Sarvani No comments

India’s automobile industry is gearing up for a game-changing addition, an electric microcar named Robin.

This innovative two-seater EV, developed by Wings EV, an Indore-based company is designed to be as manoeuvrable as a motorbike. Wings EV was founded by a father-son duo.

The Robin aims to redefine personal commuting by offering zero pollution, reduced congestion, and minimal road space usage.

Wings EV plans to unveil Robin in Bengaluru in April 2025. Pranav Dandekar, CEO and co-founder of Wings EV, shared that the Robin has already passed all safety tests conducted by ARAI Pune, ensuring it is safer than any existing two or three-wheeler on the market.

The firm, which has secured funding from Venture Highway and several high-profile angel investors from India and Silicon Valley, conducted extensive user research across six cities in India.

Over 300 test drives in Bengaluru alone provided valuable insights, said Dandekar, a Stanford University graduate with 17 years of experience in Silicon Valley.

Following the Bengaluru launch, Wings EV plans to introduce Robin in Chennai, Hyderabad, or Pune later in 2025 before expanding nationwide.

Robin will be available in three variants: a basic non-AC model with a 65 km range priced at ₹2 lakh (ex-showroom), a mid-range model with a fan and 90 km range at ₹2.5 lakh, and a premium variant featuring a 90 km range, air conditioning, and patented audio alert systems for enhanced safety at ₹3 lakh.

The Robin’s fully-loaded model successfully climbed a 12-degree incline, far surpassing the required 7 degrees, with most flyovers being in the 3 to 4-degree range.

Prakash Dandekar, CTO and co-founder of Wings EV, highlighted that Robin’s drive-by-wire powertrain, akin to the fly-by-wire technology used in advanced aircraft, underscores its cutting-edge design.

He also noted that with over 18 million two-wheelers sold annually in India, many buyers could transition to two-seater microcars like Robin in the next 15 to 20 years.

Image Credit: Wingsev Website Screenshot