Author: Diana M. Cuyler

Bajaj Auto recently inaugurated a new production plant in Akurdi Pune, Maharashtra. It will only produce electric vehicles such as Chetak. During the inauguration, Rajiv Bajaj said that people who have no business in electric vehicles are trying to be in space. He also said electric vehicle fires are not a problem, the problem is in the manufacturing process.

Rajiv Bajaj, President of Bajaj Auto said: “The problem is not the fire itself. This (such incidents) has also happened in vehicles with internal combustion engines. The problem is the underlying manufacturing process. What worries me the most is the environment that has fostered all this mad rush. Why are people who have no business in electric vehicles trying to get into the business? This needs to be corrected. Perhaps, if I may say so, the relevant government authorities have watered down the standards for electric vehicles. »

He added: This (electric vehicles are flooding the market) may also be partly due to incentives. Under cover of low-speed vehicles, you can bring any piece of vehicles from anywhere and put it on the road. You won’t have those scooters that catch fire? What are you waiting for?”

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The comment was made about the recent electrical fires we have seen over the past few months. Electric vehicles in India catch fire for various reasons. The government has also launched an investigation to find out the reasons behind this. The probe said the main problem was faulty battery cells. The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has sent a notice to Pure EV and Boom Motors. Additionally, the government is expected to develop new quality-focused guidelines for electric vehicles. So far, electric scooters from Ather, TVS and Bajaj have not caught any fires. Ather CEO Tarun Mehta said many EV batteries are not designed for Indian conditions.

New manufacturing plant

Bajaj also unveiled Chetak Technology Ltd. CTL and its supplier partners will invest around Rs. 750 Crores in the new electric vehicle manufacturing facility which spans 6.5 acres and has a manufacturing capacity of 5 lakh units per year.

Rajiv Bajaj, Chairman of Chetak Technology Ltd., during the launch of production at the new factory, said, “Chetak is the original ‘Make in India’ superstar, who has captured the hearts of the world. True to these Indian designed and built roots, the Chetak Electric Avatar was born from our strong R&D, deep product and consumer understanding and decades of manufacturing expertise. He added, “Today, on the 84th birthday of the late Chairman Emeritus of Bajaj Auto, Shri Rahul Bajaj, we delivered on our commitment to commission this Center of Excellence for Chetak by June 2022. This focused, integrated, and agile facility is intended to power the Chetak Return to the Future.

Bajaj Chetak

Bajaj currently only has the Chetak electric scooter in its range. It is sold in two variants. There is Urbane which is priced at Rs. 1 lakh and then there is Premium which costs Rs. 1.15,000,000. metallic color options.

Also read: Oppo will launch an electric vehicle in India by 2024

Source

In reaction to the latest motorcycle ban (Okada) in some large parts of Lagos State and the call for a ban in the South Western States, the Oyo State Chapter of the ‘Amalgamated Commercial Tricycle And Motorcycle Owners, Repairers and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN) has pleaded with the Oyo State Government not to ban the riders but to regulate their activities.

The association, which is the umbrella body for all commercial operators of motorcycles and tricycles, said the government should not ban its members, but regulate union activities and empower them, adding that the members rely on Okada’s business for survival.

Comrade Solomon Olugbode, Chairman of Oyo State ACOMORAN, speaking at a press briefing at the association’s state secretariat in Ibadan on Monday, explained that the association is aware of the motorbike ban in much of the Lagos States, as well as a possible influx. of these runners in Oyo State.

He said the society should understand that they are also part of the society that is ready to abide by the laws of the land.

His words: “Okada business is for the poor, we rely on this business for our day to day survival, only the poor can be seen with okada business, if the government bans us, our means of survival will be cut off stopped.

“I want the public, especially the elite, to understand that we are the product of society, we are not useless, worthless or meaningless. Society must understand that committing an atrocity depends on the person and not on their profession, a bad person is a bad person regardless of their profession, gender, ethnicity or religion.

While speaking out about the steps the association has taken to stop the influx of perpetrators of evil among runners.

He said: “The law does not prevent anyone from moving from one place to another. Our law does not allow us to detain anyone, we can only gather information and report to the police.

“The association is fully on the ground and our members have been informed to report any strange and suspicious movement to the competent services.

“As law-abiding people, we have also prepared our members to collect data from all runners for easy identification.”

The state president pleaded and urged the state government to help control the number of unions by regulating them and empower the incumbent union.

He further revealed, “As a means of permanent solution to the unruly behavior of some bikers in the state, we call on the government to regulate the number of bikers controlling unions in the state and empower self-reliance. because violence in commercial motorcycles and tricycles began in 2006 when the motorists union violently hijacked Okada parks.

Meanwhile, the syndicate also brought to the attention of the State Security Department and the Commissioner of Police an Okada Day being planned by a group of okada riders.

The President said that ACOMORAN, Oyo Chapter does not organize anything like this, adding that the participants are not members of the association but disbelievers who have extorted ignorant riders and caused confusion for selfish purposes.

E-vehicles that catch fire show poor workmanship and India must avoid a “mad rush” for untested products, Rajiv Bajaj, chief executive of Bajaj Auto, said on Friday as he criticized “watered down standards”.

Electric scooter fires have been in the news this year, and last month a report by the state-run Defense Research and Development Organization caused faults in the batteries. Defects may have crept in because electric two-wheeler companies intentionally used inferior materials to cut costs, said The report.

“The problem is not the fire itself. It (such incidents) has also happened in vehicles with internal combustion engines. The problem is the underlying manufacturing process,” said Bajaj at the inauguration of the dedicated electrical branch of its subsidiary Chetak Technology Ltd. vehicle manufacturing plant at Akurdi near Pune.

“What concerns me the most is the environment that has fostered this mad rush. Why are people who have no business in the electric vehicle business trying to enter the business? It must be corrected. Perhaps, if I may say so, the relevant government authorities have watered down the standards for electric vehicles.” This (electric vehicles are flooding the market) may also be partly due to incentives,” he said, as quoted by PTI.

“Under the guise of low-speed vehicles, you can bring any piece of vehicles from anywhere and put it on the road. You won’t have those scooters catching fire? What are you waiting for,” he said according to the new agency.

The country aims to increase the share of electric scooters and motorcycles in total two-wheeler sales to 80% by 2030, from 2% currently. However, consumer confidence has been shaken by the nine reported incidents since last year of electric two-wheelers catching fire.

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