Rewiring the future How Oben Electric is reshaping India's EV motorcycle landscape

Where wires dream and wheels whisper, a new breed of machine emergesnot imported, not inherited, but imagined. It doesn't roar. It thinks. It listens. It adapts. Built from silence, sculpted for chaos, this isn't a vehicle. It's a rebellion in motion

- Ashok Pandey [e-mail]

Electric mobility in India is no longer about novelty, it's about necessity, scale, and vision. Few understand this better than Madhumita Agrawal, Founder & CEO, Oben Electric, one of the very few women leading a full-stack electric motorcycle company in India. In a conversation rich with insights, she takes us deep into Oben's journey from its R&D-first foundation to the nuanced challenges of battery chemistry, consumer behavior, and building electric motorcycles tailored to the Indian mindset.

From R&D to real roads

Oben Electric formally began its journey in 2020, but the groundwork was laid years earlier. With a solid academic background from IIT Kharagpur and IIM Bangalore, the founder's early career in R&D services provided handson exposure to global EV projects ranging from motor technologies to battery infrastructure.

This immersive experience built a strong understanding of electric vehicle systems across multiple segments and geographies. When the time came to start Oben, the gaps in the Indian two-wheeler EV space were clear: motorcycles were being ignored. Scooters dominated discussions, even as India remained primarily a motorcycle market.

Identifying this white space, Oben set out to build a fully indigenous electric motorcycle platform not through assembly or trading, but with a deep, technology-driven focus. From motors to battery chemistry, nothing was off-the-shelf.

Designing for India, not importing for it

At the heart of Oben's strategy lies a sharp understanding of the Indian commuter. The average Indian two-wheeler user isn't looking for futuristic bells and whistles. They're looking for dependability, affordability, and ease.