OKINAWA IS AN INDIAN ELECTRIC TWO WHEELER manufacturing company that some may mistake it to be a Japanese firm as it shares the name with a Japanese Island.
And, no; it doesn’t have any Japanese or Chinese collaboration either.
The founder of the Delhi-based e-scooter manufacturer, Jeetender Sharma, who once visited Okinawa during the early days of his career, was in awe of the island as it’s said to have the longest lifespan in the world, thanks to close to the zero pollution levels. “The trip to Okinawa Islands is what inspired me to look at manufacturing electric vehicles,” says Sharma, who decided to name his company after the island and founded Okinawa Autotech in 2015 with a vision of creating a healthy environment.
However, at that time electric two wheelers that run on slow-speed lead-acid batteries weren't seen as a viable alternative to Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) powered petrol scooters. That’s why Sharma, a mechanical engineer with a stint of close to 14 years at Honda Scooters & Motorcycles, working across different verticals including quality management, market intelligence and research and development, utilised his initial two years of company formation for travelling to different parts of India to do research and take people’s opinions on electric vehicles.
“The first step we took was to break several prevalent myths about EVs among consumers and other stakeholders.” He explains some of these myths were around the possible speed of electric vehicles, the range anxiety (how far does it travel on a recharge cycle), and the performance of any product (weight carrying capacity, traveling on the rough Indian roads, etc.).
This story is from the June 2021 edition of Manufacturing Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 2021 edition of Manufacturing Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Precision Revolution
Exploring the fusion of Machine Learning and CAD/CAM Technologies, Shriyal Sethumadhavan delves into the transformative impact of AI integration in manufacturing.
Empowering MSMEs
In conversation with Amit Mande, Chief Revenue Officer, U GRO Capital
Fornnax unveils SR-200 HD recycling innovation
Fornnax Technology continues to expand its portfolio of high capacity lines and debuted an upgraded variant of primary shredder.
Transforming manufacturing and product development
India's manufacturing sector, currently contributing 17% to the GDP, is expected to be one of the key drivers of growth for the country.
Transforming E-commerce: How LLMs are changing visual content
LLMs reshape e-commerce with captivating visuals, balancing benefits and drawbacks of authentic content in the digital retail arena
An intelligent move
Dive deep into the future of manufacturing as we explore the transformative power of intelligent technologies revolutionising the industry.
Meeting India's data centre cooling demands
Schneider Electric inaugurates state-of-the-art cooling factory in Bengaluru
The gender matters of manufacturing
Does the manufacturing industry suffer from a gender gap?
Navigating India's manufacturing landscape
Jibak Dasgupta, Director General and CEO, Indian Machine Tool Manufacturers' Association's view on the influx of investments and the manufacturing landscape
A decade of 'Make in India': The foundation for building a manufacturing powerhouse
As India experiences profound economic growth, it has emerged as the second most sought-after manufacturing destination in the world, contributing 13.9%1 to the economy.