Pioneering High-Voltage Electric Motorcycles with Raptee
Raptee is an Indian electric motorcycle startup founded in 2019, dedicated to advancing electric mobility with high-performance, high-voltage motorcycles designed for a seamless and powerful riding experience. During an interaction with Vidushi, Dinesh Arjun, Co-Founder & CEO, Raptee discussed Raptee.HV’s mission to revolutionize electric motorcycles with high-voltage technology, emphasizing the company’s user-centric design, versatile charging options, robust safety features, ambitious expansion plans, and the role of Series A fundraising in scaling production and innovation.
Can you briefly introduce Raptee.HV and the vision behind developing the first high-voltage motorcycle?
Raptee.HV is an Indian electric motorcycle startup founded in 2019 by Dinesh Arjun, the CEO and former Tesla engineer, along with three other co-founders. Their mission is to accelerate the shift to electric mobility by creating a no-compromise electric motorcycle that provides an exceptional riding experience for users of traditional Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) bikes. Headquartered in Manapakkam, Chennai, Raptee.HV is unique in being the only startup manufacturing high-voltage motorcycles that are fully compatible with all public car charging stations.
As car electrification gained momentum over the past five years, largely driven by the adoption of high-voltage (HV) technology, it became clear that this tech, known for its performance, stability, and reliability, could transform the motorcycle space as well. Raptee.HV recognized this potential and took the core of HV technology from electric cars, re-engineering it for motorcycles. This breakthrough allows Raptee.HV to deliver consistent, stable performance in terms of speed and acceleration, rivaling or even surpassing traditional fuel-powered motorcycles.
What are the key benefits of the 240V high-voltage system in terms of performance and efficiency?
The 240V high-voltage system in Raptee.HV’s motorcycles offers several advantages in both performance and efficiency. Delivering more power with lower current enables faster acceleration and better overall performance. This system also enhances energy efficiency by reducing heat losses, allowing riders to travel longer distances on a single charge. Additionally, less heat generation means the motor and battery run cooler, extending the lifespan of components and ensuring consistent performance over long rides. The 240V system also supports faster charging, making it more convenient for daily use or long trips. Overall, the high-voltage system provides stability and reliability, offering a smooth and powerful riding experience.
How does the high-voltage system enhance the motorcycle’s acceleration, range, and overall performance?
A high-voltage system boosts a motorcycle’s speed, distance, and overall function by letting the motor get more juice from the battery with less waste. This leads to a more twisting force, which means quicker speed-ups, while also making it possible to use a smaller motor. On top of that, the high-voltage system helps keep the right heat levels across the whole drive system making sure it keeps working well for a long time and making the bike run better overall.
What charging options will the motorcycle support, and how compatible is it with existing networks?
Raptee.HV’s high-voltage motorcycle supports versatile charging options, making it highly convenient for riders. It is equipped with an onboard charger that allows compatibility with all public charging stations, including those typically designed for electric cars. This broad compatibility ensures that riders can easily charge their motorcycles at a wide network of charging points, whether at home, work, or on the road.
Additionally, the motorcycle supports fast charging technology, enabling users to quickly top up the battery at compatible stations, reducing downtime during trips. The flexibility to charge using standard public stations or faster chargers makes Raptee.HV’s motorcycle convenient and future-proof, providing seamless access to the growing electric vehicle infrastructure in India and beyond.
How does Raptee.HV integrate user-centric design and technology into its HV motorcycle to improve the rider experience?
At Raptee.HV, we prioritise user-centric design and technology to enhance the rider experience of our high-voltage motorcycles. Our approach starts with understanding rider needs, which forms every aspect of our design. We feature an intuitive digital display that provides essential ride information, coupled with a connected app that offers real-time tracking of ride stats, battery health, and charging station locations. Customisable riding modes allow users to select settings tailored to their preferences, while ergonomic design ensures comfort during long journeys.
What measures have you taken to ensure the safety and reliability of your high-voltage motorcycles?
At Raptee.HV, we’ve taken comprehensive measures to ensure the safety and reliability of our high-voltage motorcycles, starting with the meticulous design of our HV battery pack. Through extensive research and validation, we achieved a sleek, compact battery design that enhances handling by ensuring uniform weight distribution. Our patented cell arrangement uses advanced wire bonding technology, which not only fuses the cells but also acts as individual fuses, adding an extra layer of protection.
Our battery pack is IP67-rated, meeting regulatory standards for protection against water, dust, and foreign particles, making it a completely sealed unit. Additionally, our battery management system goes far beyond regulatory requirements. While the standard calls for four temperature sensors, we’ve integrated 32 sensors, along with voltage monitoring at 64 nodes, offering real-time tracking of battery vitals with close to 100 metrics. This ensures exceptional safety and performance.
To further enhance safety, we’ve incorporated a dedicated Power Distribution Unit, commonly found in electric cars, which makes our system robust and secure. At Raptee.HV, we’ve combined innovation with responsibility to deliver a safe, reliable riding experience.
What are your plans for scaling production and entering new markets?
Raptee.HV is currently focused on expanding its market presence across India, starting with setting up our own stores. In the first year, we plan to establish stores in eight key cities, rolling them out in a phased manner to ensure a smooth entry into various regions. From the second year onwards, we aim to introduce a dealership model, allowing us to scale and make our motorcycles more accessible nationwide. In addition to our domestic expansion, we have ambitious plans for global growth, with a target of entering the international market within the next two years.
How will the Series A fundraising support Raptee.HV’s growth and innovation efforts?
We are currently in the middle of a $19 million dollar raise and expect to close it by the end of the year. This will be a combination of equity and debt. A large portion of this raise will be used to ramp up production and get our motorcycles delivered faster to our customers. We also take pride in the fact that, in true Chennai Startup fashion, we’ve reached this milestone at a fraction of the capital as some of our peers in the EV startup space and will continue to be capital efficient going forward.
