Bangalore: Ola Electric, helmed by the flamboyant, IIT-educated Bhavish Agarwal, has received the regulator’s nod to use its indigenously developed ferrite motor for its product line. The motor was certified following rigorous motor power tests as per the AIS 041 notifications by the Global Automotive Research Centre in Tamil Nadu. This marks the first time an Indian Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) has managed to design, develop and manufacture an electric motor that doesn’t rely on imported rare earths.
Ferrite motors are generally not preferred for EVs, as designing one is quite challenging due to the less power generated, even though it replaces rare earths with cheaper ferrite-based magnets. Considering the high dependence on China for rare earths, domestic OEMs such as Ather Energy, TVS Motors, and Tata Elxsi have been working on designing ferrite motors as a hedge against supply chain disruptions.
“Ferrite motors aren’t new globally, but developing one indigenously that matches the performance of rare-earth permanent magnet motors is a major step forward for India’s EV ecosystem,” Bhavish said in a post.
“By removing rare-earth dependence, we’re de-risking our supply chain, lowering costs, and strengthening India’s long-term technology independence,”
Of late, Bhavish Agarwal’s Ola Electric has been at the centre of controversy, mostly for its failing revenues and sales, which can be directly attributed to the company’s delays in customer service, resulting in negative publicity.
Many consider Bhavish Agarwal to be India’s version of Elon Musk-with both having similar career trajectories and a status as a celebrity entrepreneur. Of late, Elon’s Tesla Motors has seen declining sales, even as Elon diverts his attention to politics and his other endevours. Bhavish too has been criticised of using every trick in the trade to grab the dominant position in the EV market, while ignoring Ola Consumer, which manages the cab business.
Though Ola Electric has got a headstart here, it remains to be seen if customers continue to trust the brand, even if there is a price reduction due to the use of these motors, though nothing such has been declared yet. The brand’s reputation has taken a hit due to the customer support challenges as well as manufacturing defects, and Bhavish will need much more than innovation to regain the trust he has lost. How will he do this? That remains to be seen.
