The FIM E-Xplorer World Cup is a new racing series that is gaining attention in India, where motorbikes are the dominant mode of personal transportation. Abhishek Reddy Kankanala, the owner of Indian racing team Inde, is on a mission to create more opportunities for sport in India beyond traditional favorites like cricket and badminton. He believes that the future of transportation lies in electric vehicles, and creating an electric bike racing team is a way to showcase the potential of this technology.
In India, motorbikes contribute significantly to pollution, especially in the top 100 polluted cities in the world. The Indian government is taking steps to electrify buses, cars, and scooters, but there is still a need to shift focus towards electrifying motorcycles as well. Despite the challenges, electric scooters are gaining popularity in India, with the country being the largest market for electric scooters in the world. The high cost of petrol in India compared to other countries is driving a shift towards electric vehicles.
Motorbikes have a special place in India’s transportation culture, with many people preferring bikes over cars for commuting. The government recognizes the potential impact of electrifying motorcycles due to the sheer number of bikes in the country. The E-Xplorer World Cup aims to promote electrified motorcycles in India by showcasing the cool factor of electric bikes. The series has garnered significant attention and engagement from audiences in India, with more interest from manufacturers like Yamaha and Hero MotoCorp.
The potential for E-Xplorer to reach a wider audience has attracted the interest of motorbike manufacturers, who see the series as a platform to promote their own electrification journey. The open nature of the series allows manufacturers to showcase their hardware technology and engage with a global audience. Kankanala sees the series as an opportunity to promote local manufacturing in India by partnering with local manufacturers for events and product exhibitions. The goal is to not only raise awareness about electric bikes but also to develop technology for longer-lasting batteries.
India represents a massive potential market for electric motorbike sales, with a growing interest in electric vehicles due to rising petrol costs and environmental concerns. The E-Xplorer World Cup is not only a platform to promote electric bikes in India but also a way to showcase the country’s manufacturing capabilities. By collaborating with local manufacturers and pushing the boundaries of technology, the series aims to drive the adoption of electric motorcycles in India and beyond.
