This Bike-Sized Electric Micro Car Costs Just Rs. 2 Lakh: Bookings Open!
A number of people want to switch to an electric car; however, due to the high costs, many people cannot afford them. So, in order to offer an electric four-wheeler for the price of a new bike, a new startup called Wings EV has created an all-new product called the Robin. This tiny electric vehicle is priced at Rs 2 lakh and offers a 60 km range. It comes in three different variants, and its most unique aspect is its compact size. Currently, the bookings for this EV have been opened by the brand.
Wings EV Robin Test Drive
A video of this tiny electric car’s test has been shared on YouTube. It comes courtesy of EVreporter. In this video, two co-founders are seen taking a test drive of this small electric vehicle. They start by showing some images of this electric car from the outside. After this, they start driving this electric vehicle in a gated community.
The presenter mentions that this particular car is called the Wings EV Robin, and it is priced at Rs 2 lakh. It comes with two seats, two doors, and a tiny yet spacious cabin. He mentions that this car has been passed under the L7 category and comes in three different variants. Following this, they have a conversation with the owner of this car company.
Detailed Specifications
The Robin, as mentioned, is a tiny electric vehicle that has been classified as an L7 quadricycle. It can reach a top speed of 60 kmph, which is ideal for city use, and offers a range of 90 km on a single charge. The acceleration from 0-40 km/h takes just five seconds.
This particular EV gets its charging port at the rear, and the charger is mounted under the driver’s seat. As per the company, this tiny EV only takes around five hours to fully charge using a standard 16-ampere plug.
As for the motors, the Robin comes powered by two BLDC hub motors. In total, they are rated at a power of 6 KW and a combined maximum torque of 282 Nm. Dimensionally, the Wings EV Robin measures 2250mm in length, 945mm in width, and 1560mm in height. It offers a decent 160mm ground clearance.
As for the design, this tiny EV looks like a toy car. Its driver’s main door is on the right, while the rear passenger door is on the left for curbside access. Additional smaller doors allow flexibility for entry and exit from both sides.
The Robin is powered by a patented 5.6 KWh LFP battery pack called Wings PowerSlab. As per the company, the LFP chemistry is thermally more stable compared to NMC. This makes it far better suited for hot Indian conditions. This pack is the world’s thinnest automotive battery pack at 69mm tall.
According to the company, it is part of Robin’s skateboard construction. It sits under the vehicle floorboard and spans the length and width of the chassis. This construction provides stability by lowering the center of gravity and creates a beautifully balanced vehicle with a front axle weight/rear axle weight distribution of 47/53, stated the company.
Advanced Drive-by-Wire Technology
In addition to the battery pack innovation, the company has also replaced the traditional drive shaft with two independently controlled BLDC hub motors in the rear wheels. Both of these are controlled by software.
This drive-by-wire technology is used in fighter jets and F1 cars, which enables active stability control. It allows independent control of the motors. As per the company, this enhances vehicle stability.
Homologation Status and Market Launch
According to Wings EV, after five years of development and seven pre-production prototypes, the Robin has passed all L7 homologation tests. This includes safety assessments like the full-frontal crash test.
Wings EV is now preparing for production and setting up a manufacturing facility in Indore. They have launched their website to book pre-orders, with deliveries expected to begin next year. The Robin will be available in three variants—e, s, and x.
The base variant comes at a price tag of Rs 2 lakh and gets 60 km of range and no AC. Next up is the S variant, which comes with a blower and offers 90 km of range, and it is priced at Rs 2.5 lakh. Lastly, the X variant comes with AC and offers a 90 km range and costs Rs 3 lakh.