Balan Engineering, a company based in Bengaluru has announced the launch of six variants of EVs that would benefit individuals and companies focussed on cargo transport, agriculture, civic amenities amongst others, primarily in rural markets. The EVs were unveiled by Shri.Jagdish Shettar, Minister for Industries, Karnataka, in the presence of an august gathering in Bengaluru, while two eminent dignitaries namely Shri. Sadananda Gowda, Minister for Chemicals & Fertilisers, Govt. of India and Shri. Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Road Transport & Highways and Minister of MSME, Govt. of India, joined the launch ceremony virtually.
The new EV range includes an electric loader ‘Vishwas’, an electric garbage vehicle ‘Swach Rath’, an electric passenger ricksaw ‘B5’, an electric sanitizing vehicle, an electric fumigation vehicle and an electric push cart ‘Kamala’. The vehicles are targeted at boosting the rural economy by delivering huge savings for large civic corporations and institutions. The EVs are durable and sturdy with the company offering a 4-year warranty on the battery and motor controller.
Balan Engineering will be engaged in the manufacture, assembly and sale of various types of EVs and has received the licence to set up a large manufacturing facility in Bagalkot district in Karnataka.
The EVs are currently produced at Balan Engineering’s facility in Bengaluru which has a capacity of about 300-400 vehicles a month. The factory operations will shift to Bagalkot on completion of the new facility in the next 6-9 months post which the Bengaluru facility will be converted into a service centre.
“We have acquired 25 acres of land for setting up the Manufacturing Facility at Bagalkot and the land development activities have been completed. We are awaiting financial closures to start the construction work. The investment is over Rs. 50 crores which will be done in two phases to set up the state of the art Manufacturing plant. We will be manufacturing various types of EVs under our own brand as well as for others who are interested to partner with us. Some major players are already in discussion with us for a tie-up of production in their names,” says Balakrishnan N, Director, Balan Engineering Pvt. Ltd.
The capacity of the factory in the initial phase will be about 25,000 vehicles per annum. The expanded capacity will be more than 50,000 vehicles.
The promoters have a passion and deep conviction for manufacturing vehicles to boost rural economy as it saves significant transport costs and as they are good value for money, helps save costs. The promoters believe that ‘value for money’ and ‘durability of the product’ will be two guiding principles of the company.
“The company’s key focus at present is to manufacture vehicles that would be used for cargo transport, rickshaws for rural population, rural economy relevant vehicles for use in agriculture, and in forest areas and resorts, for civic amenities and inside large corporate campuses and educational institutions. We are committed to manufacture products that would ease the lives of even the street vendors through our electric push carts which would help especially the fruit and vegetable sellers in their daily work,” says Balakrishnan.
The vehicles are 100% made in India and in line with Atmanirbar Bharat and the company has tied up with very good and reputable motor and lithium battery suppliers.
Some of the products will be very unique. They are very useful in the civic administration. The products will be export worthy. They have gone through practical full load trials in the road conditions prevalent in India.
“Bagalkot is one of the few places in Karnataka that has not had much opportunity to be industrialized. Our proposal to set up our plant in Bagalkot has received very good support from the Government of Karnataka. The factory in Bagalkot will generate 200 jobs in the full size directly and about 300 more indirectly. The surrounding area will also develop with individual workshops in plenty to support the large factory. The location is also at a tri-junction from Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Mumbai and hence the 6 states below Maharashtra will be our focus,” says Balakrishnan.