TrafficInfraTech Magazine Linking People Places & Progress
With startups set to play a key role in realising the Prime Minister’s vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047 – the 100th year of India’s independence – the initiative launched by the Prime Minister in 2016 to build a strong ecosystem for nurturing innovation and encouraging investments has seen phenomenal growth in the eight years since its inception from about 400 startups to more than 130,000 recognised startups existing today. According to sources, 50% have their base in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities and are spread over 669 districts from 36 States and Union Territories of India. Trafficinfratech interacted with a few of them to understand their solutions.
To support its expansion plans, BonV is establishing a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility to meet both defence and commercial demand. As regulations mature in India, it is ready to broaden the scope and impact of its technology. The startup has also multiple recognitions to its credit, including a world record for lifting the heaviest payload by a drone to the highest altitude of Umling La, at 19,000 feet.
– Satyabrata Satapathy
The Union Budget 2024 also made a big announcement for startups, abolishing Angel Tax for investors in all classes, which came as a relief as it was difficult to attract foreign investors due to the uncertainty surrounding the levy, consequently deterring growth. The government is looking at uplifting the startups by expanding the various credit access platforms available to them. A Startup India Portal also acts as a virtual incubation platform for stakeholders, to network with each other, have access to resources, tools & templates that would help them as they progress.
India’s startup ecosystem has evolved rapidly, supported by favourable government policies like Startup India and sector-specific initiatives such as the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for drones, says Satyabrata Satapathy, Co-founder and CEO – BonV Aero. However, startups, particularly in the hardware sector, continue to face challenges like limited early-stage funding and complex regulatory processes. Despite these hurdles, BonV Technology has managed to secure more than $2 million in seed investments, demonstrating the potential and resilience of hardware startups in India. With ongoing support from programs like Atal Innovation Mission and SIDBI, there is optimism that more resources will be directed toward deep-tech ventures that have the capability to revolutionize industries like BonV is doing with aerial mobility.
Aeromobility represents a significant advancement over the current use of drones in India, which is largely restricted to surveillance, mapping and small-scale delivery. BonV is developing large-payload, autonomous, electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) platforms capable of lifting up to 50 kg to altitudes of over 19,000 feet. These platforms are specifically designed to navigate challenging terrains and high-altitude regions, making them ideal for critical logistics and emergency services, especially in sectors like defence and disaster management, where traditional drones fall short in terms of payload capacity and operational range.
The company focuses on high-payload capacity and autonomous flying capabilities. Its proprietary self-flying algorithms, multi-redundant propulsion systems, and use of indigenous components ensure superior reliability and safety. The RM001 platform, with its modular design and reconfigurable pod system, can support various applications, including logistics, emergency medical evacuations, and disaster relief operations.
Improved accessibility would lead to agglomeration benefits and would strengthen the MRA’s (Metropolitan areas) spatial-economic business climate. This will inevitably improve the efficiency of freight supply chains by reducing logistics cost by 54.8%, create a geographical cluster which could help reduce inventory costs, promote even more just-in-time strategies and expand same-day delivery service areas.
– Pranay Luniya
Quintrans, on the other hand, is a technology-based company offering infrastructure solutions for implementation of Hyperloop Transport. In a country like India, where High Speed Rail transport (HSR) is not prevalent, there are fewer options to travel rapidly between two cities, says Pranay Luniya, Founder and CEO – Quintrans Hyperloop Ltd. For example, Pune and Mumbai are separated by 150 Kilometers which take around 3.5 hrs. by road/rail and there is no option of moving by aircraft. Such cluster of cities need an effective transport connection to enable growth of local trade and economy, a mass mode of transporting people & cargo which is faster, safer and greener.
With strategic partners and proprietary technology, Quintrans provides an end stack of solution to enable optimized building and operation of Hyperloop. “In terms of core technologies, we have developed novel Composite Concrete based Hyperloop Tubes to introduce cost-effectiveness and provide durability to the entire support structure along with On-Track components such as DC-Excited Linear Synchronous Motor for propulsion method and Active and Passive Magnetic Modules for Levitation System,” says Luniya.
The startup has developed a 30m Pilot-Commercial Scale Demonstrator to showcase proof of concept with respect to proprietary and associated technology. The pilot setup will present a contactless mechanism to carry payloads up to 550 kgs along a guideway track inside a tube structure containing partial vacuum. These tubes will be mounted on elevated pylons with capabilities to include gradient and turns in the infrastructure. The guideway will consist of custom C-Channel conductor track with on-track propulsion for maneuvering of the vehicle.
While there are a few global representations in this technology based across Europe and USA with a prototype project to demonstrate the scalability of the technology, there is no presence of commercial substitutes working on Hyperloop technology in India, thus making us the first to advent technology development in this sector. An innovative solution such as the hyperloop offers agglomeration benefits on account of its enabling quick and efficient (inter)national links over land and reducing travelling times from hours to just minutes.
They are a semi-paradigm shift, as in only digitized enablement of journeys. They do not fundamentally rethink how large-scale mobility systems can be designed today. It is important to observe that informal intermediate paratransit (IPT) services underpin all our cities, but we have no standard operating system. Efficient last-mile mobility is a pre-condition for a well-moving city.
– Sarang Deshpande
Sarang Deshpande, Founder – Yuja (Meiro Mobility Private Limited), says public transport networks are designed for the long-term whereas last-mile services need to be designed for the short-term. What if it was possible to provision last-mile services on the fly instead of being pre-structured? What if commuters just indicated where they wanted to go, and an affordable, shared service was operated on-demand for getting them there? That is the technology stack being built at Yuja – a new paradigm for operating on-demand, shared rides at city scale, having deep integration with public transport.
For mass appeal, affordability, and efficiency, we must conjure and embrace new mobility models, where the commuter’s trifecta of cost, ease of access, and travel time are the primary pillars of design. These models must also enable a shift in commuter preference from private vehicles to shared or public vehicles. The Yuja platform for on-demand shared rides is helping urban mobility win its battle of scope, by redesigning the nature of mobility operations aiding commuters who are looking for sustainable urban mobility and enablers who are looking for social mobility. The Yuja Driver app provides newer ways for drivers to find rides faster and earn better. Real-time optimization of reserved rides allows them to get more rides in less time, thus taking away their fear of missing out and enabling them to provide higher quality of service to commuters. This also builds social trust in the mobility system.
Fleet-level efficiency and emissions reduction criteria by reducing dead mileage for drivers, enabling smarter parking, better capacity management, and smarter fleet allocation methods are just some of the benefits that can be derived via our patented technologies, said Deshpande. The Yuja Citystream product helps cities integrate city-scale IPT fleet monitoring and management, with focus on service quality, reliability, and sustainable operations.
Our charging stations are robot-based EV fast chargers which allow users to park at their convenience. Our product is designed for bigger parking spaces and closed boundaries including airports, organisations and universities. Our product provides clean energy, fast charging, autonomous navigation and easy relocation.
– Arun Reddy Thumma
Hyderabad-based ChargeKart offers innovative robotic charging solutions for a hassle free and efficient charging experience for electric vehicles. According to Arun Reddy Thumma, CEO and Founder – ChargeKart, their innovative solution revolutionizes the way electric vehicles are charged, providing seamless and efficient charging experiences where users can bid farewell to the hassle of traditional charging stations and enjoy automated, reliable, and convenient charging services.
Incorporated in 2022, ChargeKart aimed to promote sustainability in the space of mobility and EV charging. Market analysis and customer feedback surveys showed that the problems EV customers were actually facing while using the EV four wheelers were location of charge points. CPOs were getting low traction and break-even period was increasing because of the high initial CAPEX for fast chargers. Selection of location was a major parameter in establishing the charge point which was affecting the operations of charging.
The solution was autonomous mobile charging robots made to deliver charging at convenient parking spaces. The D7 robot has versatile capabilities of charging both GBT and CCS2 in a single unit, with additional physical mobile features like All wheel drive, All wheel steer and All wheel suspension. The startup has received grants from Nidhi EIR scheme, Nidhi Prayas scheme and T spark scheme, which helped in building the proof of concept, says Reddy.
BonV technology already serves a wide range of user groups, including the Indian Army and disaster response teams in remote and high-altitude areas like the Indian Himalayan region. In addition, there are plans to expand its applications to urban and rural settings, enhancing last-mile delivery services in cities and improving connectivity in remote areas in India and abroad. As BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) regulations mature in India, the company is ready to expand its operations into civilian applications.
Quintrans Hyperloop is sure that even though the Hyperloop technology is highly automated, employment opportunities will not be hindered, as other thrust areas like maintenance and operations would promote job opportunities. Hyperloop can also positively impact economic implications by expanding transit’s catchment area, reducing waiting and transfer time, and freeing up parking spaces by reducing number of vehicles involved in road transport for longer distances. This in turn removes bottlenecks causing economic losses in the form of traffic congestion, additional fuel consumption and travel delay costs.
Yuja looks forward to working with ULBs and Smart Cities across the country to deploy smarter and more sustainable paratransit systems that are truly an extension of public transport, making commutes easier and journeys sustainable.