Raptee.HV recently became the first electric motorcycle OEM in India to receive strategic funding from the Technology Development Board (TDB), Department of Science & Technology, Government of India. This funding is only granted to selected institutions who develop something groundbreaking. So what has Raptee.HV built that drew the attention of TDB.
The Chennai-based electric vehicle (EV) startup is the only electric two-wheeler manufacturer to have developed an indigenous architecture that supports a high-voltage electric motor. As of now, most electric two-wheeler manufacturers utilise either a 48V or a 72V motors but Raptee.HV employs a 240V electric motor in its current flagship electric motorcycles —T 30 and T 30 S.
Express Drives recently got to briefly interact with Dinesh Arjun, CEO & Co-Founder, Raptee.HV, and understand the need of a high-voltage electric motor, the benefit it offers over low-voltage systems, and challenges faced while developing a high-voltage motor.
“Over the last seven years, we’ve vertically integrated almost all components. We make our own motors and controllers. Most EV OEMs, maybe make battery packs, or maybe make one or two small components. We make close to about 22 different PCBs that go into each motorcycle. We make it in house,” said Arjun.
Need for high-voltage technology for electric motorcycles
While the electric scooter segment may have flourished in the last couple of years, the electric motorcycle space is yet to grow to its full potential. Many consumers associate motorcycles to offer a certain level of performance which current motorcycles running on batteries, barring a few, don’t offer. Arjun says the most appropriate way for a motor to deliver higher power is to utilise a high-voltage battery technology.
He explained that power is the product of voltage and current, which means one can either increase voltage or increase current. For instance, he said that if 30 horsepower were being delivered in a 48-volt system, it would require nearly 600 amps of current. In comparison, the same output in a 240-volt system would need roughly one-fifth of that, or about 120 amps.
Benefits for high-voltage architecture in electric motorcycles
During the interaction, Arjun listed out some key benefits of transitioning from 48V/72V to 240V architecture. These include:
- Performance benefits: At 240 volts, the same power output can be achieved with substantially lower current, resulting in heat losses that are reduced by nearly 25 times. This improved efficiency ensures sustained top-speed performance without the risk of thermal throttling, while also eliminating the need for water cooling thanks to superior thermal management.
- Component Durability: By requiring less copper and aluminum for cooling, the system enables lighter components while also minimizing thermal stress, which significantly extends their lifespan. This durability is further supported by RP’s 8-year standard warranty, with the battery pack itself expected to last up to 12 years.
- Charging infrastructure: The system is designed for seamless compatibility with car charging standards, supporting Car Charging Standards (CCS) and standard Type 2 cables. It enables quick charging in just 30 minutes at public stations, while also offering the convenience of home charging with the same cable used for electric cars.
Challenges faced during developing high-voltage technology
Arjun discussed the challenges faced by Raptee.HV while developing motors for the high-voltage architecture. Like all other EV two-wheeler brands, Raptee started out with a 48V architecture with a bulky design, gradually progressing to a 96V architecture with a customised chassis followed by 120V architecture. The company finally transitioned to a 240V architecture in 2022.
However, the transition wasn’t smooth by any means as Raptee had to integrate several components. The company focused on developing in-house motor controllers, along with custom battery packs built using specific Lithium Nickel-Cobalt-Aluminum Oxide (NCA) chemistry. It also designed an onboard charger that supports Type 2 cables while ensuring full compatibility with CCS.
