TVS Motor Company has made an additional investment of Rs 30 crore in Bengaluru-based EV startup, Ultraviolette Automotive, as part of its Series B round of funding. The startup began working on its first product, the F77, over 3 years ago, In November 2019, we got to experience a near-production ready iteration of it at the MMRT, in Chennai. You can click here to read our full review.
What does the F77 have to offer?
The prototype that was unveiled last year was powered by an air-cooled motor that the company claimed produced a max power output of 25kW (33.5hp) at 2,250rpm and an impressive peak torque of 90Nm. Powering the motor is a battery with a maximum capacity of 4.2kWh. It uses three slim lithium-ion battery packs and the entire unit takes 5 hours to fully charge via the standard charger, while the fast charger will do it in 1.5 hours. On a full charge, the F77 has a claimed range of 130-150km. The battery system also comprises a comprehensive list of safety, thermal and battery management features, some of which are patented technologies.
The F77 uses a steel trellis frame with an aluminium head suspended on a USD fork and preload adjustable monoshock. It also features a 320mm front disc and a 230mm rear disc with dual-channel ABS. Considering its performance-oriented intentions, it gets steel-braided brake lines and 110/70 R17 (front) and 150/60 R17(rear) tyres – a configuration that’s also seen on some other sporty ICE bikes in the segment.
Niraj Rajmohan, founder and CTO, Ultraviolette Automotive said that since the prototype was first unveiled, the company has received an “overwhelming response from the market” for the F77, and has spent the last few months making “critical enhancements both on the design and technology side” to make the F77 more efficient, responsive and powerful.
He also mentioned that the F77 will first be rolled out next year with expanding national availability planned in phases.
Azaman Chothia
