For the first time, Puneites can hire battery-operated electric scooters, YoBykes, under a scheme, ‘Switch.’
This innovative concept, by ET Elec-Trans Ltd, a subsidiary of Electrotherm India Ltd, has been approved by the State Transport Authority under the ‘rent-a-motorcycle’ scheme of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
The scheme was launched by the state transport commissioner, Dilip Jadhav, on Sunday. More than 50 battery-operated electric scooters manufactured by Electrotherm (India) Ltd, are being introduced. The company has appointed 3 franchisees, one each in Wanavdi, Kothrud and Pimpri-Chinchwad.
“People can rent a bike from any of the stipulated spots of the city, as there would be 40 to 50 spots for hiring and returning it after use,” said Dilip Nandkeolyar, managing director, ET Elec-Trans Ltd.
Rent for the use of the bike would be charged per minute, not by the distance travelled. There are three models of bikes and tariff would be charged as per the model. “If someone hires a bike of the first model, then the rate would be Re1 per minute; for the second model it would be Rs1.25 per minute and for the third Rs1.50 per minute,” he said.
Nandkeolyar said, “For corporate, government bodies and educational and other institutions the revenue model would be based on monthly hire charge and membership revenues. Retail consumers would be invited to join as members and charged for the minutes the vehicles are utilised. The revenue model would be based on utilisation of vehicle and membership fee generated.”
The company expects break-even within first three years.
Avinash Bhandari, chairman of ET Elec-Trans said, “In Pune, we have set up a central workshop for high-end maintenance and we already have three master franchisees in Kothrud, Wanavdi and Chinchwad. We plan to have seven more master franchisees.”
With a mobile device fitted on every vehicle, the company would be able to track its movements. “We could ‘geo-fence’ the vehicle, meaning if it crosses the understood boundaries of Pune, it would come to a halt,” he added.
