Chennai-based electric motorcycle startup Raptee.HV has made history by becoming the first electric vehicle (EV) motorcycle original equipment manufacturer (OEM) in India to secure strategic funding from the Technology Development Board (TDB) under the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India. This milestone underscores the government’s commitment to supporting indigenous innovation and marks a significant step in advancing high-performance electric mobility in the country.
Founded in 2019 by Dinesh Arjun, a former Tesla engineer, along with three co-founders, Raptee.HV has pioneered the adaptation of high-voltage (HV) electric car technology for motorcycles. Unlike many EV manufacturers that retrofit existing platforms, Raptee.HV spent over six years developing its technology from the ground up, creating motorcycles that deliver car-level performance, reliability, and charging convenience.
The fresh funding from TDB will specifically enable Raptee.HV to commercialize its 240-volt high-voltage platform, which is compatible with the CCS2 car-charging infrastructure, a first in India. This strategic support will also help the company scale its production and accelerate its plans to capitalize on the USD 1 billion performance electric motorcycle market.
“This support from the Technology Development Board is a strong endorsement of Raptee.HV’s mission to redefine performance electric mobility, from India, for the world,” said Dinesh Arjun, CEO & Co-Founder. He highlighted that in the absence of an existing ecosystem for high-voltage motorcycle architecture, Raptee.HV built its own, driven by uncompromising engineering and deep-tech innovation. Earlier, the company also received a grant from the Ministry of Heavy Industries through ARAI-AMTIF, further validating its research-first approach.
Raptee.HV’s achievements are notable: the company has developed 100% of its electronics in-house, filed 156 patents, and created a full-stack technical moat across its motorcycle architecture. Its team of over 120 employees designs and develops everything from critical subsystems to PCBs internally. The startup operates a 4.5-acre production facility in Chennai with an installed capacity of 100,000 units annually and has secured 40 acres at SIPCOT, Cheyyar, for future expansion.
The TDB funding places Raptee.HV, alongside India’s most respected indigenous innovations, such as the Tata Indica and Bharat Biotech’s COVID-19 vaccine, represents the board’s first-ever investment in the EV motorcycle segment. With motorcycles making up nearly two-thirds of India’s two-wheeler market, the electrification of this segment is essential for achieving India’s 2030 target of 30% EV penetration.
Raptee.HV aims to drive leapfrog advancements in motorcycle electrification, rather than incremental upgrades. By bringing high-voltage car benefits to motorcycles, the company is setting a new benchmark in performance-driven electric mobility. With over USD 5 million raised in pre-Series A funding and plans to close a USD 20 million Series A round, Raptee.HV is well-positioned to transform India’s EV motorcycle landscape and offer ICE riders a truly superior electric alternative.
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