On a recent a visit to the Tork Motors factory, we were greeted not with grandiose claims of market domination or mind-boggling production volumes but rather an atmosphere of humility and a sharp focus on ensuring a quality product. At the helm of this venture is Kapil Shelke, the visionary founder of Tork Motors, who understands the importance of getting it right from the outset.
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Inside Tork Motors’ Chakan-Based Factory
Tork Motors’ manufacturing unit is situated within the Bharat Forge facility, a significant investor and stakeholder in this electric vehicle (EV) startup. Although it commenced operations in March with an annual production capacity of 60,000 units, expandable to 100,000 units, Tork Motors presently manufactures an average of 30 e-bikes a day. This number can be easily scaled up to 60 vehicles per day in case demand rises. However, what really sets Tork Motors apart is its commitment to a high level of localisation (94 percent). The company aims to push this up to a whopping 99%, thereby ensuring a negligible dependence on imports.
Our journey through the factory offered insights into the meticulous assembly process of Tork Kratos R. The manufacturing process stats with the frame entering the assembly line, followed by the sequential fitting of the core components. Meanwhile, in the battery assembly line, battery cells are sorted on the basis of their grades before being assembled into modules. These modules, along with the battery management system (BMS), are enclosed within a high-pressure die-cast aluminum box. Next, the battery, which is one of the heaviest components of the motorcycle, is installed into the frame. Next, the motor, is installed, which is then followed by the wheels, brakes, and finally, the body panels.
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Rigorous software updates and checks are conducted before the bike undergoes a Dyno test, where its performance is optimised. Once satisfactory results are achieved, the e-bike is tested in the factory premises before it’s green-lit to be shipped to the dealers. So, all in all, Tork Motors proudly demonstrated its capability to produce the Kratos R in-house, whilst highlighting its commitment to quality.
Sales & Charging Network
When it comes to sales and charging infrastructure, Tork Motors has a well-thought-out plan. The sales network currently involves 15 traditional dealerships, spread across the country. The EV-maker plans to reach a total of 100 dealers by the end of the fiscal. Tork also envisions setting up a robust charging network. The EV-manufacturer already has strategically positioned chargers available across Pune and nearby riding destinations. In the challenging realm of scaling up, Tork Motors has adopted a somewhat conservative but well-planned way to consolidate its market position. The methodical approach towards maintaining a strong focus on quality and using customer feedback to fine-tune its products, Tork Motors is surely an EV-player to watch out for.
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Tork Kratos R Urban
Introduced recently, the Tork Kratos R Urban is a more affordable variant of the EV-maker’s electric bike. The new model is priced at Rs. 1.67 Lakhs (Ex-showroom). This makes the new offering Rs 20,000 cheaper than the regular variant. However, the reduced price tag comes at the back of lesser features, range, and top speed. Visually, the Kratos-R Urban looks a lot like the costlier version. It is available in three colors: Streaky Red, Oceanic Blue, and Midnight Black. During the initial 30 days of ownership, customers of the TORK Kratos-R can access all the bike’s features. These include the multiple riding modes (Eco, City, and Sports), reverse mode, fast charging, in-app navigation, and more.
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Additional features such as Bluetooth connectivity, vehicle location tracking, an anti-theft system, riding statistics, guiding lights, and others are also available. However, post the introductory period, only the City mode will be available to the users. That said, the customers have an option to upgrade to the additional features by paying Rs 20,000. Mechanically, the Kratos-R Urban remains unchanged, utilizing the same 4.0kWh battery pack and powerful Aflux motor. This configuration delivers 12hp of power and 38nm of torque with an impressive 96% efficiency. In City mode, the electric bike offers a riding range of 100km on a full charge. The top speed is rated at 70km/h. In comparison, the costlier variant of the Kratos-R has a range of 180km a top speed of 105km/h.
