Electric vehicles and their popularity are on the rise not just in India but around the globe. As electric vehicles are an entirely new segment, we have started seeing many non-conventional automobile brands entering this space. Everyone, including ICE vehicle manufacturers, is also exploring the possibilities in this segment, and that is what probably makes it a level playing field for everyone.
Many Indian firms are also working on EVs, and some of them are startups. One such company is Blinq Mobility, an EV startup based out of Gurugram. They recently released a video of their first electric vehicle, the Car1.
The video has been shared on Blinq’s official YouTube channel. In this video, we see the Car1 prototype being unveiled and driven on Indian roads. This is not the first time we have come across a video of an Indian startup working on an EV prototype, but this one is slightly different. Blinq has been working on this EV for quite some time, and it looks like they are finally moving towards a finished product.
In the video, we see the EV being driven on the road. This is part of their testing plan, where the vehicle is being tested extensively. As part of the testing process, Blinq aims to iron out issues that they might encounter in real-world scenarios.
The exterior design of the Car1 is seen in the video, and it resembles what was once India’s most affordable car — the Tata Nano.
We are not sure whether Blinq decided to build a city-focused car and took inspiration from the Tata Nano, or if they actually purchased the shell of a Nano and worked on the project to save time. The front of the EV gets honeycomb-inspired LED elements, and the sleek LED headlamps are placed below them.
The nose of the EV is finished in a gloss black shade with an illuminated Blinq logo in the centre. There is no ventilated grille at the front, as EVs do not require one. The front windshield and the bumper are designed in such a way that the car generates less drag and remains aerodynamic.
The EV runs on small and narrow wheels, and although Blinq Mobility has not revealed the exact size, it looks like a 12-inch unit similar to the one used in the Nano.
The body panels on this city EV are actually built using proprietary composite material. This helped the team design the exterior in the way they wanted without worrying too much about structural integrity. In fact, the company claims that the custom body panels used on this prototype are stronger than regular steel panels.
In the video, we see the EV driving up from a basement parking area. The ramp acts as a gradient that many people living in cities encounter every day, and the EV manages to overcome this obstacle without any issues in the video.
Apart from the compact size, Blinq has also been working on battery-swapping technology for its EV. To make the swapping procedure smooth, Blinq is working on a system where the battery can be latched and de-latched smoothly with a single command. Whether this will be a voice-activated command or something else remains to be seen.
Blinq claims that with every iteration of their prototype, they are moving closer towards a city-first electric vehicle that offers good manoeuvrability, a decent range, and practicality.
At the moment, Blinq has not revealed the battery capacity, power output of the electric motor, or the range they are targeting in real-world conditions. Since this is a small city electric vehicle, we do not expect extremely high numbers. However, in the video we see the Car1 prototype parked next to an MG Comet EV, which comes with a 17.4 kWh battery pack.
Blinq Mobility was founded by Nikesh Bisht. He is an IIT Delhi alumnus and a former CTO at Vecmocon Technologies. He leads the company’s vision, product strategy, and execution.
The company’s CTO, Ankit Kumar, a former Tesla engineer who has worked on the Tesla Cybertruck and Robotaxi programs, brings expertise in EV architecture and advanced vehicle systems.
Other team members at Blinq Mobility specialize in battery chemistry, electrical systems, EV system architecture, product development, manufacturing, operations, and partnerships.
The aim of Blinq Mobility is to offer a simple and affordable solution for city commuting, and they plan to launch the EV at a price similar to that of a three-wheeler. At the moment, they have not given a timeline for the launch of the EV.