The Oben RORR uses an LFP battery. Is it a better choice? How come?
As most argue today, whether the EV industry is the epicenter of a new revolution or this is just the beginning, we still see the industry in a very early stage. As we are still evolving day by day, researching and developing better products which will aid in the transition from ICE to VE and to strongly support this is extensive R&D being undertaken as we speak to develop advanced chemical compositions which are the very heart of an EV battery.
What is interesting to note is that as an OEM while we are inundated with various robust battery choices that thrive on a combination of many elements such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, etc., this is still the front line generation of battery cells . Each of these combinations performs and has a different output that meets the desired needs of that vehicle, whether for delivery or commuting purposes.
As a strong R&D driven company, we have always focused on offering what is best for Indian consumers, Indian climate, topography and roads. In line with the same belief, our first RORR product was launched in March this year. What distinguishes our electric motorcycle for the daily commuter today is the battery type, range, charging time, BMS and MHX technology.
We pioneer the use of LFP in our electric motorcycle, as it is better than other widely used electric vehicle batteries due to their safer lithium chemistry, making them better in terms of thermal and structural stability. They are also capable of dealing with extreme climates due to their ability to withstand temperatures up to 30% higher.
LFPs have a low self-discharge rate, offering better range and longer life cycles. Once again proven, LFP chemistry provides twice the life cycles. They are less susceptible to problems caused by depth of discharge, designed to discharge up to 80-90% of full capacity without long term damage, therefore resulting in increased range.
LFPs also have an advantage over other commonly used Li-ion batteries, both in terms of life cycle and safety. Its key elements occur naturally and are in abundance within the country. Hence, they do not require extensive excavation to greater lengths like Nickle and Cobalt. Toxic substances such as nickel and cobalt are imported, thereby increasing the overall cost of producing an electric vehicle in the country.
LFPs are less toxic and less harmful to the environment. They prove to be much more cost-effective and extend not only over their usable life cycle in electric vehicles, but also over their end-of-life cycle, for example for static applications such as UPSs.
What measures have been taken for heat management on the RORR?
With our robust battery chemistry-LFP, we have developed our best-in-class proprietary battery technology whereby RORR achieves more battery life cycles, withstands higher temperatures and is environmentally friendly. Thanks to this proprietary technology and internal innovation, we were able to get 2 hours of charge by simply plugging into a household charging socket.
We have also increased the safety factor by designing our proprietary MHX technology, which allows heat to be distributed evenly over a larger surface area and ensures maximum heat exchange with the environment. So keep the battery pack cool while riding. In addition, the outer casing of the battery pack is made of die-cast aluminum, which strengthens and prevents the battery pack from exploding in the event of any unusual accidents.
Oben Electric’s ardent team of technical experts have also ensured that RORR’s Connected Vehicle feature continuously monitors the health of the battery and the motorcycle. Therefore, even in the rarest possibility of compromise (after the aforementioned safety factors), the motorcyclist must be notified immediately.
Have there been any changes since the last pre-production version, such as regenerative braking calibration?
We really appreciate our consumers and based on their first set of feedback, we have been able to make changes in the areas of mandatory additional features, comfort and rider style.
RORR has 18 patents. What are these?
Yes, RORR has filed 18 patents. These are for its critical components such as the motor, battery, controller, transmission and design.
Tell us about the ARX frame and how it helps improve center of gravity and handling.
Making an electric motorcycle is a more tedious task because an OEM must counteract the weight of the battery pack concentrated in a single point while maintaining the agility and agility of a motorcycle. Therefore, we came up with our new proprietary frame, the ARX Frame, specifically for electric motorcycles.
Customers buy motorcycles with the expectation of good driving dynamics and this is where our ARX chassis delivers on that expectation by providing increased stability, agility and handling, even at higher speeds, while counteracting the weight of the huge LFP battery pack from 4.4 kWh.
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Besides RORR, is Oben already working on any upcoming products? For example, more affordable or higher-end EVs or newer iterations of the RORRS platform.
We are always researching and working towards our vision of launching a new product every six months. OEMs always set their launched products as the benchmark to develop better products and we are on the same path.
To date, Oben Electric is focusing heavily on production and deliveries to consumers who have booked RORR. Post which, we’ll move on to our next mission.
Have the new EV battery rules coming into force in December affected production and deliveries?
Addendums have been made to an existing certification in the industry, inculcated in AIS 156 and AIS 038, placing more emphasis on safety requirements and BMS. While the government is testing it, these processes take time and patience. The tests cannot be done in one day and for many vehicles in the B2B and B2C segments. These have put some plans on hold and resulted in a slight delay in programmes, but we appreciate and support this crucial initiative by the Government and the ARAI, as it will help screen industry for unpromising products and root out the possibilities of unlikely events of the past.
