Simple Energy leverages Dassault Systemes’ platform for EV design

Bangalore-based electric vehicle (EV) start-up, Simple Energy which showcased its Mark 1 electric scooter prototype in November last year, has rolled out more details about the development process of its first electric scooter that is slated for introduction in mid-2021.

The improved or production-ready version – the Simple Mark 2 – which boasts of a range of 240km on a single charge from its 4.8kWh li-ion battery pack and a top speed of 100kph, is designed completely on French technology major, Dassault Systemes’ development platform.

The start-up has leveraged Dassault’s 3DExperience platform on the cloud through the tech giant’s value-add partner EDS Technologies. Quite interestingly, Simple Energy graduated from using Dassault’s Solidworks for Entrepreneurs in its initial days, to Solidworks Applications, supplied by Best Engineering Aids and Consultancies, for designing its rather revolutionary e-scooter.

The project management including the design and manufacturing of the Simple Mark 2 were carried out by the start-up by using applications based on the 3DExperience platform and it also adopted the 3DExperience ‘Platform on the Cloud’ to address challenges such as 3D design visualisation and real-time simulation. Dassault Systemes claims that its platform helped Simple Energy streamline its design process as per the production and manufacturing requirements, thereby making it a cost-effective process.

Utilsing Solidworks and Catia
The exterior profile of the e-scooter, as well as the digital mock-ups of the entire product were designed and developed using Dassault’s popular Solidworks and Catia applications, which are the de-facto choice for many design engineers in the automotive industry.

According to Suhas Rajkumar, founder and CEO, Simple Energy, “We at Simple Energy aim to provide eco-friendly two-wheelers in the budget segment for college students and IT professionals without compromising on the featureset. Therefore, every aspect component design, chassis and battery development had to be done in-house and made in India to manage costs.”

“Our technically-sound team needed a platform to integrate a comprehensive and real-time collaborative view on product engineering, simulation and manufacturing. This is where the 3DExperience Platform on the Cloud and applications including Solidworks and Catia from Dassault Systemes enabled us to work remotely, yet collaboratively, developing a digital mock-up of the complete vehicle.”

According to Deepak NG, managing director, India, Dassault Systemes, “Globally we see successful start-ups integrating mechanical engineering, systems engineering, electronics engineering and creating EV platforms for mobility of the future. This is an interesting shift in India too as more and more companies are emerging in traditional industries integrating technology and business experience platforms.”

“Today’s start-ups are the future business leaders and we have a complete programme for start-ups to conceptualise, design, engineer, manufacture, produce and assemble and even digitise sales and marketing activities,” he added.

Big plans ahead
Simple Energy which recently announced its plans of raising capital between Rs 51 and 74 crore (US$ 8-10 million) in Series A funding in the second quarter of 2021, is eyeing strengthening as well as accelerating its launch plans in the market.

While it had earlier said that it would enter the market with its e-scooter in May this year, the company is now targeting start of production of the Simple Mark 2 from June 2021, and commencement of deliveries later in September.

The all-electric scooter with mid-drive motor, and removable battery will offer brisk performance too. 0-50kph time is being claimed at 3.6 seconds and smart features such as on-board navigation on a touch-screen instrument cluster and Bluetooth connectivity are going to be part of the package.

The start-up has plans to roll out in five cities, starting with Bangalore and Delhi, and then followed by Chennai, Mumbai and Hyderabad, but will it be able to give a level fight to Ather Energy which is going places with its Ather 450X? Watch this space.

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