Pinnacle Industries is one of the leading component suppliers in the commercial vehicle business. The manufacturer has been a leader in the bus seating and interiors segment, while also building special vehicles like ambulances, motor homes, cargo vans and more. Founded in 1996, the parts maker is now all set to venture into the mainstream vehicle manufacturing segment with its new brand - 'EKA.' Speaking to carandbike in a recent interaction, Arihant Mehta, President - Pinnacle Industries, outlined the vision for EKA, an electric mobility brand, which will see the company introduce its first electric bus soon.
Mehta said, "EV is the buzzword today because it is sustainable and what better reason than that? Everyone today prefers the sustainable component, so why not focus on that."
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The EKA E9 is built on a monocoque steel chassis but gets a modular structure to adapt to different commercial requirements
Pinnacle is relying on its decades of experience in building components for CV players to expand its presence in the EV space. Its first offering - the EKA E9 9-metre electric bus - has received the CMVR certification from ARAI with the model completing all functional and safety testing and approvals. The zero-emission electric bus will be built on a monocoque steel chassis with a complete composite structure. It will have a capacity of 31 passengers and a driver, with a range of 200 km on a single charge. The vehicle is also fuel cell compatible, opening room for more possibilities in the future.
Mehta explains that the company is primarily looking at providing efficient transportation in cities with the EKA brand while ensuring reliable vehicles with a low cost of ownership. Most of the development of the product has taken place in-house including the operating system software. The E9 electric bus uses a modular architecture that can be configured to produce city buses, school buses as well as staff carriers. It also helps that Pinnacle is one of the major CV players in to get approvals under the Champion OEM scheme and EV component manufacturing scheme of the government's PLI policy for the auto sector.
EKA E9 promises a range of 200 km on a single charge and a low cost of ownership, Pinnacle is targeting intracity usage with the e-bus
While electric mobility will be a new frontier at Pinnacle, the component maker will continue its focus on its existing business providing seating and interior solutions to key OEMs. Mehta shared that it has tie-ups with Tata Motors as well as Maruti Suzuki to convert its cars into ambulances. The company is also in talks to convert the Toyota Innova Crysta into an ambulance. During the pandemic, the company converted about 3,000 vehicles in 2020-21, and about 4,000 units in 2021-22. The COVID-19 era was a learning curve says Mehta, who wants to bring global standards for national ambulances.
"We would want to continue doing what we hold expertise in which is interiors of commercial and e-vehicles (buses). We would continue conversions. I want to bring in global standards for our national ambulances, I look forward to giving that comfortable experience to the patients travelling In an ambulance. We also look forward to making better stretchers for patients."
Pinnacle has tied up with Tata, Maruti and Toyota to build ambulances based on their existing cars
While ambitions are high, Pinnacle, much like other players, is struggling to get the supply chain in order. Nevertheless, it's only a temporary setback says Mehta since the other variables have been "sorted." Without revealing numbers, he did say that production capacity wasn't a hindrance for the company.
For now, Pinnacle's focus will be on bringing the EKA E9 to the market. A big step for the automaker, the player will face heat from new and legacy players alike including BYD, Tata Motors, Volvo, Switch Mobility, and more. The electric bus though is just the first step in the company's plans to build vehicles. The manufacturer plans to work on a complete range of electric, fuel cell and alternative fuel vehicles. This will include components assembly, manufacturing as well EV traction and storage systems. All in good time then.
