Orxa Energies Launches Ebike Mantis To Take On Revolt, Ultraviolette

Bengaluru-based Orxa Energies launched its electric motorcycle, Mantis, in India on Tuesday (November 21) to take on the likes of Ultraviolette, Revolt, and Oben Electric.

Priced at INR 3.6 Lakh (ex-showroom), including the standard charger, Orxa Energies’ Mantis comes with a 221 km range, a top speed of 135 km per hour, and a 8.9 kWh battery pack.

Founded by Dr. Prajwal Sabnis and Ranjita Ravi in 2017, Orxa Energies is a high-performance EV and energy systems startup. 

The startup first introduced the Mantis concept in 2016. In 2018, it introduced honeycomb composite materials in an effort to reduce the overall weight of the motorcycle and unveiled Mantis at the India Bike Week (IBW) 2019.  

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Orxa Energies decided to focus more on weight optimisation, which resulted in a reduction of over 25 kg from the bike. 

Early last year, the startup initiated ‘Electric Bharatmala’ where several Mantis bikes travelled 13,510 km, starting from Bengaluru. However, compared to the earlier specifications of Mantis, the newly launched version has been better optimised in multiple ways.

Last year, Orxa Energies closed an undisclosed amount of pre-Series A funding round from SAR Group’s electric mobility arm Lectrix E-Vehicles. 

Speaking at the launch event, Orxa Energies cofounder Sabnis said that the startup and its electric motorcycle draw a lot of inspiration from aerospace and defence. As a result, Mantis has undergone certain upgrades compared to the bikes used during the Electric Bharatmala ride, he said.

“We have increased the battery capacity by about 15% while simultaneously reducing the weight of the battery packs by 10%. The packs have now been integrated into the frame,” said Sabnis.

Currently, Mantis has a kerb weight of 182 kg and is available in two colour variants. The bookings for the electric bikes open today and deliveries are expected to begin in April 2024 in Bengaluru.

Orxa Energies is inking multiple partnerships to ease range and servicing anxiety. The startup has already forged strategic partnerships with Spare It, Bolt, and Nunam.

Through Nunam’s end-of-life battery buyback services, Orxa customers would receive a 40% cost advantage, while Spare It, with its vast presence, serves as Orxa’s official service partner. Meanwhile, Bolt’s fast-charging stations will ensure seamless charging experiences for Mantis owners, the startup said.

“With the Mantis, we aim to empower the broader EV community by providing access to essential resources that will drive the ecosystem’s growth and success,” said Ravi, cofounder of Orxa Energies, in the statement.

The launch of Mantis comes at a time when deep-pocketed Ola Electric is also aggressively working on the launch of four electric motorcycles by the end of 2024.

Bengaluru-based Ultraviolette is also bolstering its electric bike offerings. Earlier this month, the startup unveiled its F99 motorcycle after launching a Space Edition of its flagship F77 bike in August.