The vehicle is being developed with several industry firsts: 90kmph top speed, 0-50kmph in 6 seconds and a range of 100 kms. per charge. Artem is taking a unique approach to EV practicality by allowing the M9 to be charged by an on-board fast charger, as well by swapping batteries.
"Range anxiety is a key factor against the adoption of electric vehicles. With the M9, we mitigate this by cracking that psychological barrier of 100kms of range, as well as provide the flexibility of charging or swapping, as is convenient," explains Rajit Arya, Founder & CEO. The bootstrapped startup is in the process of raising a Series A round of investment in the run-up to a three product roadmap over the next five years. The M9 is based on a modular architecture that lends itself to scaling up or down. It will be followed by the M9-A and a mid-mass market scooter, the M6.
The company is working on safety with a two-step approach: Collision Prevention and Collision Alert. A majority of two-wheeler accidents are caused by rider error and lack of due attention. Artem’s technology is being developed to ensure that the rider has timely information and alerts to make better decisions. Artem’s flagship M9-A scooters will have cameras and radars to allow 360-degree awareness upto a 100m radius.
Data from environment perception sensors is used by the vehicle, in sync with the rider awareness features. Explains Naveen Deepak Veeramaneni, Co-founder & CTO of Artem, “Proximity warnings relay to the rider through a smart helmet, as well as through vibration feedback on the handlebars. Emergency braking can be automatically and safely activated using Artem’s proprietary “EDB” (Electro-Dynamic Braking) technology which reverses traction force for safer stops, while simultaneously being gentle on brake wear.”
Artem’s technology will also watch environmental factors; the M9 warns tailgaters if they’re too close. Indicators cancel safely and automatically by sensing when the turn has been completed, and a blind-spot warning system is available to warn the rider that despite indicating a turn, someone is close behind and a potential danger. These systems, previously only available on high-end cars, have the potential to drastically enhance two-wheeler safety.
In the event of an accident, the M9 sends automated text messages and calls to 5 pre-defined numbers. A centralized call centre is also informed, as is the local emergency response authority. "The #1 cause of fatalities due to accidents is the lack of timely medical intervention", says Vatsal Shah, Chief Knowledge Officer. The collision alert system helps by alerting the authorities alongside relatives and friends of the victim, for quicker responses.
Going forward, Artem is looking for net-positive impact. "Electric vehicles will continue to pollute as most of the electricity still comes from coal-powered plants. Artem’s response is an integrated infrastructure solution in partnership with 7E Future Energy, with an aim to build solar-powered battery swapping infrastructure that can be installed at places such as petrol bunks", explains Arya.
About Artem
Artem is building the world’s safest two-wheeler that makes use of technology such as Computer Vision and AI to provide Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). The vehicle features Collision Avoidance and 360-degree Awareness amongst a host of ADAS features designed to enhance the safety of the rider, other motorists and pedestrians.