Bharath Krishna Rao Potluri, the Co-Founder & CEO of Emobi is a visionary leader with a rich background in diverse industries, specifically renewable energy. Having initially played a pivotal role in the family business at United Telecoms Ltd., he led its expansion into renewable energy generation assets, overseeing 100MW of wind assets and 10MW of solar assets in different parts of India. He spent his formative years in grid-connected renewable energy during its nascency as an industry where Independent Power Producers (IPP) build exclusively renewable energy-based generation assets. As grid-connected renewable energy in an IPP model reached maturity, he identified the clear lack of technology know-how and scale of manufacturing requirements of energy storage products required to transition to a future powered by Renewable Energy for all our energy needs.

Driven by the need for energy storage solutions, Bharath has passionately pursued building core competency on key technological pieces required to enable the transition to a Renewable Energy-Based Future, with a focus on energy storage and energy consumption applications, particularly in electric vehicles, consumer products, chargers, inverters, and energy storage itself.Bharath also currently serves on the board of the holding company of Karbonn Mobiles and its manufacturing subsidiaries.

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AL Circle: How do you see EV two-wheeler demand in India growing over the next year?

Bharath Rao: Over the next year, EV two-wheelers will continue to gain share, particularly in urban and semi-urban markets where daily running costs matter more than outright speed or styling. While ICE scooters will still dominate volumes, EV penetration will steadily rise, driven by fuel price volatility, improving product reliability, and stronger adoption in delivery and fleet use cases. We expect demand growth to be led less by premium personal mobility and more by utility-focused vehicles that offer predictable economics and high uptime.

AL Circle: What role will Emobi and similar low-/mid-speed EV 2Ws play in urban mobility and last-mile delivery?

Bharath Rao: Low- and mid-speed EV two-wheelers are critical to solving India’s last-mile problem, especially in emerging cities and semi-urban areas where infrastructure is still evolving. At Emobi, we see our vehicles as tools of productivity rather than lifestyle products. They are designed to be affordable, robust, and easy to maintain, making them ideal for delivery partners, small businesses, and shared mobility. In congested cities and growing towns, these vehicles can reduce operating costs, lower emissions, and improve access to mobility without putting pressure on charging infrastructure.

AL Circle: What charging infrastructure developments are needed, and how is Emobi preparing for that future?

Bharath Rao: For EV two-wheelers to become truly practical at scale, charging must be simple, distributed, and cost-effective. This includes more community-level charging points, workplace charging, and battery-swapping or modular charging solutions for fleets. At Emobi, we are designing our vehicles to be compatible with flexible charging models and are actively exploring partnerships around battery-as-a-service and decentralised charging. Our focus is on solutions that work in real-world Indian conditions, not just in premium urban pockets.

AL Circle: How do you expect EV-2W product cycles to evolve over the next 3–5 years?

Bharath Rao: Over the next three to five years, EV two-wheelers will see meaningful improvements in battery durability, thermal management, and total cost of ownership rather than just headline range numbers. We will see more modular platforms, better software integration for fleet management, and increased use of lightweight materials to improve efficiency. At Emobi, our product roadmap is centred on reliability, ease of service, and scalability, because long-term adoption will depend on how well these vehicles perform day in and day out for commercial users.

AL Circle: Do you have internal projections or strategic targets for Emobi adoption over the next 2–3 years? What defines success for you?

Bharath Rao: Our focus over the next two to three years is on disciplined, use-case-led scale rather than headline volume targets. Success for us is defined by the number of vehicles deployed in active commercial use, vehicle uptime, cost per kilometre for customers, and repeat orders from fleet partners. If our vehicles are reliably running every day, generating predictable savings for operators, and expanding city by city with strong local service support, we know we are scaling in the right way.

AL Circle: How do you view the role of aluminium in improving range efficiency and vehicle design?

Bharath Rao: Weight reduction is one of the most effective ways to improve range and energy efficiency in EV two-wheelers, and aluminium plays a key role in that. We see increasing use of aluminium in chassis, frames, battery housings, and structural components as OEMs look to balance strength, safety, and efficiency. As EV platforms mature, aluminium adoption will naturally increase, especially in vehicles designed for high utilisation and longer lifecycle performance.

AL Circle: Do you see a shift toward higher recycled-aluminium content in EV two-wheelers?

Bharath Rao: Yes, recycled aluminium is becoming increasingly relevant, both from a sustainability and a cost perspective. As OEMs begin to account for lifecycle emissions and prepare for future regulatory requirements, the use of recycled aluminium will grow. For EV manufacturers, this is one of the most practical ways to reduce embedded carbon without compromising performance or durability.

AL Circle: What potential do you see for localised aluminium sourcing in India?

Bharath Rao: India’s secondary aluminium ecosystem is expanding rapidly, and this presents a strong opportunity for EV two-wheeler manufacturing. Localised sourcing can significantly reduce material costs, lower import dependence, and cut transportation-related emissions. Over time, this could become a decisive advantage for Indian OEMs, particularly those building high-volume, cost-sensitive EV platforms.

AL Circle: Do you foresee structured take-back and recycling systems for aluminium at end-of-life?

Bharath Rao: As EV adoption increases, structured end-of-life systems will become essential. Aluminium is well-suited for closed-loop recycling, but scaling this will require coordination between OEMs, recyclers, and policymakers. Clear take-back frameworks, incentives for material recovery, and standardisation of components will be key to making aluminium recycling viable and efficient at scale. Over time, this could significantly improve the sustainability economics of EV manufacturing in India.