Chennai-based electric motorcycle startup Raptee.HV has announced a strategic funding milestone from the Technology Development Board (TDB), Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, becoming the first EV motorcycle OEM in the country to receive TDB support.
The funding underscores Raptee.HV’s research-first approach and its pioneering work in bringing electric car-level high-voltage (HV) technology to two-wheelers—a first in India’s mobility sector.
According to Dinesh Arjun, CEO & Co-Founder, Raptee.HV, the investment represents strong government confidence in indigenous innovation. “In the absence of an ecosystem for high-voltage motorcycle architecture, we built our own through uncompromising engineering. The trust placed in us by TDB and earlier by ARAI-AMTIF strengthens our resolve to push the boundaries of performance-driven motorcycle electrification in India,” he said.
Raptee.HV had previously secured a non-dilutive ₹3.25 crore grant from ARAI-AMTIF in 2021, validating its deep-tech credentials. With the latest TDB backing, the startup now joins the ranks of iconic Indian innovations once supported by the Board, including the TATA Indica and Bharat Biotech’s COVID-19 vaccine. Notably, this is TDB’s first-ever investment in the EV motorcycle category.
Unlike most EV players who adapt existing scooter or bike platforms, Raptee.HV has spent over six years developing its HV technology from the ground up, enabling motorcycles that offer car-level performance, reliability, and charging convenience.
With motorcycles accounting for nearly two-thirds of India’s two-wheeler market, Raptee.HV sees electrification as critical to achieving the government’s 2030 target of 30% EV penetration. The company believes true motorcycle electrification demands disruptive, leapfrog innovation—not incremental upgrades—mirroring the transformation seen in the global electric car industry.
