Pranav and Prakash Dandekars startup, Wings EV, introduces Robin—a compact, two-seater electric micro-car set to redefine personal mobility in India.
Pranav Dandekar (44) defied advice to build a more practical two-wheeler or three-wheeler EV, staying committed to his vision of an electric micro-car. Despite Indias stringent EV regulations, including licensing and extensive trials, he remained determined.
“Developing EVs is never perfect on the first try,” says Pranav, a former Amazon software engineer. He emphasizes the importance of an engineer mindset—focusing on weight, durability, and efficient assembly to create a truly innovative vehicle.
For Pranav Dandekar, innovation lies in the journey and constant refinement.
While relaxing in their Indore courtyard, his father, Prakash, placed two armchairs in a row, envisioning a compact, open-air ride inspired by an 1800s buggy. Pranav, however, aimed for a sturdier, long-distance vehicle. “I knew it would be a tough project, so I tried to talk him out of it,” Prakash chuckles.
Their vision merged into Robin, a two-seater electric micro-car designed for agility like a motorbike. Set to launch next year, Robin will redefine urban mobility through their Indore-based startup, Wings EV.
With 46 years of experience in electrical engineering, Prakash Dandekar always dreamed of building an EV. “We used to joke about creating an electric vehicle designed entirely by electrical engineers, unlike most Indian EVs built by mechanical and automotive experts,” he recalls.
That vision is now a reality.
During a visit to the U.S., where Pranav had lived for 17 years, the father-son duo explored EV adoption in India. They debated between retrofitting existing vehicles with electric motors or designing a brand-new model—an idea that ultimately led to Robin.
To test their ideas, they bought a tricycle from Walmart and converted it into an electric model, adding a hub motor, battery, and microcontroller that enabled speech while riding. Prakash saw it as a perfect fit for Indias congested streets, favoring its compactness over a bulky car.
“We joked that with a roof, our tricycle would be like an auto rickshaw,” Pranav laughs. Yet, he envisioned something bigger—a four-wheeler electric car that could redefine urban mobility.
Designing a Four-Wheeler with the Compact Footprint of a Two-Wheeler
In the early stages, Pranav and Prakash experimented by drawing rectangles on the floor to determine the ideal car dimensions. Robin began as a bare-bones prototype—a two-seater with four wheels and no body—brought to life with software developed by Prakash.
To test its feasibility, they had drivers navigate in circles, refining the design along the way. Eventually, the prototype passed the stringent tests of the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI). Prakash beamed with pride as Robins unexpected performance surprised the examiners.
When Pranav and Prakash began designing their car in 2018, they built a rough prototype using cardboard cutouts and invited people to test it. Gathering feedback on comfort, expectations, and concerns helped refine the final design. Over five years, they conducted surveys across cities to pinpoint their target audience.
Pranav believes their approach differs from traditional automakers who categorize vehicles strictly as two-wheelers or four-wheelers. “For users, the priority is efficient, quick transportation—not the vehicle type,” he explains.
With Robin, they aimed for the footprint of a two-wheeler. “If we kept it within a motorbikes size, it could access any area where bikes are allowed,” Pranav notes. “This made Robin highly practical—but also incredibly challenging to build.”
“Robin is about half the size of the Tata Nano, which many already considered small,” Prakash notes. Yet, despite its compact build, the father-son duo managed to include all essential features—seat belts, steering, brakes, headlights, tail lights, and even air conditioning. “The AC was added purely for customer comfort, which is rare in a car this size,” he adds.
Now offering test drives in six cities, they have noticed initial hesitation toward EVs quickly disappears once people start driving. The cars design was even tailored to Prakash, who is over 6 feet tall and weighs 110 kg. “If Dad fits comfortably, then anyone should,” Pranav says confidently.
Through their surveys, Pranav and Prakash discovered that many participants either never learned to drive or had stopped driving. Some worried Robin might feel too cramped or unstable. “Yet, within five minutes, most users adjusted and felt completely at ease,” Pranav shares.
The cars automatic features remove the need for clutches, and its central seating position provides clear visibility in all directions, enhancing driver confidence. Those who avoid large vehicles on narrow streets found Robins compact size ideal for control and safety. “Users felt it was like riding a motorbike—but much safer,” Pranav explains.
A Personal Mobility Revolution, Designed for Solo and Duo Urban Living
“Our goal was to create a personal mobility vehicle,” says Pranav, explaining their vision for Robin.
Prakash, an avid driver, often found himself alone in his Wagon R, feeling the weight of its emissions. “Despite being a five-seater, it was always just me in the car. It felt almost criminal, given the carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide emissions,” he recalls. He believed a smaller car would make better use of resources.
With his background as the former head of Computer Systems at Tata Motors, Prakash often discussed smaller electric cars, but his ideas were met with skepticism from peers who believed such vehicles would require excessive resources and struggle to sell. “Automakers typically are not interested in making smaller cars,” he notes.
Most vehicles on the market are built for families of four or five, leaving a gap for compact cars like Robin, perfect for solo or duo use, such as grocery runs or school pickups. Prakash, reflecting on his time at Tata Motors, believes that smaller, affordable family cars often did not succeed. “I saw how poorly the Tata Nano performed,” he recalls. Instead, Robin serves as an improved alternative to a two-wheeler. “Though it is a two-seater, it is really designed for a single person to navigate the city efficiently and conveniently,” Pranav adds.
Revolutionizing Urban Mobility with Comfort, Affordability, and Style
Prakash explains that most daily commuters travel just tens of kilometers, not hundreds, making a smaller, compact car like Robin far more practical. "Many offices struggle with limited parking for four-wheelers, but there is always space for two-wheelers," he adds. Robin offers the comfort of a four-wheeler while fitting into two-wheeler parking spaces. The cost per kilometer is also drastically reduced—from Rs 10-12 for typical four-wheelers to just Rs 1-2 for Robin.
Robin is particularly appealing to older individuals and women who may feel less confident on two-wheelers. Prakash shares that nearly every woman who tested the car reported feeling liberated and excited, as it allows them to travel independently, without needing help from a husband or driver.
Dinesh Keerthy, who test-drove Robin earlier this year, expressed his excitement. “It is as small as my Royal Enfield bike, perfect for handling Bangalores traffic. Its sleek and stylish design is an added bonus.”
Praveen Vadavi, an enthusiastic biker and automotive engineer, calls Robin the "need of the hour" for metropolitan areas, citing its comfort and speed.
Srikanth, who drives a Tata Nexon EV, believes Robin is an excellent option for families, especially for those concerned with their childs safety. “It is on par with the Nexon EV,” he says.
Bargava Subramanian was left amazed after driving Robin: “It stands out and is surely creating a new category in the Indian market. This car will redefine our concept of mobility,” he concludes.
Creating an Electric Vehicle from Scratch
Two-seater cars have not gained popularity in India as they have in Europe or China. Pranav explains that Indias lower economic status historically led buyers to favor four-seat cars, which were seen as more legitimate. Concerns about battery range and charging infrastructure also played a role. However, with advancements in electric vehicle technology, including high-quality motors and sensors, consumer confidence in EVs is steadily growing.
Building an electric vehicle from scratch was no easy task. “The hardest challenge was finding manufacturers who could create parts for an electric car like ours,” Prakash shares. One notable innovation is Robins central steering wheel, which differs from the typical left- or right-side steering in most cars.
Prakash, who oversees all mechanical and electrical aspects, equipped Robin with a drive-by-wire powertrain, similar to the fly-by-wire systems in modern aircraft. This system transmits driver inputs to a computer, which then communicates with the motor controller.
Since Robin could not use a conventional differential gear, its rear wheels are powered by hub motors—common in scooters and smaller vehicles. To handle speed regulation during turns, Prakash employed electronic differential technology and tested the vehicles safety by pushing it to its limits with race car drivers.
One of the challenges Prakash and Pranav faced was finding compact headlamps approved for two-wheelers but not typically allowed in four-wheelers. However, the most significant hurdle was designing a battery system that users could manage independently. Importing a battery system from abroad was not a viable option due to potential repair complications.
“None of the companies were willing to build a battery management system for us,” Prakash recalls. “They told us that without a significant order, they could not accommodate our needs.” This led the father-son duo to take matters into their own hands and become their own battery manufacturers.
Building a Complete Vehicle Diagnostic Framework
In addition to their groundbreaking design, Pranav and Prakash developed an advanced computer network that continuously transfers and stores vehicle data on the cloud. This system monitors various aspects like motor temperature and GPS coordinates, while providing real-time diagnostic insights into the health of each vehicle.
The diagnostic system works like an ECG, constantly gathering and processing real-time data through an AI model to detect anomalies such as an overheated battery. “This data-driven analysis offers a clearer picture of the vehicles health than subjective driver input,” Prakash explains.
But what happens if something goes wrong? Can a regular mechanic fix it? “Most likely, a regular mechanic would make things worse,” Pranav cautions. Robin features specialized parts, including sensors, software, batteries, and motors, which are not easily repairable with conventional tools. To tackle this, their diagnostic system can detect issues early, enabling predictive maintenance before users even notice a problem.
To keep users informed, Robin will come with an app that provides real-time updates on the cars performance, along with maintenance tips. Pranav and Prakash are also planning mobile after-sales service units in several cities for inspections post-launch. With vehicle data stored in the cloud, technicians will be able to diagnose issues more efficiently, reducing reliance on troubleshooting.
“Robin has successfully passed ARAI Punes safety tests, so it is safer than current two- or three-wheelers,” Pranav confirms. “We aim to sell 3,000 units in the first year, though our Indore plant has the capacity to produce 10,000 annually.”
The car will come in three variants:
Creating a New Vehicle Category with Robins Test Drives and Innovation
Pranav and Prakash are conducting nationwide test drives to broaden their reach. According to Pranav, aggressive marketing is not necessary, as “the utility of Robin becomes clear to people as soon as they see its photos and videos.”
“Creating an entirely new category of vehicle is not something you get to do every day,” Pranav reflects. “If Robin successfully combines the advantages of both two-wheelers and four-wheelers, it will be a valuable contribution. I also hope it inspires others to build innovative vehicles of their own.”
“Weve put our heads down and worked on this for over five years. Its satisfying to see that our efforts have led to something people truly want and appreciate,” he adds.
Edited by Gayathri
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