iCreate awards INR 42 Lakh in EVangelise ‘23 for Indian EV innovations

Ahmedabad based tech-innovation start-up incubator, iCreate (International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Technology), has recently announced the winners of EVangelise ‘23, India’s prominent EV innovation challenge, with a total cash prize of ₹42 lakhs awarded to 12 deserving winners. The third edition of the competition garnered substantial interest, attracting over 2,700 entries from across 20 states and union territories, showcasing the expanding EV technology community in India.

The winners were selected based on criteria such as technical evaluation, market relevance, and implementation strategies. Cash prizes of ₹15 lakhs were awarded to winners in the below TRL 5 categories, while those in the TRL 5 & above category received cash prizes of ₹25 lakhs.

EVangelise ’23 received 138% more entries than last year, totaling over 2,700 submissions from students, innovators, researchers, and start-ups. The EVangelise ‘23 initiative aims to contribute to India’s 2030 vision, where electric vehicles are anticipated to represent 80% of all two- and three-wheeler sales. Beyond identifying innovative EV solutions, the initiative also focuses on connecting innovators with industry partners, providing incubation support, and facilitating access to capital.

During the EVangelise ‘23 Finale, iCreate also acknowledged winners of the inaugural RISC-V challenge, recognizing outstanding applications tailored for EVs from a pool of 41 entries. This competition highlighted participants’ commitment to leveraging RISC-V architecture for innovative EV solutions.

Congratulating the EVangelise ‘23 winners, Avinash Punekar, CEO of iCreate, said, “After two successful editions, EVangelise ‘23 has evolved into the most awaited largest EV innovation challenge in India, with over 2,700 entries. Many of these innovators will play a key role in accelerating the growth of India’s EV industry. The overwhelming support for EVangelise ‘23 from industry stalwarts underscores the capability of Indian innovators to address the urgent issues faced by the global EV industry. At iCreate, we take immense pride in assisting the innovators with their journey and aiding India’s rise as a powerhouse in the EV domain. I extend my hearty congratulations to the winners of EVangelise ’23 and look forward to providing them with every support needed to make them market leaders.”

The first-place winner in the TRL 5 & above category was Vijigi Energy Private Limited, a Gujarat-based startup offering an Integrated Electrical and Controls Platform for Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV), Vehicle Control Module, Thermal Management Module, Energy Storage Control Module, Body Control Module, and a Central Gateway. Auklr Technologies Private Limited from Bangalore secured second place for their Android-based EV instrument clusters and transforming analog dashboards into feature-rich centres for enhanced safety, while Chennai-based Blaer Motors claimed the third spot for their smart 500W Motor Controller Unit and a 500W Brushed DC Motor Controller Unit for E-bikes and mopeds.

The EVangelise ‘23 finale featured notable speakers and industry leaders including Mr. Manish Manek (Chief VLE, MG Motors India), Mr. Christian Appel (Head of Vehicle Platform, Nikola Motor Company), Dr. Preeti Banzal (Scientist G, Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India), Mr. Sudhir Naik (Founder, e-infochips), Mr. Sriram Lakshminarayanan (President & CTO, Tata Technologies), George Paul (Director Corporate Strategy and Government Relations, Sahasra Group), Dr. UK Choudhury (former ED R&D, BHEL), Mr. Shailesh Unnithan (GM, SBI), Mr. Mihir Joshi (President & CEO, GVFL), and Dr. Rafal Lukasik (Director, Department of International Cooperation, Lukasiewicz Research Network, Poland). The Guest of Honour was Mr. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Electronics and Information Technology. The event received support from industry stalwarts, reflecting the capability of Indian innovators in addressing global EV industry challenges.

Commenting on the achievement, Meet Kalola, Founder of Vijigi Energy Private Limited and the winner of EVangelise ‘23 said, “We are overwhelmed to be chosen as the Winner of EVangelise ‘23. EVangelise ‘23 gave us a platform where we were able to showcase our innovation and this recognition motivates us to continue pioneering innovation solutions in the EV industry. Our Integrated Electrical and Controls Platform, designed for Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV), along with advanced modules represents our dedication to forge groundbreaking paths in this landscape.”

Ashok Babu S, Founder of Auklr Technologies Private Limited, the second-place winner of EVangelise ‘23 stated, “We are honoured to clinch the second-place in EVangelise ‘23, India’s largest EV innovation challenge. We at Auklr Technologies are driving a change in the automotive industry with our digital instrument cluster, set to revolutionise the electric vehicle experience. This recognition fuels our commitment to shaping a dynamic future for EVs, where innovation meets excellence on the road ahead.”

EVangelise ’23 spanned six months, bringing together startups and EV innovators from 20 states and UTs. They presented solutions for real-life EV challenges under three themes: Traction, Energy & Telematics, and Intelligence and Connectivity (TIC).

Also read: Gyrodrive Machineries, C Electric and Fashmo Energy, emerge winners at iCreate EVangelise’22