The Visionary’s E-Rickshaw Dream: Kunwer Sachdev’s Untold Story
In the heart of Su-Kam’s research and development wing, long before electric mobility became a national mission, one man was quietly building a revolution. Kunwer Sachdev — the Inverter Man of India — saw what few others could: the transformative power of the humble e-rickshaw.
Those who worked alongside him still recall the scene vividly. Shirt sleeves rolled up, grease smudging his cheek, eyes burning with determination — Sachdev was everywhere, testing motors, fine-tuning driver cards, and pushing his team to innovate beyond the limits of what seemed possible.
“It wasn’t just about building an e-rickshaw,” recalls one engineer. “He was building a dream — an India powered by its own ingenuity.”
Building the Future from Scratch
The project was shrouded in secrecy, more like a laboratory of dreams than a development center. Sachdev personally drove the prototypes, listening for the perfect hum of the motor and testing how solar panels could stretch the vehicle’s range. Each success lit up his face — not because of profit, but because he could see the future unfolding on India’s dusty roads.
Determined to shield India from dependence on Chinese imports, Sachdev fought to develop indigenous technology. His commitment drew international collaboration too. Partnering with U.S.-based technologist Mr. Deepak Singh, Su-Kam inaugurated India’s first lab dedicated to DC motor design for e-rickshaws. Together, they envisioned not just vehicles, but a self-reliant India powered by innovation.
A Vision That Lingers
Today, e-rickshaws are everywhere on Indian streets — buzzing, whirring, ferrying millions daily. But for many who worked with Sachdev, that sight carries a bittersweet reminder.
“If he were still leading the charge,” one colleague reflected, “those motors and driver cards wouldn’t be imports. They would be made right here, on Indian soil.”
A Leader Who Lit the Way
Sachdev’s legacy was never just about technical brilliance. He inspired, mentored, and ignited passion in those around him. He believed in India’s potential — and, more importantly, he believed in people.
But the silence now in the R&D wing where he once roared with energy tells another story. The absence of his laughter, his relentless drive, and his contagious optimism leaves a void that cannot be filled.
For those who worked with him, the hum of test motors remains etched in memory — a haunting echo of both a lost opportunity and a dream that still inspires.
A Dream Deferred, Not Lost
As India accelerates its push toward electric mobility, Kunwer Sachdev’s untold story serves as a reminder: one man saw this future decades before it arrived. And while fate left his dream unfinished, his vision continues to whisper in every e-rickshaw that rolls down India’s streets.
Kunwer Sachdev, popularly known as the “Inverter Man of India, is the Founder and Ex-Managing Director of Su-Kam Power Systems Ltd. However, after the bankruptcy of Su-Kam Power Systems Ltd. in 2018, Mr. Sachdev has not been associated with Su-Kam Power Systems Ltd. in any capacity. Any use of his name in connection with Su-Kam Power Systems Ltd. after 2018 is incorrect and misleading. https://ibbi.gov.in/en/public-announcement?cinno=VTY0MjAxREwxOTk4UExDMDk2Njg1.