I remember having this conversation with my dad about fuel prices, where he mentioned, “In those days, filling your tank for Rs 1000 was a huge deal. Today, the majority of the population has accepted their fate and filled their fuel while emptying their pockets every day.

One of the booming alternatives is an Electric Vehicle (EV), but people have their concerns. But what if there was a way to retain your old vehicle yet not use petrol as its fuel?

Sivasankari TP, the founder of AR4 Tech, can make it happen! With a retrofitting solution that converts conventional petrol and diesel vehicles into electric ones for just Rs 39,900, she is revolutionising the landscape of electric mobility, particularly in India’s Tier 3 and Tier 4 cities.

The journey of hardships

From a remote village, Thakkolam, in Kanchipuram, where girls’ education was often discouraged, a remarkable journey began. “My village does not support women’s pursuit of education. But my dad fought with them to provide quality education, making me and my sister the first female graduates from the family,” shares Sivasankari, who has an MTech in information technology.

This early support laid the foundation for a diverse career path, starting as a lecturer before family life led her to explore entrepreneurship. From selling silk sarees to running a successful herbal hair treatment business, she has demonstrated remarkable adaptability. COVID-19 forced the closure of her ventures, but it also opened a new door.

Migrating to Coimbatore in late 2019, Sivasankari took on the role of Operations Manager at EMF Innovations, a motor manufacturer for electric two-wheelers. “I am good at setting up a business, hiring and retaining employees,” she says, highlighting her strengths. Despite lacking technical expertise, her skills in team building and business acumen proved invaluable, especially during the challenging times of the pandemic.

“Since I was a lecturer, I knew the potential of the last benchers, and I had employed them,” she adds, revealing her unique approach to talent acquisition. EMF flourished under her leadership, eventually attracting interest from numerous companies, culminating in a merger with Sriram Pistons and Rings.

After a brief stint as a partner, she embarked on a new venture, AR4 Tech, where she serves as Managing Director. “AR4 tech started as a challenge,” she explains. Leveraging her experience from EMF, where they had pioneered motor design for Indian roads, she and her colleague, Mahesh Pandey, set out to convert existing vehicles to electric power.

“We were the pioneers to manufacture our motor in India and use it in conversion,” she states proudly. With investment from her mentor, Professor CC Hong, AR4 Tech was poised to revolutionise sustainable transportation. Drawing from her experience at........

© The Better India