ReVolt: A Story of a Light Electric Utility Vehicle Designed and Made in Bangladesh
The name ReVolt came from the word revolt. It literally means revolt. Back in June 2023, I was waiting for the parts for our Cityboy V2.0. Properly submitted LC documents and all other supporting documents to the port authority. Did everything according to the rules. However, they find loopholes and asks for bribe. Air lock, DC lock, customs inspection and total 6 types of harassment in the name of inspections.
Already the fund we had spent of importing, now the bribe is making me chock from inside. The deadline is approaching soon. Giving extra money for bribe and they are also killing my time.
Even customs officers said, you will make $100k selling those cars, what damage will it be if you give us $1000. The CnF agents are another bastard.
The Customers, investors and my team members are waiting for the parts. Unbearable pressure. Started to get few gray hairs. Finally, received the parts.
Then, I said myself, Fuck it! Don’t wanna import anymore.
Maybe I can’t make everything in Bangladesh, but I can start with the heavest parts. So, started design one.
Then the second challenge. Its very hard to make engineers believe that we can actually make a car. To give engineers confidence, started to make a chassis. Added drive train, then let them drive it raw.
I haven’t make a car before from the scratch, that’s true, but I believe its not gonna be that hard.
So, after 7 months we build ReVolt V1.0. However, it was bulky and not something I can make at scale.
Now, I started to think how to make it in a way so that I won’t need mul million dollar to setup a propor plant that can manufacture cars at scale.
My business goal is to get the company to the point where it’s clear that we are in growth track. Banks, bonds or VC won’t take much time to understand that Palki is set in a clear path to be profitable.
Its hard to do. Of course it would be hard. Without hard work and insanity who would pave the way for Mustafa Al Momin to establish first electric car in Bangladesh? No one. I understand that.
So, I designed the manufactureable ReVolt V2.0. A modular utility vehicle. It can be converted to covered van, open van, freezer, school bus, street food shop and many more. One platform for all types of utility.
Designing a car is easy. A person with a good taste and if he knows what he wants to do, he can design it. But building prototype is hard and manufacturing at scale is insanely hard.
- Design (done)
- prototype (done)
- manufacturable (on-going)
Why writing the story today? Well, today is the first day we started manufacturing ReVolt V2.0.
Long way to go, lots of challenges to solve and lots of reward with adrenaline rush.