Ideal Motors unveils Sri Lanka’s first home-grown electric car

Ideal Motors unveiled the ‘Ideal Moksha,’ Sri Lanka’s first home-grown fully-electric car at the JAIC Hilton yesterday. Drawing inspiration from the iconic Austin Mini Moke that took the world by storm, the Ideal Moksha is geared to be a game changer for the Sri Lankan market and the most practical solution in the current technology transition phase towards a sustainable, carbon-neutral future.

As the name depicts, ‘Moksha’ is intended to provide a blissful driving experience with advanced technology and design principles embedded in every detail – a new solution for Sri Lanka’s roads that offers style, space, comfort, and connectivity.

Classified as a four-wheeled electric quadricycle, the Ideal Moksha is fitted with a 22.46 kWh Lithium battery that provides a range of up to 200 kilometers on a single charge by plugging into a 15-amp domestic charger overnight. With a weight of just 870 kg, the powertrain provides a speed of 1080 rpm. The interior of the car packs a spacious cabin offering comfortable seating to the driver and 3 passengers.

The car is offered in matching 2-tone exterior colours. The customer can access information, favourite music, and maps using the 7-inch multimedia touchscreen display that comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The fully air-conditioned car includes, push start, and alloy wheels. Furthermore, Ideal Moksha offers complete peace of mind with a 2-year warranty on the electric motor as a standard benefit to the customer. The warranty available on the battery will be 5 years from the date of car purchase. Our island-wide aftermarket network will ensure an unmatched level of service.

The Ideal Moksha is expected to offer affordable electric mobility to every segment of society. It is the ideal car for every household in Sri Lanka, especially for the 1.5 million three-wheelers and 4.5 million two-wheelers registered on the island, driving holistic change by empowering drivers with a cost-effective solution to upgrade to a safe and smarter vehicle. The fully automatic car offers 100% torque from start with no gear changes, facilitating ease of learning and a relaxed driving experience. The electric battery means no petrol stations, thereby removing the stress and complications from travel. With these innovations, the Ideal Moksha is set to transform the very nature of commuting and travel in Sri Lanka; it is the ideal vehicle for everyone and anyone, from the corporate executive looking to conserve and the two-wheeler owner looking to upgrade.

Speaking at the occasion, Nalin Welgama, the Founder and Chairman of the Ideal Group said, “My dream of manufacturing a homegrown electric car in Sri Lanka realised today, with the unveiling of our “Ideal Moksha”. This entry-level car has the options and sophistication of cars built by the world’s best auto majors! It gives me immense pleasure to declare that my 35 years of experience in the automobile business has contributed to the making of this car on my home soil. I fervently hope that this signals a beginning of a new era in the manufacture of EVs in Sri Lanka.”

This is just the beginning of this next step for Ideal Motors. Building on the momentum, the Company also unveiled a fully electric moped and a retrofit kit that will enable the migration of a combustion engine to an electric engine. But the Ideal Moksha and other EVs are only one piece of the puzzle; the Ideal Group’s goal is to not simply pass off the energy deficit and costs from fuel to electricity, especially if the sources of electricity are non-renewable. With this in mind, the Ideal Group offers customers a package for a total green solution along with their purchase of the Ideal Moksha to completely power the car using renewable energy. This package is particularly aimed at 5.5 million households that use less than 100 and 200 kilowatts of electricity units per month. The package includes the installation of up to 4 kilowatts of rooftop solar energy, where an average household will be able to meet their daily requirements of energy and completely do away with paying electricity bills.