17-Year-Old Builds India’s First Student-Led Electric Car for Wheelchair Users – Asia Pacific

Seventeen-year-old Arush Mukker develops AdaptEV, India’s first student-led electric car for wheelchair users. Purpose-built with ramps and adaptive controls, the project is supported by students, academia, medical experts, and industry partners.

September 26, 2025. By EI News Network

In an effort to make mobility more accessible, 17-year-old Arush Mukker, a Grade 12 student at Heritage International Xperiential School, has spearheaded the development of a fully electric vehicle designed specifically for people who use wheelchairs. The project, called AdaptEV, is India’s first student-led initiative aimed at creating accessible personal transport from the ground up.
 

Unlike retrofitted vehicles, AdaptEV is purpose-built for accessibility. It features a rear-entry ramp and a custom upper-body-controlled driving system, enabling wheelchair users to enter, drive, and exit independently. “Mobility should be a right, not a privilege. I developed AdaptEV to extend this right to people who deserve it as much as anyone else,” Arush said, highlighting his motivation to combine his passion for cars with empathy-driven engineering.

The project began 18 months ago in April 2024, inspired by a brainstorming session with Arush’s grandmother, a senior physical therapist. It quickly grew into a full-fledged engineering initiative through the APEX motorsport club, founded by Arush. Multiple students from Heritage International Xperiential School, Gurgaon, contributed to the project, with the chassis already complete and the roll cage nearing finalization.

The initiative has received strong endorsements from academia, industry, and the medical community. Kaviraj Nair, CEO of IIT Madras Office of Industry Advancement, praised the project, saying, “Arush’s approach integrates sustainability, accessibility, and cost-efficiency, demonstrating technical competence and systems-level thinking.” Professor (Dr.) Chitra Kataria, Head of Rehab Expansion at Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, added, “Accessible personal transport for people with disabilities is limited in India, and this project could make a real difference.”

Exicom Tele-Systems Ltd., an EV charging manufacturer, has also endorsed the initiative. P.M. Singh, Chief Technology Officer (EVSE), said, “AdaptEV stands out because it merges engineering practicality with human-centered design, nurturing the next wave of impactful and inclusive mobility solutions.”

Currently, the AdaptEV team is crowdfunding to complete fabrication and integrate an electric drivetrain, adaptive hand controls, and safety and accessibility systems. Testing is expected to conclude within the next month, with plans to turn AdaptEV into a replicable and affordable mobility solution for wheelchair users across India and beyond. The project will be showcased at the Purple Fair, hosted by leading physical therapists, and is slated for presentation to the Department of Social Justice, Government of India.

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