Rakesh Dhawan, President & CEO, Falco eMotors Inc.
Why I Do What I Do
My journey began in Jalandhar, Punjab, a land of resilience and courage near the India-Pakistan border. My roots are steeped in the legacy of partition—my mother’s family were refugees, and my grandfather, who survived sixteen axe wounds at the age of 16 and lived to 92, became a symbol of relentless determination in my life. He woke at 4 a.m. and worked until 9 p.m. every day. His ethic became mine.
As the eldest grandchild in a large joint family, I was surrounded by love, playfulness, and encouragement. My father, born into hardship with a blind father and little means, broke the cycle—he became the first in his family to attend college and join corporate India. His courage set the stage for my brothers and me to leave Punjab and explore new horizons.
Shaped by Contrasts
When I was 15, my father moved us to Bhubaneshwar, Orissa—a place profoundly different from Punjab. While Punjab is known for its bravado and exuberance, Orissa embodied simplicity, spirituality, and humility. That contrast shaped me. I was deeply moved by the teachings of Swami Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi’s autobiography, My Experiments with Truth. Standing on the battlefield of Dhaulagiri, where Emperor Ashoka turned from war to peace, I felt a shift in myself, too.
This environment, free from material competition, gave me the space to grow. I learned the value of self-discipline, contemplation, and purpose.
IIT and the Fire Within
With limited financial resources, I set my sights on India’s most competitive universities—the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). I studied for over 12–18 hours a day for a year and a half—no tutors, no shortcuts. I often felt lost and inadequate. But I persisted. Eventually, I earned a place in Electrical Engineering at IIT Kharagpur, not far from home. My father was overjoyed.
IIT was humbling. Surrounded by brilliance, I sometimes felt out of place. But I discovered a natural aptitude for engineering. I graduated near the top of my class.
Leaving India, Finding a Calling
I began my career with Tata Electric Companies, designing motors and drives for the Indian military. Though the work was prestigious, I yearned for more ambition and innovation. I then applied abroad and earned a research assistantship at the University of Minnesota, under the legendary Professor Ned Mohan.
On September 10, 1992, I arrived in Minneapolis. I completed my Master’s in just nine months. I got married in 1995 and spent nearly a decade in the Midwest. But a new chapter awaited.
Electric Bikes: The Turning Point
In 2001, I joined Wavecrest Laboratories in Virginia, where I led the development of motors for electric bikes, scooters, and vehicles. We launched the Tidalforce electric bike, which earned a loyal following but came too early for the market. The company eventually folded and sold its technological assets to Matra(France) and Accell Group (Netherlands). Still, its influence on me was lasting: I fell in love with electric bikes and learned the intricacies of starting a business.
After Wavecrest, I co-founded Electric Motion Systems, relaunching the Tidalforce platform as E+ electric bikes. We transitioned from 7-phase to 3-phase motors, enhancing performance and reducing costs. The bikes succeeded in the U.S., but we couldn’t expand into Europe.
Falco eMotors – The Vision Continues
In 2011, I founded Falco eMotors. I dove into R&D and discovered a 5-phase motor configuration that eliminated cogging, boosted power density, and delivered extraordinary efficiency. I filed multiple patents that were later granted.
By 2014, we launched the Hx motor, followed by a custom torque sensor and an integrated freehub speed sensor. This gave us a uniquely refined ride experience—smooth, quiet, and compelling. Our systems rivaled the best in the industry, but we also added features that others lacked.
I am driven by the dream of creating the ultimate electric bike experience—one that invites people of all ages and abilities to reconnect with nature, discover new trails, and regain freedom.
Where I Am Now
Since 2019, my journey has faced its share of turbulence—from the global disruption of COVID-19 to the profoundly personal upheaval of divorce, an experience that felt uniquely American in its complexity. Yet through it all, one thing has remained constant:
My unwavering commitment to creating the ultimate electric bike experience.
Electric mobility isn’t just technology to me—it’s transformation. It’s given me freedom, focus, and healing. And I believe it holds that same potential for others.
Every system we design at Falco is a step toward a future where more people reconnect with nature, rediscover joy, and reclaim movement—one ride at a time.
The journey is far from over.
But I keep pedaling forward.
Because without trails, wind, and the open air…
What else is there, really?