It was a day many at Su-Kam would remember: Kunwer Sachdev scribbling the “Power on Wheels” concept on a whiteboard in his office. A truck… an inverter… batteries… all rumbling across India. To more than a few colleagues, the honest first thought was, “Has he finally lost it?” It sounded like a logistical nightmare, a surefire way to bleed money. Su-Kam was a growing company, yes — but a 100 kVA inverter strapped to a truck? It felt like overkill, a flamboyant gesture that wouldn’t translate to actual sales.
The practicalities alone seemed insurmountable. Who would drive this behemoth across India’s chaotic roads? Finding a reliable driver for a regular delivery truck was a headache enough; entrusting someone with this mobile power plant was another matter altogether. And a helper who understood even the basics of what was on board felt like searching for a needle in a haystack. The cost of fuel alone was enough to make stomachs churn. Every kilometre this “Power on Wheels” covered was another dent in the marketing budget — a budget that could have gone to more conventional, and seemingly safer, avenues. Yet the idea was the culmination of an earlier success: a small van Kunwer Sachdev had created for live demos of small inverters in small cities and villages, a mission that had worked remarkably well.
Concerns were voiced, of course — tentatively at first, then with increasing urgency as the project gained momentum. “Mr. Sachdev, are we sure about this? The logistics… the manpower… the sheer expense…” He would just smile that knowing smile of his, a glint in his eye that always hinted at something others weren’t quite seeing yet. “Trust me,” he would say, with an unwavering conviction that was both inspiring and, frankly, a little unnerving.
The initial days of the tour were… quiet. Reports trickled in — the truck had reached this city, demonstrated to a handful of dealers. The skeptics remained stubbornly entrenched, glancing at the expense reports, the fuel costs, the driver’s allowances, the helper’s daily wages, and murmuring a quiet “I told you so.”
When the Tide Turned
Then, something shifted. The reports started to change. Dealers, initially hesitant, were now sending enthusiastic feedback. They were seeing the sheer power firsthand — the kind of capacity they hadn’t even considered possible with inverters. The visual impact of the truck itself, this mobile testament to Su-Kam’s ambition, was turning heads and opening doors.
One dealer from the South called, his voice buzzing with excitement. He had closed several high-value deals on the spot, simply because customers were awestruck by the demonstration. They weren’t just buying an inverter; they were buying into a vision, a belief in Su-Kam’s capabilities.
Slowly, grudgingly, the skeptics’ perspective began to change. What had been dismissed as a wasteful extravagance was, in fact, a masterstroke. The “Power on Wheels” wasn’t just showcasing a product; it was shattering a mental barrier. It was making the impossible tangible, the abstract real. The initial challenges with drivers and helpers, though real, were eventually overcome, fuelled by the sheer momentum and the positive buzz the initiative generated.
A Masterstroke in Hindsight
Looking back now, it is hard not to feel a sense of sheepish admiration. Mr. Sachdev saw something the doubters didn’t. He understood that sometimes a company has to be audacious — to take a leap of faith, to literally drive the message home in a way no advertisement or brochure ever could. The “Power on Wheels” truck, that initial source of so much worry, became a symbol of Su-Kam’s daring spirit, a rolling testament to the power of thinking outside the box. It wasn’t just a truck; it was the catalyst that propelled Su-Kam into a different league, etching its name in the minds of dealers and customers alike. And the cautious colleagues who once saw only wasted money had to eat their words, served with a generous helping of humble pie.
”Power on Wheels” was one of many unconventional moves that defined Kunwer Sachdev’s marketing instinct — see also his marketing genius at Su-Kam’s dealer meets. More of his story is documented across SolarManOfIndia.com. The concept even lived on as a Su-Kam product — a 100 kVA pure sine wave inverter mounted on a vehicle, offered for disaster relief, construction sites, telecom shelters and events as a cleaner alternative to diesel gensets (see the Power on Wheels listing) — and the company’s wider story is recorded on Wikipedia.
Disclaimer
Mr. Kunwer Sachdev, the original founder and visionary behind Su-Kam, is no longer associated with Su-Kam Power Systems Ltd. He has not been involved in the management, operations, or decision-making of the company for several years. Any products, services, communications, or representations made under the Su-Kam name have no connection to Mr. Kunwer Sachdev. His current efforts are entirely focused on new innovations and ventures under different entities, including his latest initiative, Su-vastika, which is redefining the energy storage and power backup industry.