Electric vehicles are the new buzz word when it comes to the world of automotive. With fossil fuel reserves running out and pollution levels increasing to dangerous levels, an alternative to internal combustion engines is the need of the hour.
Electric vehicles run clean and produce zero emissions, making them a popular alternative. Currently, the biggest problems faced by electric two-wheelers are range and charging infrastructure. But with improving technology and infrastructure, electric motorcycles will gain more popularity in the near future.
1. TVS iQube
TVS iQube is an electric scooter available at a starting price of Rs. 1,00,752 in India. It is available in only 1 variant and 1 colour. TVS iQube generates 3000 W power from its motor. TVS iQube comes up with front disc and rear drum brakes.
Similar to a number of major manufacturers, TVS also became a part of the green revolution as it recently launched the iQube electric scooter in India. First electric two-wheeler from the manufacturer, the iQube gets conventional scooter-like design along with a slew of modern features while promising decent performance and battery range.
While the overall silhouette of the iQube looks like that of a traditional scooter, it gets a few design touches which lend it a futuristic appeal. This includes sleek headlamp and tail lamp design along with a U-shaped LED DRL on the handlebar cowl. TVS has also paid attention towards its practicality by giving it a roomy seat, spacious footboard, large underseat storage compartment and luggage hooks. It also gets an underseat USB charging socket for juicing up the electronics devices.
Powering the iQube are three lithium-ion batteries which collectively have a power rating of 2.25kWh. While it fully charges in around five hours, the claimed range stands at 75kms. Propelling the scooter is a 4.4kW hub-mounted BLDC motor which produces 140Nm of torque at the wheel. TVS claims it can achieve a top speed of 40kmph in Eco mode and 78kmph in Sport mode while the 0-40kmph acceleration time is 4.2 seconds.
The iQube also comes loaded with features such as full-LED lighting along with a full-colour TFT instrument cluster sporting TVS’ SmartXonnect function. It allows connecting the display with smartphone through Bluetooth for giving access to various information such as ride stats, remote battery range and geo fencing. This console also gets navigation feature and shows incoming call and message notifications. Interestingly, the iQube has been equipped with a Q-Park feature for easier parking.
It rides on 12-inch wheels which are suspended by telescopic forks up front and dual shock absorbers at the rear. Braking is handled by a disc brake at the front and a drum brake at the rear. The iQube tips the scales at 118kgs.
TVS IQube Summary:
iQube key highlights |
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|---|---|
| Riding Range | 75 Km |
| Top Speed | 78 Kmph |
| Kerb Weight | 118 kg |
| Battery charging time | 5 Hrs |
| Rated Power | 3000 W |
| USB Charging Port | Yes |
2. Ather 450X
Ather 450X is an electric scooter available at a starting price of Rs. 1,39,757 in India. It is available in 2 variants and 3 colours with top variant price starting from Rs. 1,58,768. Ather 450X generates 3300 W power from its motor. With both front and rear disc brakes, Ather 450X comes up with combined braking system of both wheels.
The Ather 450X is the flagship product of the Bengaluru-based electric vehicle manufacturer, Ather Energy. The 450X features several styling and mechanical revisions over the standard Ather 450. Unlike the standard Ather 450, the 450X is listed in two variants and three colour options. The two variants include 450X and 450 Plus. The 450X is priced at Rs 1.59 lakh while the 450 Plus is available at Rs 1.49 lakh (both ex-showroom Bengaluru prices).
The 450X packs more power and torque than the 450 Plus. The electric motor on the 450X produces 6kW (8.04bhp) and 26Nm. It accelerates from 0-40kmph in 3.3 seconds and promises a range of up to 85km. Additionally, the 450X features an all new Warp mode built on top of an upgraded battery pack and BMS (Battery Management System). The electric motor on the 450 Plus makes 5.4kW (7.2bhp) and 22Nm. The 0-40kmph acceleration takes 3.9 seconds while the range is rated at 70km.
The styling cues are similar to the standard 450, and the Ather 450X and Ather 450 Plus continue to feature an apron mounted headlight, full-LED lighting, a Bluetooth-enabled (4.2) touchscreen instrument cluster, music & call controls, integrated 4G LTE SIM connectivity, digital document storage, and an onboard navigation. The display on the 450X range includes a 1.3 GHz Snapdragon processor. The hardware on the 450X and 450 Plus comprises of telescopic front forks, rear mono-shock, and disc brakes on both wheels. Similar to the standard 450, the 450X series also features a reverse mode.
Charging solutions include a home charger, Ather Grid public charging infrastructure, and a portable charger. Ather 450X comes with a complimentary home charger, Ather Dot. Ather Grid, on the other hand, allows fast charging and it can recharge the battery pack by upto 80 per cent at one kilometre per minute. The portable charger can be used to recharge the battery through a 5A socket.
The Ather 450X is currently available for pre-order in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Coimbatore, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Kozhikode, Mumbai, and Pune.
Ather 450X Summary:
450X key highlights |
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|---|---|
| Riding Range | 70 Km |
| Top Speed | 80 Kmph |
| Kerb Weight | 108 kg |
| Battery charging time | 5.15 Hrs |
| Rated Power | 3300 W |
| Seat Height | 765 mm |
3. Bajaj Chetak
Bajaj Chetak is an electric scooter available at a starting price of Rs. 1,38,669 in India. It is available in 2 variants and 6 colours with top variant price starting from Rs. 1,38,992. Bajaj Chetak generates 3800 W power from its motor. With front disc and rear drum brakes, Bajaj Chetak comes up with combined braking system of both wheels.
Before Bajaj Auto became popular for its modern range of motorcycles, it was principally known for its two-wheeler scooter, namely the Bajaj Chetak. Over the past few years, the Pune-based two-wheeler giant had completely stopped manufacturing scooters and since then it has been working on a new electric scooter offering and has now finally launched the Chetak, in an electric avatar.
As the name suggests, the scooter harks back to its roots by taking design cues from the iconic Chetak and giving it a contemporary and fresh look. It uses sheet metal body panels that offer a premium touch, while the smooth flowing lines, LED lighting and turn signals with sequential blinking similar to high-end cars add to its modernity. Furthermore, it packs fully-digital Bluetooth-enabled instrumentation that comes with a host of features.
As far as the powertrain is concerned, the Bajaj Chetak is equipped with an electric motor that draws its power from a 3kWh IP67 rated lithium-ion battery. The power rating of its motor is 4kW (peak) and 3.8kW (continuous) with 16Nm of peak torque. The powertrain comes with two drive modes — Sport and Eco, which are capable of returning a range of 95km and 85km, respectively. Bajaj claims that the battery will last for about 70,000km before a replacement is needed. Besides that, Bajaj has equipped the e-scooter with several innovative features like a reverse assist mode, regenerative braking and an onboard Intelligent Battery Management System (IBMS) to control charge and discharge seamlessly.
Bajaj is offering the Chetak electric scooter in two variants, Urbane and Premium. Meanwhile, the colour palette that is available on the Chetak comprises of six options — white, pink, black, yellow, red and blue. Competition-wise, the e-scooter rivals the likes of the Ather 450 and the Okinawa i-Praise in the premium electric scooter market space.
Bajaj Chetak Summary
Chetak key highlights |
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|---|---|
| Riding Range | 85-95 Km |
| Top Speed | 70 Kmph |
| Battery charging time | 5 Hrs |
| Rated Power | 3800 W |
| USB Charging Port | Yes |
| Max Power | 4,080 W |
4. OLA S1
OLA S1 is an electric scooter available at a starting price of Rs. 97,706 in India. It is available in only 1 variant and 5 colours. OLA S1 generates 5500 W power from its motor. With both front and rear disc brakes, OLA S1 comes up with combined braking system of both wheels.
Ola Electric has launched its new electric scooter, the S1 in the Indian market. The Ola electric scooter will come in two variants, Ola S1 and Ola S1 Pro.
Both variants of the Ola Electric scooter feature a similar design that comprises a compact twin-pod headlight with an LED DRL ring, apron-mounted sleek LED indicators, a body-coloured front fender, curvy side panels, a sleek LED taillight, an external charging point at the back, and a split-style pillion grabrail. The Ola Electric scooter features a 36-litre under-seat storage that can accommodate two open-face helmets. The colour palette for the base model includes five options while the Pro variant is available in 10 choices.
Mechanical specifications on both scooters include an electric motor that produces a peak output of 8.5kW and maximum torque of 58Nm. The battery capacity for the base variant and the Pro model stands at 2.98kW and 3.97kW, respectively. In terms of performance, the Ola S1 boasts a top speed of 90kmph and a range of 121km per charge. The Ola S1 Pro, on the other hand, can achieve a top speed of 115kmph and features a range of 181km per charge.
Standard features on both models include proximity lock/unlock, remote boot lock, call alert, message alert, infotainment, side-stand alert, anti-theft alert, geo fencing, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, onboard navigation, limp home mode, reverse mode, get home mode, take-me-home lights, find my scooter, HMI moods with sound, electronic steering lock, HMI brightness adjuster, welcome screen, OTA updates, manual SOS, and predictive maintenance. The Pro variant further benefits from hill hold system, cruise control, and voice assist. The Ola S1 version uses two riding modes (Normal and Sport) while the Ola S1 Pro variant packs three (Normal, Sport, and Hyper).
The hardware on both variants comprise a tubular frame, single front fork, rear mono-shock, disc brakes on both wheels, and a combined braking system.
OLA Electric Scooter – Ola S1 Summary
S1 key highlights |
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|---|---|
| Riding Range | 121 Km |
| Top Speed | 90 Kmph |
| Kerb Weight | 121 kg |
| Battery charging time | 5 Hrs |
| Rated Power | 5500 W |
| Seat Height | 792 mm |
5. Bounce Infinity E1
Bounce Infinity E1 is an electric scooter available at a starting price of Rs. 52,940 in India. It is available in 2 variants and 5 colours with top variant price starting from Rs. 76,321. Bounce Infinity E1 generates 1500 W power from its motor. With both front and rear disc brakes, Bounce Infinity E1 comes up with combined braking system of both wheels.
The Infinity E1 is Bounce’s first electric-scooter in India. This e-scooter will be available with a unique ‘battery-as-a-service’ subscription plan.
The Infinity E1 electric scooter can be bought either with a battery and charger or without a battery. The buyers of the latter need to opt for the battery-as-a-service plan in which they can use Bounce’s battery swapping network for running the scooter. The price of the Infinity E1 with a battery is Rs 68,999 and without a battery is Rs 45,099 (both prices are ex-showroom, Delhi). Interestingly, the Bounce Infinity E1 is eligible for the FAME II subsidy.
Customers purchasing the scooter without the battery need to visit Bounce’s swapping station for replacing the drained out battery with a fully-charged one. The company says this pattern of usage brings down the running cost of the e-scooter by 40 per cent as compared to conventional scooters. Even the customers who choose to buy the scooter with the battery get the facility to remove it and charge it as per convenience.
Coming to the specifications of the Infinity E1, it is propelled by a BLDC motor that produces 83Nm of torque and reaches a top speed of around 65kmph. The company claims zero to 40kmph sprint timing of 8 seconds. The power is delivered in two modes including Eco and Power. As for the battery, it’s a 48V39Ah unit that can be charged through a regular electric socket. Charging takes around four to five hours and it runs for 85km on a full charge.
The Bounce Infinity E1 is also loaded with a host of features like remote tracking, geo-fencing, drag mode, reverse mode, cruise control, anti-theft mechanism, and tow alert. Bounce is also offering a smartphone application that allows the user to virtually control a lot of aspects of the e-scooter.
Bounce Infinity E1 Summary
Infinity E1 key highlights |
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|---|---|
| Riding Range | 85 Km |
| Top Speed | 65 Kmph |
| Kerb Weight | 94 kg |
| Battery charging time | 4 Hrs |
| Rated Power | 1500 W |
| Seat Height | 780 mm |
