Electric two-wheelers are often considered frail in the minds of the masses in India. Plus there's the long in the tooth scepticism of ‘range’ which is obstructing EVs to plant their foot. But since today is World Environment Day, we are here to tell you about options available in the two-wheeler market which not only address these concerns over range and performance, but look good while doing it too.
Probably the leader in styling and performance, the flagship model from Ather Energy has punched above its weight to lure the youths away from buying fast ICE-powered scooters, and that is helped by it being easy on the eyes. The sharp handling inspires confidence and the true range of 85km in Eco mode and 70km under Ride mode makes it a good scooter for intra-city runs. The 450x also has a long list of features. It comes with a 7-inch fully-digital touchscreen running on a version of Android, Bluetooth connectivity, Google Maps navigation, digital document storage, and OTA software updates. Priced at Rs. 1.49 lakh, the Ather 450x is an expensive scooter, but it also justifies that cost.
At Rs 51,440 The Hero Electric Optima LA is actually priced on the more affordable end of the market, electric or otherwise. It features a 250W hub motor which can get it up to a top speed of 25kmph. Due to its low top speed, this electric scooter does not require a licence to ride which increases its target audience. It is powered by a lead-acid battery which provides a claimed range of 50 kilometres. Hero Electric has provided a wide range of affordable and easy to ride scooters and it is available not just in big cities but in its 300 exclusive sales and service outlets across the country. While it isn’t as swanky as some of the others there’s a certain charm about its no-nonsense looks.
The Chetak was the cash cow for Bajaj Auto before its motorcycle lineup erupted onto the scene and with emission norms getting stricter, the Chetak plug was pulled.. But then, Bajaj made the ultimate comeback for the iconic name with the Chetak Electric. Priced at Rs. 1.15 lakh, with a stated range of 85 kilometres in Sport mode and 95 kilometres in Eco mode, it can be a good city commuter. That range is helped by its regenerative braking. The 3800W (3.8kW) motor and 3kWH Li-ion battery are IP-67 water resistant and wrapped in a package that looks modern, yet has unmistakable ties to the original.
The iQube is TVS’ offering to the electric two-wheeler market. Its looks are minimal — simple all-LED headlight up front, with sharp lines around its body work. It is powered by a 4.4kW motor mated to a Li-ion battery which gives it a (claimed) range of 75 kilometers on a single charge. It has got a new generation of TVS SmartXonnect system, two riding modes along with park assist. The iQube Electric is priced at Rs 1.15 lakh (on-road).
Now we must tell you right off the bat that the Ultraviolette F77 has not been launched yet and there's no clear indication on a launch date, but we couldn't help but leave it out of this list just because of how sharp it looks! Plus, it is also based on the tried and tested KTM RC platform which makes it a pretty handy tool for the track. Once launched, the F77 will be powered by 25kW electric producing 90Nm of torque. The claimed top speed of the F77 is 147kmph and it takes only 2.9 seconds to hit 60kmph from a standstill. The 4.2kWh removable Li-ion battery pack is said to be good enough for 150km on a single charge. Speaking of which, it takes only 50 minutes to charge from 0 to 80 percent via a DC fast charger and 90 minutes for a full charge. You can head to Ultravoilette’s website to pre-order a unit for yourself.