Powertrain & Ride Quality :
The iQube S features a 4.4kW passively cooled BLDC hub motor capable of accelerating from 0 to 40 km/h in 4.2 seconds and reaching a top speed of 78 km/h. There are two modes to choose from :
- Eco : Max Speed - 45 km/h and True Range - 100 kms
- Power : Max Speed - 78 km/h and True Range - 70 kms
Throttle response, acceleration curve and regen are similar in both ride modes, just the top speed for Eco is capped. The iQube lets you ride in power mode even when the battery is low, unlike other electric scooters that switch to eco mode automatically. It uses two 52V battery packs, each with a usable capacity of 1.5kWh(total 3kWh), that are connected in parallel. One of the battery packs is located under the footboard, while the other is under the seat. One potential drawback of this powertrain is the BLDC hub motor, although it performs well for short city rides(~5-10kms), the motor will heat up and reduce performance by 10-15% during longer rides, even when riding in eco mode and bring up a warning sign on the instrument cluster. I have faced this issue multiple times during long rides, both during the day and at night:
Although this issue does not render the scooter completely powerless and it can still easily climb gradients, it does mean that if you were cruising at 45 km/h in eco mode and you get this warning, then you will have to switch to power mode to maintain the speed. However, this will result in reduced range. I have not faced this issue since the monsoons arrived. Nonetheless, keep this in mind if you’re planning to buy the scooter for daily long rides of more than 20kms. Other aspects that may require some adjustment are the lag in throttle response(reference for gamers : feels like playing fps at 200ms ping) and the excessively aggressive regenerative braking. The regen kicks in as soon as you release the throttle, and will slow you down aggressively. But on the positive side this also means that applying brakes will not cut-off the motor. Reverse mode will work as intended on flat surfaces but won't be as effective on inclines where you would actually want to use it.
Once you get used to the regen and throttle response, it is an absolute joy to ride it. The positioning of the batteries in a lower location gives the scooter a very low center of gravity, which makes maneuvering the vehicle in city conditions very easy. Also, riding in rains is not an issue since both the battery and motor are IP67 rated.
In terms of the braking, it features a CBS setup. The rear drum brake is soft and mushy, and the regenerative braking feels more effective at slowing you down than applying the rear brakes. The front disc brakes provide a decent amount of bite, and you will likely rely on either the regenerative braking or the front brakes for most of your stopping needs, as the rear brakes are essentially useless.
The ride quality is absolutely amazing, with twin telescopic suspension on the front and two hydraulic shock absorbers on the rear. This setup is perfectly tuned for city conditions and performs well even with a pillion. The seat is spacious and cushioned with the right amount of foam.(Jupiter genes) The seating position is comfortable, even for tall riders, with ample space available on the footboard. The headlights work well for night riding, with a strong high-beam and effective low-beam but they've messed up the horn. The newly labeled "pleasant-horn" is highly ineffective in alerting both vehicles and pedestrians.
Charging :
The charger provided is rated at 650W and has an IP65 rating, featuring active cooling. It is mostly sealed, with a small fan and a temperature sensor located on the top. The charging time from 10-100% is approximately 5 hours, and the charger automatically cuts-off once the scooter is fully charged. They recommended to frequently charge the scooter to 100% for cell balancing. Also, the electric logo blinks while charging. The idle battery drain is negligible, left it at 25% and two-three days later it was at 24%.
Application & Issues :
The TVS iQube application still feels like a work in progress, it does offers several useful features such as displaying the current battery state of charge, trip history, charging history, and a map of charging stations. The application also sends notifications every time the ignition is turned on or off, along with location information. While the application requests many permissions, its advertised star feature, turn-by-turn navigation, does not function properly due to connectivity issues with the scooter. After the first year of free usage, an annual fee of ₹999 is required to continue using the application.
A minor problem I had with the scooter is that the side stand sensor sometimes falsely indicates that the stand is engaged. This resulted in the scooter stalling twice when it came to halt, had to engage and disengage the side stand again to get rid of the issue. The motor overheating warning wasn't a significant problem since I could still ride the scooter for an additional 10-15 kilometers in power mode after the warning appeared.
Warranty & Servicing :
The TVS iQube S comes with a standard 3 Year OR 50,000kms warranty applicable on the vehicle and bundled charger. There are no free services, on the schedule they've mentioned to get it serviced every year or 4,000kms. I took my iQube to the free service camp organized on account of World Environment Day by Litra TVS. The service included routine maintenance, applying WD-40 to switches, and also resolved the side-stand sensor issue. It took approximately an hour, and there was no charge for the service.
Pricing & FAME-II Refund :
The total on-road cost of the scooter was : ₹1,35,735
The refund process was fairly simple, they did refund ₹6,218 which brings the final on-road cost to ₹1,29,517.
Closing Thoughts :
TVS has nailed the essentials of an ideal family scooter with the iQube S: a dependable headlight setup, comfortable ride quality, large & flat footboard, practical mirrors, and a functional boot. What sets it apart is its approach to technology—it doesn't impose new, potentially complex features, but rather blends traditional elements with a reliable electric powertrain. This makes the iQube S an excellent choice for those seeking a seamless transition to electric scooters without sacrificing the core qualities of a reliable and practical ride.
Certainly, there is room for improvement, particularly in the application's functionality. The regen intensity can also be adjusted by setting regen levels specific to different ride modes.