News
Ather Energy is likely to introduce a low-cost version of the 450X e-scooter. According to a recent trademark filing, the new variant could be called '450S'.
Details of the Ather 450S are scarce. However, we can expect a slightly stripped-down variant with fewer features. The 450S might do away with functionalities like auto hold and riding modes.
Besides, Ather might also reduce the size of the battery to bring down the price tag in order to compete with the likes of the Ola S1 Air and TVS iQube.
At present, Ather offers 450X at a price tag of Rs 98,183 (ex-showroom, Delhi). Customers can opt for the Pro Pack for an additional Rs 30,000. The 450S is likely to have an even lower price tag.
News
BHPian ritesh_44 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.
My friend's Pure EV Pluto 7g burnt caught fire and burnt down everything in two rooms in his house, including computers, household items etc. He was facing a heating issue with the battery and it was replaced twice by the company.
It was a detachable battery which he used to charge at home. The company is only offering to replace the battery.
Legally they might be obligated to do that only, but this has been a recurring issue with Pure EV and every couple of weeks one of their scooters is catching fire. Is there anything to be done to escalate this with the authorities?
He has posted his ordeal here.
Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:
Your friend really has only himself to blame.
- Ignoring the many incidents of Pure EV fires.
- Home charging of batteries is too dangerous! This is just asking for trouble.
- No home insurance.
- Continuing with home charging, despite 2 defective battery replacements? The writing was really on the wall.
There is already so much bad press around Pure EV that I doubt they'll be pressurised by such coverage to cover his damage.
Is Pure EV actually designing & developing their products in India (as claimed), or are they simply rebadging Chinese stuff?
Here's what BHPian The Mechanic had to say on the matter:
Following is my recommendation for straight forward settlement of the issues
- Damages to the battery - Covered by the manufacturer.
- Damages to the rest of the particular vehicle - Covered by the particular vehicle's insurance policy.
- Damages to the house and other household items - Covered under the house's insurance policy (Assuming such a policy is present).
Recommendation to Everyone
- Take an insurance policy for your house and its contents. Insurance policy for residential buildings is one of the cheapest insurance you can get in India.
- Just walk into your preferred insurer's office and ask for a "Bharat Griha Raksha Policy" for your home. Also, add the contents of the house.
- When you are taking coverage ask for a quote for a "long-term policy" like for 10 years as this will work out cheaper in the long run.
Here's what BHPian shancz had to say on the matter:
Very unfortunate incident and I am glad that no one was physically hurt.
I would like to know what or how did the team at Pure EV "repair" the battery. I bet they didn't do a thing and passed on the same battery.
I had always feared that with detachable batteries the risk moves from your parking lot to your bedroom and this is a real-life example. Unfortunate but real.
My advice if you have to buy an EV get it from a manufacturer with a solid safety record and who actually invests in developing their own Battery Management Systems like Ather and TVS.
Only then do you realise that EVs are an expensive purchase upfront?
These kit assemblers who call themselves manufacturers are selling you the scooters at twice the purchase price at the very least with no concept of maintenance let alone software. Their only sales pitch is the savings you'll make by not having to fill in petrol and that's all there is to it.
There are no free lunches and Chinese quality coupled with Indian negligence in a "cost-saving" situation is a deadly combination.
Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.
News
Yulu has launched its first electric scooter aimed at private buyers. The Yulu Wynn is priced at Rs 55,555 and can be booked online for a token amount of Rs 999.
The Yulu Wynn is a compact e-scooter designed primarily as a city runabout. It has telescopic fork suspension at the front with dual shock absorbers at the rear. It is available in two colour options: Scarlet Red and Moonlight White.
The Wynn is a low-speed electric scooter that doesn't need to be registered. The Wynn is powered by a 250 W electric motor and a 19.3 Ah swappable battery. It can reach a top speed of 25 km/h, and has a range of up to 68 km.
The price of the scooter does not include the battery pack. The swappable batteries are available through a subscription model. Customer deliveries of the Yulu Wynn e-scooter will begin in mid-May 2023.
News
Simple Energy has announced that it will be launching its first electric scooter, the One, on May 23, 2023.
The Simple One was first announced back in 2021, and has undergone several updates since then. It uses a 4.8 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that is said to offer a maximum range of 236 km on a single charge. It powers an 8.5 kW electric motor that has a torque rating of 72 Nm. The e-scooter is said to accelerate from 0-40 km/h in 2.85 seconds and has a top speed of 105 km/h.
The Simple One comes with a 2-piece battery pack. A fixed battery is located under the floorboard, while a removable unit is tucked under the seat. The company will also offer a second removable battery that is said to boost the scooter's maximum range to 300 km.
The Simple One competes with the Ola S1 Pro, Ather 450X and the Bajaj Chetak.
News
Ather Energy has launched a new base variant of its 450X electric scooter with a price tag of Rs 98,183 (ex-showroom, Delhi).
Naturally, the entry-level Ather 450X isn't the most feature-packed of the lot. The e-scooter misses out on features like ride modes, park assist, hill-hold assist, Bluetooth connectivity, GPS navigation and live tracking. It does not support OTA updates either. The 7-inch touchscreen offers a more basic greyscale interface.
While it loses out on a bunch of features, Ather has retained the same 3.7 kWh battery pack offering 146 km of range. It does not support fast charging and is said to take 15 hr 20 mins to recharge to its full capacity. It uses the same 6.2 kW motor that helps the e-scooter to reach a top speed of 90 km/h.
Ather Energy has also introduced the 450X Pro Pack. For an additional Rs 30,000, customers get a full-loaded e-scooter with all the features, including fast charging.
The 450X Pro Pack uses the same 3.7 kWh battery pack that powers a 6.2 kW electric motor. That being said, the time taken to charge the battery is just 5 hr 40 mins, which is significantly lower than the entry-level variant.
News
BHPian Scarlet_Rider recently shared this with other enthusiasts.
We currently have a Suzuki Access 125 scooter (registered in August 2009) that is used for short runs like dropping and picking up kids from school and the evening sports activities. It is also used for other errands like grocery shopping, etc. Each trip is not more than 4 kms. The monthly usage is a maximum of 500 kms. It is even less during summer vacations as there are no trips to and from the school.
The fuel efficiency is less (32 kmpl) due to the short trips which are mostly in medium to heavy traffic. It returns a better efficiency (40+ kmpl) on the rare occasions when it is taken for a long trip. It has just run 45,000 kms and will complete 14 years in August this year. The fitness will be due for renewal in August 2024.
The option of going for a new electric scooter would have been a no-brainer if the daily usage was 25 to 40 kms. However I am not sure whether it would be worth switching to electric for our current usage pattern. Hence wanted to get views of fellow BHPians on whether it is advisable to switch to an electric scooter sometime early next year or continue with the current scooter by renewing the fitness for another 5 years.
Here's what BHPian kadanaJ had to say on the matter:
This is not exactly a straightforward answer, but here's a quick calculation of your 5 year savings with an electric scooty:
Certain assumptions made above, such as petrol and electricity prices being that of Mumbai, not Hyderabad.
It's a quick calculation, so haven't considered which electric scooter you would buy (they range from a 1-1.5 lakh depending on the model), EMI, interest costs, maintenance on the old Scooty, etc.
Also consider that some electric scooters like the Aether are powerful and genuinely lots of fun (consider it a premium for riding pleasure), if that is relevant.
Am attaching the Excel if you wish to play around with it.
Here's what BHPian aargee had to say on the matter:
Our background is similar: We've 18 year old Activa that was refurbished in 2020 & after few dramas now, no matter how much we pamper, the scooter does not turn pristine. Anyway we don't regret as we could not find a scooter to our satisfaction in the market today, so our old Activa atleast costs us less is the only consolation.
Getting to your point whether EV makes sense or not, ofcourse no. Pls see this post for my exhaustive justification on the breakeven between EV & fossil fueled scooter & when it makes a difference.
Note - There's something seriously wrong with your Access; typically the FE has to be over 45 Kmpl on highways; even going by the logic of yielding 40 Kmpl on highways, the city & highway difference cannot be 15 Kmpl difference, perhaps 35 is acceptable, certainly not 25.
Here's what BHPian sri_tesla had to say on the matter:
Here is a simple comparison I prepared to check the running costs between different options:
First, you need to decide if you are in the market for a new scooter or not. If your existing scooter is in good condition, then that is always the cheapest option even though it may cost slightly higher maintenance costs. If you are in the market for a new scooter, then going for an electric scooter like TVS iQube will be a no-brainer over another new petrol scooter. Even with low usage of 500 km per month, you will be able to recoup the higher initial costs in less than 2 years due to extremely lower fueling costs with an electric scooter. I took one of the highest electricity slabs in Hyd/Telangana for per unit costs in the comparison.
If you decide on the electric scooter, would suggest you test ride all the options like Ather, Ola, TVS iQube, Chetak, etc... TVS iQube is a perfect replacement scooter for all the Activas, Jupiters, or Access scooters. It has better acceleration than those and provides a silent, comfortable, and reliable ride at a much cheaper price than Athers or Olas.
Here's what BHPian shyampsundar had to say on the matter:
Unlike the 12V battery which is either working or one fine day stops working on our cars, the battery on EVs like Ather doesn't fail overnight. The end of life is generally defined as 70% - 80% of the battery storage capacity on day 1. That's what the warranty covers.
In your case since your daily running is not much I don't think it will matter if the range drops from 80 KMs to 60 KMs. Also, the warranties are designed in such a way that the manufacturer is at least 95% sure that the battery doesn't need replacement in the warranty period. So Ather's battery for example on average should last at least 8 years for most people.
What I would recommend is the following:
- Buy an EV from a reputed player like Ather.
- Add extended warranty cover for peace of mind. I wouldn't based on the running you have described.
- Take care of the battery. Charge to 80% - 90% as far as possible and don't let the battery run out and not use the scooter for weeks together.
Pretty sure it will work out for you. Added benefit is the fun of driving EVs.
Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.
News
Suzuki Motorcycle has unveiled its upcoming electric scooter for the Indian market. It is based on the Burgman Street and is called the e-Burgman.
The Suzuki e-Burgman looks identical to the Burgman Street. It measures 1,825 mm in length, 765 mm in width and 1,140 mm in height. The e-scooter weighs 147 kg.
The e-Burgman is a Class-2 light electric scooter. It is powered by an AC synchronous electric motor that has a peak output of 5.36 BHP and 18 Nm. The lithium-ion battery pack enables the e-scooter to cover 44 km on a single charge when ridden at 60 km/h.
The Suzuki e-Burgman will compete with the TVS iQube and Bajaj Chetak. Honda recently announced its plans to launch two new electric scooters in India. The first model will be equipped with a fixed battery and could be called Activa Electric, while the second model will feature a swappable battery setup.
Source: Bikewale
News
Honda is set to announce its foray into the Indian electric 2-wheeler segment on March 29. However, there are already rumours about the brand’s future plans for India.
According to a media report, Honda is working on 10 new electric 2-wheelers, which includes the upcoming Activa Electric. This e-scooter (codenamed: GJNA) will be Honda’s first EV for the Indian market. It is expected to get a fixed battery, similar to most of its competitors.
Honda is also said to be developing an electric moped (codenamed: K4BA). Unlike the Activa Electric, this will feature swappable batteries and is expected to be launched sometime next year.
It has been reported that both models have been developed with a potential of half a million units cumulative over 3 years. Total volumes could hit the 1 million unit mark as more models roll out by 2026-27. In the first year, the company plans to produce 1-1.5 lakh units.
Source: Autocar India
News
Honda is all set to announce its electric 2-wheeler plans for India on March 29.
Honda’s first electric offering for the Indian market is expected to be an e-scooter based on the Activa. Reports suggest that the company might reveal it in concept form by the end of this month.
Atushi Ogata, MD & CEO of Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI), had stated that the company was developing electric 2-wheelers in collaboration with Honda Japan and that the first EV would be ready by the end of the current fiscal.
Ogata also revealed that Honda plans to launch its first electric scooter in India by March 2024. It is likely to carry the ‘Activa’ brand name.
The Activa Electric will be powered by an electric motor developed in-house and a fixed battery pack. However, Honda is also said to be working on swappable batteries. The company will be modifying its existing assembly lines to produce both, ICE and EVs within the same plant.
News
BHPian Nayra recently shared this with other enthusiasts.
We thought we were most probably going to take the second hand route but read aargee and nitro.1000bhp's comments and decided to go visit Hero, Honda and Suzuki's showrooms nonetheless and we think we have decided which vehicle we would end up with.
The first showroom we checked and and it was such a bad experience that I do not believe we would want to ever touch a bike made by them. Walked into the showroom which felt less like a showroom and more like a warehouse but still fine, as it looked like they were mainly catering to the commuter class of vehicles. Saw row of Xpulses parked in front of the showroom and was checking it out while dad was parking his car. A sales person comes out and tells me to not touch the bikes and asked me what I wanted. Thought it was fairly rude but figured this is how Hero showrooms worked. Told him I was looking for a Splendor or any high mileage bike so he calls me inside.
Walked in and He gives me a bunch of brochures, walks away and starts gossiping about some coworker with another sales person. Wah! how polite and welcoming.
Dad enters now and I told him what had happened and let him take the lead. He starts by asking for a test ride of a Splendor Xtec to which both the guys start laughing and tell him no one takes a test ride of a Splendor, they just buy it. Dad is not really the best most composed guy so I figured it is best we walk away to avoid an escalation. Never again.
A much better experience. Polite and the employees actually seemed interested to sell their vehicles. Took the test ride of the Honda Activa and well, perhaps the Aprilia has spoilt us but it felt extremely weird to ride? Oddly light and toyish. Dad is a bike guy who hated the dynamics so much he turned back 50m into the ride and cancelled the bike instantly.
So I guess scooters are out of the equation for now. (or so we thought).
Asked him about other commuter bikes to which he said they do not have any test ride bikes at the moment but can arrange on requesting beforehand.
A funny incident though, parked my Ninja right in front of the showroom and there were a bunch of sales people standing outside. They saw my getting off the bikes and one of them went "Sir this is not Bigwing franchise". He looked fairly confused when I told him I knew and wanted to check out commuter bikes
A brief and to the point visit with no shenanigans. Was on the Access within 10 minutes of entering the showroom and while it felt much better to ride, the uneasiness of the small wheeled scooters did not dissipate.
Saw the Burgman and though I was thought it was swell but my dad said he would rather walk around than be seen riding that. To each their own.
Upon asking for any commuter bikes we were informed that they had only 1 bike named the Hayate at the moment. The only commuter bike which had a test ride and it was much better than riding scooters but the drop in power relative to the Ninja was something I had not considered. Perhaps because I had ridden it back to back, it felt even more lethargic, almost like I was towing along heavy boulders. Regardless, much better than scooter dynamics and our focus was going to be on bikes.
The wild card entry. We passed by the Ather showroom while returning home and figured why not? Walked in and my god what a breathe of fresh air which I guess comes with the much higher price point of the products they sell but more than anything what I noticed was the respectful nature of every person. I told him straight up it is outside my budget but I am curious to which his demeanour did not change. Sat my down, explained every aspect of the vehicle from top to bottom and answered the 100 queries my dad and I had and offered a test ride even though we did not ask for it (LEARN HERO MOTOCORP).
We test rode the Ather 450x and it felt like I was riding a spaceship around. A hardcore gasoline sniffing, 2-stroke loving, mechanical engineer smitten by a glorified appliance with wheels, the heresy I thought to myself. It was absolutely fabulous. Felt extremely close to the dynamics of the SR150 without the weird weightless feeling we got from other scooter. Clean, cheap energy coupled with the solar panels we have in our home, its not just cheap but almost free. The range was adequate and barely any components to break so reliable too. The perfect vehicle for our needs. Well almost perfect since it was a clear 1 lakh over my budget.
It was my dad's turn to take it for a spin and I half expected him to turn back halfway through and hate it but no, he rode and kept riding again and again, gets off the bike and just goes "Yup this works" and as they say parents know best so who was I to tell him otherwise. Went inside inquired about the booking amount and variants and told him we will book the bike on Thursday due to auspicious reasons. The wonders good and respectful sales associates can do.
We (mainly me) are still a bit confused about whether EV is the way to go especially considering how absurdly over budget we went but I think our usage case does make a good argument but it is still unnerving. We have zero experience with EVs because it us straight up sacrilegious in our household. "Internal combustion is the heartbeat of modern civilization" as my dad says.
After riding the Hayate, I know for a fact that if we had been able to test ride the Splendor, we would have certainly bought it if it was anything like the Hayate but Hero does what it does and we do what we do. Customer experience takes precedence for my dad and if we are treated like a nuisance and mocked before buying the bike, I do not want to think about the experience if problems arise after buying the bike.
Well there you have it! Ather 450x here we come (for now).
Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.