Top Electric Two-Wheelers Coming To India: Lambretta, Honda PCX Electric & More

It's not news that most countries are suffering from increasing levels of pollution which has severe repercussions on not only the environment but also people. Though it seems a little too late for realization, countries are coming together to fight increasing levels of carbon emissions by reducing its carbon footprint. There are various options to work with, but electric vehicles seem to be to be the most viable option as they are cleaner, safer and simpler.

Not only this, but according to a report from Forbes, electric vehicles are the future of the transportation industry as costs of batteries continue to go down while their capacity continues to go up. Plus, they are a lot easier to maintain and due to fewer working parts and a lot cheaper than fuel. Hence, two-wheeler manufacturer are moving towards developing e-scooters and bikes which will fuel the transportation industry of tomorrow. Since scooters are the most preferred day-to-day mode of transport in India, here’s a list of upcoming e-scooters that you need to keep your eye out for.

Okinawa i Praise: Around Rs 75,000

The Okinawa i Praise gets a lithium-ion battery instead of the lead-acid unit found in the Praise. In essence, it’s significantly lighter (up to 40 per cent) and can deliver a range of up to 180km and a top speed of between 55-75kmph. Moreover, its lithium-ion battery can be fully charged within two-three hours. Aside from these updates, the scooter retains the same design and mechanicals. It’s expected to be launched in January 2019 with a premium of around Rs 15,000 over the standard Praise, which retails at Rs 59,889 (ex-showroom Delhi).

Lambretta: Rs 85,000 - Rs 90,000 or more

The Italian scooter manufacturer, Lambretta has plans of showcasing a new e-scooter at India’s 2020 Auto Expo. The e-scooter will be manufactured at the company’s forthcoming Mumbai plant and exported to Asian and African markets. While there’s no official word on the scooter's specifications and the way it looks, it could get the same gorgeous retro design that Lambretta’s are known for. However, it will feature modern components like LED lighting, an all-digital instrument console and disc brakes at the front and rear with ABS. Since the e-scooter will be pegged against the Vespa Electrica once launched, we could expect similar pricing.

Honda PCX Electric: Rs 1 to 1.5 lakh

The Honda PCX electric scooter was recently showcased at Auto Expo 2018 which takes place in Delhi. It retains the overall design of its petrol cousin, however, with minor updates to keep in line with the electric feel. It gets LED lighting at the front and rear and a beautifully designed full-digital instrument console.

The Honda PCX electric scooter features a high-performance electric motor that’s developed in-house by Honda. Additionally, the e-scooter gets two detachable batteries called the “Honda Mobile Power Pack” placed under the seat which is designed to improve its range. These batteries can either be easily swapped for fresh ones or be charged at your desktop charging station while you work. The scooter could make it to India in the latter half of 2019.

TVS Creon: Rs 1 lakh

Expected to be launched around late 2019, the Creon is an all-electric scooter that was showcased at the 2018 Auto Expo. It’s been developed in partnership with Intel and features futuristic connectivity options like cloud connectivity, geofencing, GPS, park assist, safety and anti-theft. Additionally, the Creon also gets a full-digital instrument console with a host of information.

Its electric capabilities are derived from three Li-ion batteries that pump out 16PS of power and a range of 80km. The company states that the e-scooter can also bolt from 0-60kmph in 5.1 seconds which is quicker than most 160cc motorcycles in India. The Creon concept was showcased with sharp and edgy bodywork, LED lighting at both ends, a side mounted rear monoshock, fat tyres and disk brakes at both ends. It also featured a perimeter frame (a segment first) which houses its battery pack.

Hero Duet E: Around Rs 70,000

First showcased as a concept at the Delhi Auto Expo 2016, the Hero Duet Electric shares its design and a few mechanical components with the standard Duet. Powering the scooter is an electric motor that makes 6.7PS of power and 14Nm of torque. As per the manufacturer, the Duet E can dash from 0-60kmph in just 6.5 seconds and has a range of 65km per charge. Considering the growing electric two-wheeler segment, we could expect Hero MotoCorp to foray into the market with either the Duet E or brand new scooter with the same engine specifications. The electric scooter from Hero could be launched sometime mid next year.

Ionex-compatible 22 Motors Flow: Rs 74,740

22 Motors in collaboration with Kymco will be launching its very own Ionex battery swapping stations in India next year. Rather than introducing an all-new e-scooter, the company will incorporate the battery swapping feature in the Flow which is currently on sale in the country. So, if you’re running low on juice, the scooter's twin lithium-ion battery setup can be easily removed and charged via a home charger. Additionally, 22 Motors will set up fast-charging stations in Delhi where customers can charge the Flow within an hour for a nominal amount of Rs around Rs 20 to 30.

Vespa Electrica: Rs 4 lakh

The scooter that was first showcased at EICMA 2016 finally makes it to the production floor, well, at least in the European countries. The company states that it will expand orders to US and Asian markets by early 2019. Piaggio has been studying the Indian market and infrastructure for a while now and seems to be waiting for EV regulations befitting the electric two-wheeler segment in India.

Its first EV entrant in the country would be the Vespa Electrica which is powered by a 4.0kW electric motor that generates 5.4PS of power. As per the manufacturer, the e-scooter can be fully charged within 4 hours and can deliver a range of 100km per charge. The Electrica features two power modes - ECO and Power, which is displayed on its smartphone compatible full-colour TFT display. On the contrary, you can also opt for the ‘X’ variant which has an impressive claimed range of 200km. To achieve this feat, the X variant uses a generator which essentially amplifies its range.

In terms of design, scooter retains the same classic retro look that Vespas is famous for, albeit, with a unique metallic grey paint job. It will be offered in six colours options - Verde Boreale, Giallo Lampo, Nero Profondo, Cromo and Grigio Fumo.

Source: zigwheels.com