Electric Vehicles

Subterms

    More stories

    • 138 Shares179 Views

      in Electric Cars

      Xiaomi Lamborghini Electric Go Kart Launched at Approx Rs 1.1 Lakh

      by

      The Huracan-inspired Nine-bot Go-kart Pro Lamborghini Edition can attain a top speed of 40 kmph.
      Chinese electronic giant, Xiaomi has teamed up with Italian supercar giant Lamborghini to jointly develop a special edition of the Ninebot Go-Kart Pro which is fully electric. Xiaomi announced this development on the occasion of its 10th anniversary which is being celebrated this month.

      This new super go-kart is expected to be something more than just a sticker of a bull pasted on the body. Xiaomi and the Italian supercar marque have come together to develop a more potent form of the already existing standard go-kart which is supposed to take inspiration from Lamborghini’s Huracan. The new model will not only be quicker but is said to carry forward some supercar aesthetics from Lamborghini as well.
      Design of Ninebot Go-kart Pro Lamborghini Edition
      The images show the Ninebot GoKart Pro Lamborghini Edition wearing the sports car manufacturer’s Giallo Orion colour. At the front, it dons ‘Ice Lake Blue’ LED headlamps which is very useful if one intends to drift in dark. It also gets an audio emulation system that gives a proper feeling of how a Lamborghini would actually sound.
      [embedded content]
      It is powered by a 432 Wh battery pack that gives an impressive performance of 25 kms range or a 62 lap sprint across a 400m track. On the other hand, the standard go-kart offers a range of 22 km. The go-kart can attain a top speed of 25 miles per hour (40 kmph). Xiaomi claims that it can hold masses up to 100kg which makes it possible for kids as well as adults to ride.
      Compared to the standard Ninebot Go-Kart, which is sold in the US by Segway, this Lamborghini Edition is way much swifter. Its top-speed is 4.8 kmph more than the standard go-kart. This special edition also comes with a Superleggera rear wing and a chin splitter. However, the biggest highlight remains the F1-inspired steering wheel which comes equipped with a functional digital speedometer and a red stripe centre for that added racer vibe.
      It also comes equipped with a four-speaker audio system which lets you enjoy your favourite tunes via Bluetooth connectivity. It also gets custom-made tyres which make it easier to drift. Both- the standard as well as the Lamborghini edition come with a foot brake and a handbrake.
      Price
      The Ninebot Go-Kart Pro Lamborghini Edition has been priced at $1,500 USD which roughly translates to INR 1.10 lakh. This is about $200 more than the standard version. It will be sold exclusively in China, at least initially, though it is expected to reach a wider audience in the future. More

    • 138 Shares99 Views

      Revolt Electric Motorcycle Mumbai Showroom Opens – Price From Rs 90k

      by

      Revolt RV400 will now be available in Mumbai at the company’s first Hub in Andheri (West)
      Gurugram based, Revolt Intellicorp, a new entrant into the electric two wheeler space in India, has opened a new dealership in Andheri West in Mumbai. This is the 6th such dealership opened in India, following its presence in 5 cities of Delhi, Pune, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, and Chennai. It is from this new Hub that the company will cater to demands of buyers in and around Mumbai. Called the ‘Revolt Hub’, the company will sell the Revolt RV400 and RV300.
      Revolt RV400 and RV300 Price and Booking

      The RV400, launched in August 2019, is first electric motorbike that comes in with cutting edge design and technology. It has seen outstanding demand in the cities where it has been launched. Revolt RV 300 is as entry level electric commuter motorcycle.
      Revolt RV400 is offered in two variants – RV400 Base and RV 400 Premium priced at Rs.98,999 and Rs.1,08,999 respectively while the RV300 is priced at Rs.89,999. The Revolt RV400 can be booked at Rs.3,999, a onetime booking amount on the company website, along with an EMI of Rs.3,999 for 38 months. Revolt RV300 is offered at a booking amount of Rs.2,999 along with EMIs of Rs.2,999 per month for 36 months.

      Both the Revolt electric motorcycles get LED head and tail lamps, LED DRLs and connected technology via smartphone app offering geo-fencing, vehicle status and live tracking, etc. The bikes receive a fully digital instrument panel with Bluetooth connectivity. Braking and suspension is via USD front forks and monoshock at the rear along with standard 240mm front and rear disc brakes with RBS – Regenerative Braking System. The RV400 sits on 17 inch alloy wheels and offered in colours of Rebel Red and Cosmic Black colour options.
      Power
      Revolt RV400 is packed with power. It gets a 72 volt lithium-ion battery offering 3.24 kWh allowing for a range of 150 kms on single charge and a top speed of 85 km/h. RV300 uses a 2.7 kWh battery pack and gets a range of 80 km and top speed of 65 km/h. Revolt Motors offers a removable battery so that it can be charged either at home or at office via a 15 amp charger. It can also be charged at any Revolt Switch Stations in 60 seconds while a full battery charge is possible in 4.5 hours.
      The company is also offering unlimited battery warranty of 8 years or 1,50,000 kms, product warranty of 5 years or 75,000 kms and free maintenance benefits of 3 years or 30,000 kms along with 1 year company owned and 5 years third party insurance.
      Revolt RV400 Ready for Orders
      Revolt Intellicorp had initially planned entry into Mumbai in March 2020. However, the COVID-19 pandemic delayed such plans. Now that normalcy is being restored across the country, the company is working on new orders coming in from the ‘Revolt Hub’ in Mumbai. Production has commenced at the company plant in Gurugram as per Government of India orders and expects to see some form of normalcy in terms of production and timely deliveries to customers.
      Revolt RV400 and RV300 see no direct competition in the electric motorcycle segment as all the other offerings are scooters. More

    • 150 Shares169 Views

      Ather 450 Electric Scooter Referral Program Launched – Benefits of Rs 2,500

      by

      The Referral Program is live in Bengaluru and Chennai – Extend privilege to friends and earn brownie points
      Ather Energy has announced a Referral Program for the Ather 450 electric scooter. Currently exclusively on offer in Bengaluru and Chennai, the program will benefit existing and new customers with monetary credits worth Rs.2,500.

      As a part of this new program, Ather Energy will allow its existing electric scooter owners to share a referral code with friends. In the event of any purchase made via this code, the referrer and new buyer will both receive monetary credits to the tune of Rs.2,500.
      Along with India’s first lease program and referral program, Ather also introduced easy ownership with the exchange of any petrol two wheeler for the Ather 450. It also gains advantage of all fiscal incentives offered by the State and Central Governments while the Ather Forum of buyers have been the company’s strongest supporters and critics which has taking the company ahead in the race of electric scooters in the country.
      The company has also confirmed that delivery periods have been reduced to 3 weeks. This could be another reason why buyers will find the Ather 450 a more viable purchase.

      Ather Energy introduced the 450 electric scooter in 2018 which was followed by a new flagship model called Ather 450X in 2020. This e-scooter is presented in three colours of grey, green and white. It is powered by a 6kW PMSM motor with a 2.9 kWh battery pack and gets 4 riding modes of Eco, Ride, Sport and Warp. Under the Warp mode, the Ather 450X can accelerate from 0 to 40 km/h in 3.3 seconds making it the quickest electric scooter in its segment. Owners can opt for two performance pack options of Pro and Plus. Each pack is specifically designed to offer a range of connected and riding capabilities.
      Features
      Ather 450X gets a 4G SIM card, Wi-Fi connectivity with Bluetooth, a 7 inch touchscreen dashboard with colour depth of 16M and Snapdragon Quad Core processor. The e-scooter uses Android Open Source for map navigation while on board diagnostics and features include over-the-air updates, auto indicator off and guide-me-home lamps.
      Tarun Mehta, CEO, Ather Energy
      The mobile app offers ride statistics, charging status and navigation updates along with theft and tow detection and live location. Vehicle tracking, voice assist and welcome lamps are also a part of its features. The Ather App also allows the 450X to support accessories like smart helmets and tyre pressure monitoring system.
      The Ather 450X can be charged via smart charging Ather Grids set up at malls, cafes, supermarkets and tech parks in Chennai and Bengaluru which will also be expanded to other cities. It was launched in India at a starting price of Rs.99,000. This price included the ownership of the scooter and for battery leasing. On the other hand if buyers wanted an outright purchase, the full price is at Rs.1.49 lakhs and Rs.1.59 lakhs for the Plus and Pro packs which excludes insurance and registration costs but includes the battery ownership.
      Ather Energy CEO, Tarun Mehta has revealed on Twitter that the company will be expanding the Ather e-scooters to new cities. Hyderabad will get the new 450X in September while launch in Pune and Mumbai is planned by the end of this year. Ather Grid fast chargers will be set up across Ahmedabad with launch in Surat scheduled for sometime in 2021. More

    • 113 Shares99 Views

      Honda Activa Electric Launch Plans Dismissed – Official Confirmation

      by

      Honda believes that abruptly converting a successful ICE product (such as the Activa) to electric will backfire
      The Indian automotive industry is gradually shifting focus to all-electric and ‘cleaner’ vehicles in the affordable segment. At the moment, there are only three desirable EVs in the four-wheeler category: Tata Nexon EV, MG ZS EV and Hyundai Kona.

      On the other hand, Mahindra Electric is readily the eXUV300 as a direct rival to Tata Motors’ Nexon EV. Maruti Suzuki will join the party as well with the WagonR Electric (final name could be different).
      However, it appears that two-wheelers (especially scooters) showcase the best potential for electric powertrains. Bangalore-based Ather Energy has set a high benchmark for a modern electric two-wheeler and many brands are trying to implement a similar formula in their new emission-free offerings. Among mainstream brands, Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor Company have got the Chetak and iQube, respectively.

      Honda Activa is India’s best selling scooter
      Yet many are waiting for Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) to launch an all-electric version of the country’s bestselling scooter, Activa. In fact, many have retrofitted capable (and arguably better) electric power plants in the Honda Activa over the years. It was only recently that we shared such an interesting example from Pune-based Northway Motorsport.
      No official plans for a Honda Activa Electric
      In an interview with ET Auto, Atsushi Ogata (MD, President & CEO of Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India) confirmed that buyers cannot expect an all-electric Honda Activa avatar in the foreseeable future. The Japanese automaker believes that it is very risky to convert a successful petrol-CVT scooter to all-electric in short notice.
      Furthermore, it will lay an immense burden on HMSI’s supply network and production facilities. This is applicable for any brand which has a strong ICE proposition in its portfolio.
      There are no plans to introduce an electric Activa variant alongside the current BS6 model either since present-day technologies make it difficult to price equivalent ICE and EV products in close proximity. The company looks forward to mass-volume sales for EVs and in today’s scenario, this is quite a task to achieve. HMSI aims to wait it out until battery systems fall in pricing and charging infrastructure becomes more efficient.
      However, the company might experiment with electric two-wheeler technologies higher up on the price ladder. Multiple rumours suggest that HMSI would bring down the PCX Electric to our market to compete against the likes of Ather models. In Japan, the EV is available only via a leasing scheme. In the budget or ‘low speed’ class, brands such as Hero Electric, Ampere Vehicles, Okinawa Scooters, etc., are finding a good number of takers. More

    • 100 Shares119 Views

      Revolt Electric Mumbai Launch Confirmed in Latest Teaser

      by

      Mumbai will be the sixth city in India, where Revolt has their electric motorcycle on sale
      When Revolt Motors got in on the action, they started in a phased manner. Operations started first in Pune, and Delhi, followed by Ahmedabad, Chennai, and Hyderabad. While initial plans pointed to a Mumbai launch in March end, Covid-19 pandemic related lockdown warranted industry-wide launch revisions. The wait is now over, and business in Mumbai starts in a few days (expected launch date 30th August).

      Following launch in August 2019, Revolt RV400 electric price was revised to Rs 1,03,999, ex-sh, up 5k from Rs 98,999, ex-sh introductory price. Applicable to the one time payment option, customers need to take into account one time booking amount of Rs 3,999. Other costs include registration/RTO (On Actuals) + Insurance + Smart Card + One-time mandatory charge of 4G connectivity for 3 years.
      Revolt RV400 warranty
      Revolt RV400 is available with unlimited battery warranty (8 years or 150,000 kms), free maintenance benefits (3years or 30,000kms), product warranty (5 years or 75,000 kms) and insurance (1-year company owned, 5 years third-party). Battery warranty, and for that matter, drive range anxiety are considerable buyer concerns at this stage when the EV industry finds few customers. To make things simple, Revolt sells RV400 premium variant, and RV300 base variant. The premium variant is offered in 4 sound options for the bike – Revolt, Rebel, Roar, and Rage.

      Revolt Electric Motorcycle. File photo.
      For now, Revolt has a clear advantage in the market. As an early mover, the company is able to advance without any competition, and is paving the way for the segment to exist being a lone electric motorcycle available on sale in the country.
      Other electric motorcycles that have been shown either as ready to be launched or as concept include Tork T6X, Hero AE-47, Okinawa Oki100, One Electric Kridn, Benling electric bike, and Evolet Hawk amongst others. As the segment develops, it’s evident that a range of new companies are entering the market.
      Revolt RV300 features a 1.5kW hub motor, 60-volt, 2.7 kWh lithium-ion battery, and RV400 runs on a 3kW motor mounted inside the frame with a 72-volt, 3.24 kWh battery. Revolt RV400 ground clearance stands at 215 mm. The portable battery setup in use can be fully charged (0-100 percent) in 4.5 hours, and uses 3 units of electricity through a 15 Ampere socket.
      Revolt RV400 high-speed 2-wheeler segment
      From the outset, Revolt had introduced a subscription model that required no down payment. RV300 is available for Rs 2,999 per month and RV400 is on sale at 3,999 per month. As partial sales resumed in July 2020, Revolt Motors has posted sales of less than 200 units in both June, and July 2020.
      In the high-speed 2-wheeler segment, Revolt RV300 and RV400 faces no direct competition as yet as all other offerings are scooters. FADA reported retail segment sales (others including EV) at 1,380 units for July 2020. 2020 YTD sales sees high-speed scooter sales from multiple manufacturers exceed that of the Revolt motorcycles. More

    • 188 Shares169 Views

      in Electric Cars

      Hyundai Kona Electric owner does 403 kms Road Trip in Kerala – With AC On

      by

      Even after completing the journey of over 400 kms, the car showed that there was still enough charge to do another 40 kms
      Even though costly as compared to their fossil fuel powered counterparts, electric cars offer a range of benefits. There are not many electric car owners in India, but there are many who aspire to become one. The main reason holding most buyers back, is the range curiosity and charging infrastructure.

      To help consumers understand the range of electric cars in India, some owners have shared detailed videos about real world drive range, service costs, etc. Now, a Hyundai Kona electric owner from Kerala, via YouTube Channel ‘Kona Kerala’ has shared their experience of driving the car from Trivandrum to Calicut, a distance of around 400 km.
      Trivandrum to Calicut – Journey details
      The journey begins at a Hyundai dealership in Trivandrum and ends at a Hyundai dealership in Calicut. The purpose of this journey was to find out the actual range of Kona EV. The ARAI-claimed range of Kona is 452 km, making it the longest range EV in the country. In comparison, Tata Nexon has a range of 312 km whereas MG ZS EV can travel 340 km on a single charge. Recently, a Nexon EV owner had posted their range experience with the car, which came out to be 170-180 km on a single charge.

      Hyundai Kona EV owner shares stats / experience
      Talking about Kona’s 400 km journey, the car starts with a full charge from the Trivandrum dealership and reaches the bypass road after travelling for 69 km. Most roads in Kerala are two-lane and the ones near cities and towns are usually crowded. To save battery, the vlogger utilizes Kona’s special feature where the driver’s side AC can function independently. This saves battery without compromising comfort when driving alone. After driving for 103 km, the battery was at 80 percent.
      At 161 km, the battery consumption was at 34 percent and the available range showed 209 km on the instrument cluster. As the car enters Kochi, it is faced with traffic jams. However, it does not have any major impact on battery consumption, as energy use is low when the car is idling. When the battery level showed 50 percent, Kona had travelled a distance of 233 km. Available range was displayed at 160 km. Watch the detailed video below.

      [embedded content]

      When it started getting dark, Kona was around 112 km away from its destination. The car performed well in night time conditions and reached the Hyundai dealership in Calicut with 7 percent battery still remaining.
      Cost-effective in the long run
      Overall, Kona travelled 409 km in this journey on a single charge. If we consider the 7 percent remaining battery, it shows that Kona’s real world range is quite close to its claimed range of 452 km.
      However, Kona may not be for everyone, as it is quite expensive at Rs 26 lakh, on-road. Nonetheless, Kona can still be cost-effective in the long run, as charging and maintenance cost is significantly less in comparison to that of ICE powered cars. More

    • 163 Shares99 Views

      Okinawa R30 Electric Scooter Launch Price Rs 59k – Top speed 25 kmph

      by

      Okinawa R30 is a low speed e-scooter with a top speed of 25 km/h
      Electric two wheeler makers, Okinawa Autotech has launched the new R30 e-scooter at a price of Rs.58,992. Pre-bookings have opened at a token amount of Rs.2,000 and even though the e-scooter is positioned in the lower speed segment of 25 km/h, it sees an interesting amount of on board features and equipment.

      Okinawa R30 is presented in five colour options of Pearl White, Glossy Red, Metallic Orange, Sea Green, and Sunrise Yellow. It gets a large stylish headlamp mounted on its apron, alloy wheels, a fully digital instrument display and body coloured floor mats.

      Front turn indicators are located on the handlebar with position lamps and there is also a decent sized tail lamp cluster. The e-scooter sports a large grab rail and comfortable seating. The R30 gets maximum payload of 150 kgs and ability to climb an inclination of 7 degrees. It gets low seat height of 735mm and ground clearance of 160mm allowing for an efficient ride in city conditions.
      Specs
      Okinawa R30 electric scooter is powered by a detachable 1.25 kWh lithium ion battery pack. It offers a range of around 60 kms and is chargeable upto 100 percent in 4-5 hours. It gets a micro charger with Auto Cut facility while the electric motor is a 250 W rated BLDC unit. Top speed stands at 25 km/h. The removable battery comes in with a 3 year warranty while the 250 W BLDC electric motor gets 3 years/30,000 km warranty whichever is earlier.

      Okinawa R30 Performance Specs
      Suspension and braking on the Okinawa R30 e-scooter is via conventional telescopic forks in the front and dual shock absorbers at the rear and drum brakes at both ends with E-ABS (Electronic Assisted Braking System) with a regenerative system. Okinawa R30 will compete with the mid-spec Ampere and Hero electric scooter models current on sale in the country.

      Okinawa R30 Technical Specs
      In view of the current COVID-19 situation in the country, Okinawa has introduced home delivery of all its products in Bengaluru. This doorstep delivery service is free of cost and introduced exclusively for buyers in Bengaluru on a pilot project. It will replicate this service in other cities across the country based on the response it receives in Bengaluru.
      The coronavirus pandemic led to the delay of the company’s first electric motorcycle – Oki100. It was showcased at the 2018 Auto Expo in concept format and is pitched to be a fully made in India product. Initially plans were to launch the Oki 100 in the second quarter – July – September period but now launch has been pushed ahead to the third quarter of this year.
      The company had also showcased an electric maxi-scooter called the Cruiser at the 2020 Auto Expo which is expected to launch in India later this year. It gets power via a 3kW, brushless motor offering a top speed of 100 km/h. It promises to come in with a range of 120 kms on a single charge and will be offered with a high speed charger which can charge up the battery in 2-3 hours. More

    • 100 Shares99 Views

      Bajaj Chetak Electric Scooter based Husqvarna EV imagined

      by

      Bajaj Auto had confirmed that a performance-focused electric scooter (based on the Chetak EV) will come under KTM and Husqvarna
      Bajaj Auto has a strong portfolio of single-cylinder sports motorcycles under its wings, in the form of KTM India and Husqvarna Motorcycles India. Husqvarna is relatively new to the Indian market and has only two products on offer: Svartpilen 250 and Vitpilen 250. They are essentially a KTM 250 Duke inside, with extra attention to detail on the outside. Husqvarna Motorcycles India will eventually bring down its ‘200’ and ‘401’ models.

      KTM India has already set a high standard in India’s single-cylinder motorcycle segment. In fact, the all-new KTM 390 Adventure is arguably the best single-cylinder product on our market today. It is not news that the Austrian automaker is working on a new ~500cc twin-cylinder engine that would eventually come to the next range of KTM, Bajaj and Husqvarna models.
      Meanwhile, Bajaj Auto has started experimenting on the other side of the spectrum. The Chakan-based two-wheeler manufacturer’s Chetak EV makes more sense than a conventional petrol-CVT alternative such as a Honda Activa in urban environments. At the moment, electric powertrains showcase the highest potential in the scooter segment. Hence, Bajaj Auto plans to introduce sportier counterparts of the Chetak EV platforms under KTM and Husqvarna nameplate.

      Digital render
      Electric Vehicle Web has shared an interesting render of a possible Husqvarna e-scooter. The styling follows principles set by KISKA, the design firm behind Husqvarna’s modern-day aesthetics. The emission-free scooter carries the right amount of quirkiness and funkiness but may not impress the average Indian buyer who has poor taste in automotive aesthetics.
      Features
      Notable details include dual-tone black/white paint scheme with Lime Green (fluorescent green) highlights, dark grey 5-spoke alloy wheels, disc brakes, round full-LED headlamp, tall flyscreen, two-step seating, extended floorboard, hub-mounted motor, etc. The production model, which should become a reality in the near future, is expected to generate around 4kW (5.36bhp) and 16Nm while coupled to a 3kWh battery pack.
      Stefan Pierer, CEO of KTM Industries AG, confirms that a 48V e-scooter platform is being considered for mass production in India. Coming under ‘Urban E-Mobility strategy’, the EV will be of offered in two formats (with varied output and features). Most likely, only the shell will change between KTM India and Husqvarna Motorcycles India’s versions of the same.
      To surpass the bars set by current e-scooters, one can expect it to feature a touchscreen instrument console, multiple riding modes, fast-charging and even swappable battery units. In India, Ather Energy products will be the benchmark to meet. More