Life in Pune is happening, and always on the go. Pune is the second biggest city in Maharashtra and the seventh most populous city in India, renowned for its automobile and industrial industries. Pune has a huge number of people using their two-wheelers for commuting. However, from December 2020, up to January 2022, the range of the petrol price has gone up from Rs. 88 to currently Rs. 109. With the sky-rocketing fuel prices, there hasn’t been a better time than now, to re-think commuting options. In fact, in most of the cities in India not only there is a need, but also the potential to set a global example on the use of electric vehicles. To keep up with this fast-paced city one needs an electric scooter that complements one’s lifestyle. These days, there is a growing demand for electric bikes. People are exploring electric vehicle options based on certain benefits. Electric vehicles are around 3-5 times more efficient than internal combustion vehicles in utilising energy.
Even if electric vehicles run on electricity produced from fossil fuels, the overall efficiency of electric vehicles is still higher and the pollution is less. Further, to promote electric mobility, the Central and State government is providing incentives in the form of subsidies. The Maharashtra Government is even focusing on proposing to exempt Electric vehicles from road tax. The most noted benefit is its contribution towards environmental sustainability by reducing the carbon footprints and improving the air quality by reducing pollution.
The fuel cost is zero as these vehicles need to be recharged and not refuelled. Electric vehicles contribute towards a reduction in noise pollution, as they hardly make any noise. Electric vehicles run on batteries, so are low maintenance as compared to engine bikes. Electric motors can deliver high torque at low speeds. On the other hand, challenges pertaining to electric vehicles can’t be ignored. The biggest challenge currently is the lack of charging stations. Another aspect is a little higher initial cost of the vehicle. Still, investing in an electric scooter is a smart choice for all daily commuters. Various companies are manufacturing electric bikes. Some of them are Ather, Bajaj Chetak, Ola, TVS iQube, Pure EV, Hero Electric Photon, Okinawa to name a few. The comparison between the few trending ones is given below:
| Company | Ather | OLA | Simple | TVS | Bajaj | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model | 450 Plus | 450X | S1 | S1 Pro | One | iQube | Chetak |
| Range (in kms) | 70 | 85 | 121 | 181 | 236 | 75 | 95 |
| Peak Power(kW) | 5.4 | 6 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 7 | 4.4 | 4.08 |
| Power (kW) | 22 | 26 | 58 | 58 | 72 | 33 | 16 |
| Torque(Nm) | 2.23 | 2.9 | 2.98 | 3.97 | 4.8 | 2.25 | 3 |
| Capacity(kWh) | 3.9 | 3.3 | 3.6 | 3 | 2.95 | 4.2 | 4.5 |
| Speed (kmph) | 80 | 80 | 90 | 115 | 105 | 78 | 70 |
| Weight(in Kg) | 108 | 108 | 121 | 125 | 110 | 118 | 118 |
| Ex Showroom | 1,25,490 | 1,44,500 | 99,999 | 1,29,999 | 1,09,999 | 1,10,506 | 1,42,988 |
Ref: https://www.desidime.com/news/top-5-best-electric-scooters-in-india
No matter whichever electric scooter you choose, there are certain aspects that you need to keep in mind whilst using it. Don’t overload the scooter in terms of weight. Don’t accelerate while initiating your electric scooter. It is also advisable not to apply the brake immediately. Always have your vehicle insured. And remember to turn it off when not in use, say at the traffic signal. N that’s that. Your electric scooter is all maintained. Definitely for your safety, always wear a helmet. I am sure that in the near future all major cities in India will become the hub for electric vehicles. Go Electric is a future for India that will promote low-cost, environmentally friendly electrical products. So, Live it, Love it and Ride it. ZZZOOOPPPPP………….
Ms. Sarika Joshi
Proud Owner of TVS iqube electric scooter.