Electric vehicles (EVs) were the talk of the town at the Auto Expo 2018. With the government pushing for electric cars and bikes, it was evident that we would witness much action at the 2018 Auto Expo – and we weren’t disappointed! From cruisers to superbike-rivalling motorcycles, there were many interesting electric vehicles displayed at this year’s show and we have picked the important ones out for you.
UM Renegade Thor
UM Motorcycles unveiled its first electric two-wheeler offering for India at the 2018 Auto Expo – the Renegade Thor. Staying true to the Renegade’s DNA, the Thor is a cruiser, too, albeit an electric one. With a Rs 9.9-lakh price tag, it also happens to be the most expensive electric motorcycle to go on sale in India.
The styling of the Thor is typical of a cruiser with flowing lines and dollops of chrome. It’s only when you see the electric motor placed under the faux fuel tank that you figure out it’s an electric bike. Powering the Thor is a 30kW motor which produces 70Nm of torque. The Thor is also the first electric cruiser in the world to feature a 5-speed gearbox. According to UM, the 5-speed gearbox (with a belt drive) reduces the load on the powerplant, which is beneficial in increasing the range of the bike. UM claims the Thor has a 270km range, 180kph top speed and 80 percent of the battery can be charged in 40min with the fast charger. Bookings for the Thor will start in April and deliveries will commence by end-2018.
Twenty Two Motors Flow
Twenty Two Motors launched its first electric scooter in India, called the Flow. Powering the Flow is a 2.1kW electric motor that delivers 90Nm of torque. This enables it to reach a top speed of 60kph. The Flow has been priced at Rs 74,740 and will be manufactured at Twenty Two Motors’ production facility in Rajasthan. It features an app-based geo-fencing security, which alerts the owner if the vehicle travels beyond the defined geographical boundaries – while also providing the option to immobilise the vehicle. The Flow tips the scale at 85kg and gets a Lithium-ion Battery that can be fully charged in five hours, delivering an 80km range. However, there is an option to carry an additional battery, which effectively doubles its range to 160km. It also gets features like a reverse gear, cruise control, a hill assist system, a drag function (to help push during a puncture) and regenerative braking.
TVS Creon
TVS added to its list of impressive concepts with the Creon electric scooter. The Creon – which shared the stage with the Zeppelin cruiser – could be TVS' first step in the electric scooter space, given that it wears the bike maker's legendary racing DNA on its sleeve. The first thing that will grab your attention is the sporty and sleek styling of the scooter, with sleek LED lights and dynamic LED indicators on the apron. Look closer and you will notice details like the TFT screen, aluminium perimeter frame and diamond-cut alloy wheels, which make the Creon look stunning. Powering the Creon is a 12kW electric motor which is good enough to propel the Creon from 0-60kmph in 5.1 seconds with a claimed range of 80km. It also gets a fast charging option that tops-up 80 percent of the battery in just an hour. For connectivity, TVS has partnered with Intel; the Creon features Cloud connectivity, three riding modes, regenerative braking, park assist, GPS, geo-fencing and safety/anti-theft features. In addition, it gets a smartphone charger and under-seat storage that can accommodate a full-face helmet. It also features a disc brake, at either end and gets single-channel ABS. Comprehensive, for a concept, right?
Emflux One
Leading the charge of electric two-wheelers at Auto Expo 2018, in terms of performance, was the Emflux One. Emflux claims the One is the performance equivalent of a middleweight sports bike. Supporting this claim is another one – how about a 0-100kph dash in 3sec and a top speed of 200kph? These figures have been claimed for the version kitted out with the optional (and lighter) carbon-fibre panels. It is powered by a 60kW motor which produces 84Nm and claimed city range of 200km. Highway range stands at 150km when ridden at 80kph. The battery pack itself is air-cooled and features battery cells developed by Samsung. Fast charging is available with a 0-80 percent charge completing in 1hr 15min. The bike showcased at the Auto Expo is a prototype and the production bike will be launched, next year with deliveries commencing from April 2019. The Emflux One has been priced at Rs 6 lakh and it will be made available in three variants. The bike also features a 7.0-inch TFT screen that displays real-time diagnostics and GPS. There’s also a HD camera to record your rides.
Honda PCX Electric
After showcasing the PCX scooter at the 2016 Auto Expo, Honda now displayed the PCX electric at its pavilion. In terms of styling, the PCX electric looks exactly same as its conventionally-powered sibling. The 0.98kW electric motor has been developed by Honda in-house, based on the feedback received from its four-wheeler electric vehicle division. An interesting feature is that the battery pack used to power the batteries is detachable and the rider can increase the range of the scooter, as there is a provision to carry two extra power packs to be stored under the seat. It features an all-LED headlight and a fully digital LCD instrument console. Honda has plans to launch the PCX electric in select Asian markets but it is highly unlikely that Honda will bring it to India.
Vespa Elettrica
Joining the electric bandwagon at Auto Expo 2018 was Piaggio, which showcased the Vespa Elettrica at its stall. Vespa designers have carried forward the iconic Vespa styling on the electric scooter and it gets a unique shade of chrome grey. At the heart of the Elettrica is an electric motor that manages to churn out 2kW of continuous power and 4kW of peak power. It’s offered in two variants with the ‘standard’ version having a range of 100km while the ‘X’ variant is capable of covering 200km in one full charge. The Vespa Elettrica X also gets a 4-stroke petrol engine, which acts like a generator for the lithium-ion battery unit. Vespa claims that the battery gets fully-charged in four hours. It’s equipped with a colour TFT display with smartphone connectivity. The Elettrica goes on sale in Europe, this year and it’s not expected to arrive in India, anytime soon.
Also see:
Best scooters at Auto Expo 2018
Auto Expo 2018 bikes and scooters image gallery