Updated TVS iQube vs rivals: price, specifications comparison

We pit the 2022 TVS iQube against its peers in terms of specifications and price.

Published On May 20, 2022 04:20:00 PM

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TVS iQube, Bajaj Chetak, Ola S1, Ather 450 Plus collage image

TVS has updated its iQube electric scooter with new colours and variants, a larger battery pack with better range, and more features. It continues to go up against the Bajaj Chetak, Ather 450 Plus and 450X and the Ola S1 Pro electric scooters in the Indian market. Read on to see how it stacks up against the competition in terms of specs and price.

TVS iQube vs rivals: electric motor, battery and charging

Electric motor, battery and charging
	TVS iQube S/iQube ST	Bajaj Chetak	Ather 450 Plus/450X	Ola S1 Pro
Peak motor output	4.4kW	4.1kW	5.4/6kW	8.5kW
Continuous motor output	3kW	3.8kW	3.3kW	5.5kW
Rated torque	33Nm	16Nm	22/26Nm	58Nm
Top speed	78/82kph	80kph	80kph	90/115kph
Battery capacity	3.04/4.56kWh	3kWh	2.9kWh	2.98/3.97kWh
Claimed range	100/145km	95km	100/116km	121/135km
Charging time	0-80% in 4.5 hours (650 W)/ 2.5 hours (1.5kW)	0-80% in 3.5 hours (home charger)	0-80% in 3 hrs 35 min (home charger)	0-100% in 4 hrs 48 min/ 6.5 hours (home charger)

While the updated iQube retains the same electric motor with a 4.4kW peak output as the previous model, it now boasts of larger battery packs. Where the outgoing model featured a 2.2kWh battery, the new iQube and iQube S get a 3.04kWh battery, while the top-spec ST variant gets an even larger 4.56kWh battery. This has resulted in the iQube ST having the best claimed on-road range of 145km in this comparison. The iQube ST is also the only one here that comes with a 1.5kW fast charger.

Bajaj’s Chetak has the lowest peak power output, torque and claimed range here. However, its 3kWh battery is slightly larger than the 450 Plus’ and S1’s, while its 80kph claimed top speed is on par with the Ather.

The Ather is the second most powerful here in terms of peak output but it gets the smallest battery pack (2.9kWh). However, it betters the Bajaj in terms of range, despite having a more powerful motor.

The Ola S1 Pro, meanwhile, is comfortably the most powerful one here, with a peak output of 8.5kW and torque of 58Nm. Unsurprisingly then, it also has the highest top speed of 115kph. The S1 Pro gets a large 3.97kWh battery and 135km of claimed real world range, the latter of which is only bettered by the TVS in this comparison.

TVS iQube vs rivals: dimensions and underpinnings

Dimensions and underpinnings
	TVS iQube/S/ST	Bajaj Chetak	Ather 450 Plus/450X	Ola S1 Pro
Wheelbase	1301mm	-	-	1370mm
Seat height	770mm	-	780mm	792mm
Ground clearance	157mm	-	-	165mm
Weight	117.2/118.8/128kg	-	108kg	121/125kg
Suspension (F/R)	Telescopic fork/hydraulic shocks	Trailing-link/monoshock	Telescopic fork/monoshock	Single fork/monoshock
Brakes (F/R)	220mm Disc/130mm Drum	Disc/Drum	200mm Disc/190mm Disc	220mm Disc/180mm Disc
Tyres (F/R)	90/90 R12	R12	90/90 R12	110/70 R12
Storage	17/32 litres	-	22 litres	36 litres

Overall dimensions-wise, the Ola S1 and S1 Pro are the largest scooters here as they trump the others in terms of wheelbase, seat height, ground clearance and storage space. It’s the TVS iQube ST that is the heaviest here, weighing in at 128kg, while the Athers are the lightest, at 108kg. All these electric scooters also run on 12-inch wheels but, it’s the Ola that gets the widest tyres.

The Ather and Ola have the advantage as far as the brakes are concerned, as both get disc brakes at the front and back, whereas the Bajaj and TVS get drum brakes at the rear.

Suspension duties on the TVS are handles by a telescopic fork up front and hydraulic shocks at the rear, while the Bajaj gets a simpler, trailing-link set-up up front but a monoshock at the rear. The Ather and Ola also get rear monoshocks, but where the Ather uses a conventional telescopic fork up front, the Ola makes do with a single-sided fork.

A point to be noted, some official specs of the Ather and Bajaj electric scooters are not available currently and hence have been left out. We will update this story once we get our hands on them.

TVS iQube vs rivals: price

Price
	TVS iQube/iQube S	Bajaj Chetak	Ather 450 Plus/450X	Ola S1 Pro
Price (on-road, Delhi)	Rs 98,564/ Rs 1.08 lakh*	Rs 1.53 lakh*	Rs 1.19 lakh/ Rs 1.38 lakh**	Rs 85,099/ Rs 1.20 lakh**

*On-road, Delhi, including subsidies ** Ex-showroom, Delhi, including subsidies

While TVS is yet to announce prices for the top-spec iQube ST, the base iQube costs Rs 98,564 while the iQube S is priced at Rs 1.08 lakh. In fact, despite all the new additions, the iQube’s starting price has actually seen a drop, which makes it a very compelling deal.

The Chetak is by far the most expensive electric scooter here, while the Ather 450 Plus, 450X and the Ola S1 Pro are priced in the middle of the pack.

It’s worth noting that while the prices for the iQube and Chetak are on-road, Delhi, and include the FAME-II subsidies, the Ather and Ola’s prices are ex-showroom, Delhi, with the FAME-II subsidy and do not account for insurance, road tax and registration charges.

So that’s how the updated TVS iQube compares to its rivals on paper. However, only a real-world comparison between theses electric scooters will determine which one is the best.

Also see:

2022 TVS iQube e-scooter: 5 things to know