-Launch expected within a year
-Patent images indicate a new family scooter
-Will be eligible for the Government's PLI scheme
Vida, the electric vehicle arm of Hero MotoCorp, is developing a new, affordable scooter for the Indian market. This is likely to be the company’s family-oriented scooter and will be positioned below the Vida V1 and the Vida V1 Pro electric scooters. At present, competitors like Ola, Ather and TVS have electric scooters in the affordable end of the price spectrum and this portion constitutes a large chunk of the electric scooter sales in the country. Vida is hoping to make inroads into this segment with the new offering.
Recently, patent images of the said scooter have surfaced on the internet showcasing the design and other details. The front apron, for instance, looks sportier with its creases and centrally mounted headlight, likely an LED unit. The side profile reveals the practical side of the scooter’s design. There are large and flat panels, and it should translate to a big underseat storage area.
The scooter is likely to be based on the Vida V1’s platform and could feature removable batteries. At present, the Vida V1 uses two removable batteries with a total capacity of 3.94kWh and a real world range of 110km. The new scooter could also use the same 6kW (peak), 25Nm electric motor that powers the Vida V1.
The chassis is also likely derived from Vida V1. However, it will have a relatively basic suspension setup, with a coil spring unit at the front and rear. The scooter seems to be riding on 12-inch alloy wheels while the braking setup consists of a disc at the front and drum at the rear.
The scooter may not be as feature rich as the Vida V1 to keep costs in check. Speaking of, the scooter will be eligible for the Government PLI schemes. This will help Vida price the scooter quite competitively, which will be crucial considering the competition.
