The Bounce Infinity E1 electric scooter, with its swappable battery solutions, is an intriguing new e-scooter that hopes to offer an answer to many of our electric vehicle (EV) apprehensions. One of the biggest draws of electric scooters in India at the moment is the extremely frugal running costs that they offer. Bounce is hoping to solve the problem of the high price of competent high-performance electric scooters on the market, with its new Infinity E1 electric scooter. At Rs 68,999, it costs a little over half of what the Ather does, and also about on par with the average 110cc petrol scooter.
The scooter is unique because it offers customers the option of buying it without the battery and charger. In this case, the scooter can be purchased for as little as Rs 45,099. The battery pack and charger can be leased from Bounce, and customers can then use any of Bounce's battery swapping stations to exchange depleted batteries for fully charged ones. The swapping process is quick, and it is just like filling up a petrol scooter. It could be even slightly quicker, and this is a massive time-saving, as the average EV scooter takes a minimum of four hours to charge from empty to full.
However, Bounce’s subscription plan costs Rs 1,249 per month, and each swap then costs you an additional Rs 35. If you’re going to use this scooter for your daily commute, then you could be looking at 8 to 10 swaps a month. This means your running costs will be upwards of Rs 1,500 each month, and that’s quite a bit.
The Bounce Infinity E1 has a fairly humble spec sheet. The BLDC hub motor is rated at 2.2kW peak and 1.5kW nominal output, which is good enough for a claimed 65kph top speed. There’s a claimed 85Nm of torque, and this being an electric, it's all available right from the moment you set off. When you set off in Sport mode, you feel that instant electric torque. The scooter gets off the line with reasonable gusto and feels like it can carry its weight well up to about 40kph. Beyond this point, though, the rate of acceleration trails off quite considerably, and it's a long journey from here to the indicated 65kph top speed. The end result is that the E1 feels usable on smaller inner city roads, but regular use on larger and faster-moving roads is best avoided.
Bounce advertises the IDC range figure of 85km on its website, but claims a real-world range of around 50km in Sport mode and 60km in Eco mode. While there wasn't a chance to run it dry during this brief first ride, the E1 seemed on track to cover around 45-50km while being ridden almost entirely in Sport mode.
The scooter feels light and manageable. It has a reverse mode, which is quite commendable at this price point, and its 94kg kerb weight is very easy to handle. The ride comfort is reasonably alright, which is more than what can be said of some similarly priced competition.
In conclusion, the Bounce Infinity E1 electric scooter has an innovative solution to the problem of the high price of competent high-performance electric scooters on the market. However, customers need to consider the cost of Bounce’s subscription plan and battery swapping costs before making a purchase. The scooter is perfect for smaller inner-city roads, and its lightweight and manageable feel make it an ideal option for new and inexperienced riders
No comments:
Post a Comment