The C2501 is the affordable electric scooter from Chetak, priced at Rs.1.05 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai, before subsidies). It gets two riding modes: Eco and Sport, and these modes are tuned for extracting maximum range rather than performance. Eco mode can get up to an indicated speed of 45kph, while the Sport mode can get up to an indicated speed of 60kph. The mode change can be made on the go using the D button.
- In Sport mode, the scooter covered 86.5km
- It has an efficiency of 34.6km/kWh
- The 750W charger tops up the flat battery in 3 hours
Chetak C2501 Real World Riding Range
For us, the performance in Eco mode felt like it was mainly tuned for crowded, narrow back roads or in stop-go traffic, so we decided to conduct our range test in the Sport mode.
We started the test with a fully charged battery and made our way through our testing loop within the streets of South Mumbai. With 100 percent, the range indicator was showing a range of 112km in Sport mode. During the test, we made sure to get a good mix of different road/riding conditions to mimic real world use cases for an electric scooter. After completing a little over 52km, the battery level dropped to 40 percent.
Almost throughout the test, the Chetak C2501 delivered consistent performance. It stayed in Sport mode till it reached 10 percent after which it switched to Eco mode. By the time the battery reached 5 percent, the scooter had entered limp mode (indicated by a tortoise on the dash) limiting the speed up to 35kph.
At the end of our test, when the range indicator and battery SOC meter on the display both ran out to zero, it had covered 84km. Even then the scooter kept running for an additional 2.5km. Eventually, the performance was noticeably reduced and that is when we decided to park it, and at that point it had covered 86.5km.
What community is saying on the Chetak?
The 750W charger can rapidly charge the scooter
The 750W off-board charger can charge the scooter from 0 percent to 100 percent in 3hr18min, which can come in handy in its day-to-day usage.
With these numbers, the Chetak C2501 electric scooter returned an efficiency of 34.6km/kWh, which is decent. As mentioned above, we ran the scooter only in Sport mode for this test, so using a mix of Eco and Sport modes can extend the range a little more. The C2501 can deliver decent riding range when cruising along with the traffic, rather than rushing through it.
Autocar India’s range testing
Before our real-world range test, the battery of our two-wheeler on test is fully charged, and we maintain tyre pressures as recommended by the manufacturer. The two-wheeler is then ridden in the city and highway (for electric two-wheelers that are capable of doing so), and we maintain certain average speeds while following the speed limit. The vehicle is then run until the battery is completely drained and it shuts down or does not go ahead even if the screen is on.
Vishal Venugopal
Ved Janve
Stephen Raj Antony
