Kinetic Green, the same Kinetic that was responsible for the Luna and Kinetic-Honda scooters of yesteryear, has today launched a new electric scooter. Called the Kinetic Zulu, it is the fourth model in the company's lineup and is intended to be a simple, no-frills urban runabout. The price, however, is Rs 94,990 (ex-showroom, Mumbai, after FAME-2 subsidy), which places it up there with the Ola S1 X, which offers considerably more performance and features.
- 2.1kW hub motor, 60kph top speed
- 2.27kWh battery, 104km claimed range
- Digital LCD screen, LED DRL
Propelling the Zulu is a hub motor, which is what we see on most low-cost electric two-wheelers. In this case, it is rated for 2.1kW peak power, which gives it a claimed top speed of 60kph. As a result, gradeability is also a modest 7 degrees; for reference, something like the Ola S1 X has a gradeability of 15 degrees and a top speed of 90kph, courtesy of a more powerful 6kW motor. On the upside, the Zulu's motor only has to propel a light 93kg scooter, and so it should make for a fairly approachable and manageable little thing.
The battery pack is the single most costly component on an electric scooter, so it's no surprise to see a fairly small 2.27kWh unit here, which is good for an IDC range of 104km. This should translate to around 70-75km in the real world, which is on the lower side, but should still be enough for most people's daily needs. What's interesting here is that the battery pack is oil-cooled, and this has allowed Kinetic to offer some rapid charging rates. It will charge up to 80 percent in just 30 minutes using the standard charger plugged into a 15-amp socket.
In terms of other hardware, you get a telescopic fork, twin shock absorbers, disc brakes at both ends, and 10-inch wheels. The features list is short and sweet, with a simple LCD unit, an LED DRL and a storage space on the back of the apron. While electric mobility is currently at the cutting edge of personal transportation, the Zulu cuts a rather dated figure, with a fairly uninspiring design.
As far as its place in the market is concerned, the only other mainstream e-scooter in this price range is the Ola S1 X. In terms of petrol scooters, the Zulu will go up against the Honda Activa 125, Suzuki Access and TVS Jupiter 125. The Zulu is also available for purchase online on Flipkart and Amazon, and it is also being offered with a battery subscription model. In this case, you purchase the scooter without the battery pack at a cost of around Rs 69,000, and then pay Rs 800 per month as a subscription cost for the battery.
Kinetic hopes to sell 1 million EVs by 2029. To achieve this, it will follow up the launch of the Zulu with the much talked about e-Luna in 2024, followed by a high-speed electric scooter thereafter.
Azaman Chothia
Vishal Venugopal
