Ather bikes in India (3)

autocar.india

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With your very limited weekly running, the extra cost you'll pay upfront while buying an electric two-wheeler over a petrol-powered one will take quite some time to recover. While petrol today surely is costly, you will not spend much on fuel every month. Petrol-powered scooters also have wider dealer networks and easy spares, handy when you use it irregularly. One point to bear in mind will be that servicing an ICE vehicle will be slightly more expensive on a yearly basis. If you are leaning towards an EV, that is also a credible option so long as you have a socket where you park. However, you'll be buying it for the smoothness and silent running not savings at your usage. Depending on which sort of powertrain you want in your next purchase, make your decision and we've provided some of the highest rated scooters available in India today. In the ICE scooter segment, options like Honda Activa 110 / 125, TVS Jupiter 110 / 125 and Suzuki Access / Burgman Street would be our top picks. Whereas, in the electric scooter segment, options like TVS iQube, Bajaj Chetak, Ather Rizta and Vida VX2 are proven, reliable machines we'd recommend.

autocar.india

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There are plenty of options in the electric scooter market that will comfortably meet your needs. We'd recommend you choose from reputed options like TVS iQube, Bajaj Chetak, Ather Rizta and Vida VX2. All of them are offered in a range of variants with different battery capacities, so pick an option with a battery capacity in the 3kWh - 3.5kWh ballpark.Our advice would be to take test rides of all four and pick the option you get along with the best. Try to choose an option with a service centre or showroom near you; this is an important factor in EV ownership.

autocar.india

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Since you have a comfortable budget, our recommendation would be the TVS iQube S 4.7 / ST 5.3 variants, because they have big batteries which should comfortably help you cover multiple days' worth of riding on a single charge. The iQube is a proven, no-nonsense product from a big, reputed brand and TVS also has a widespread service network among EV scooters, which will matter more than spec-sheet numbers and feel-good farkles when you’ll use it every day. While the iQube's performance won't blow you away, its comfort, practicality and stress-free nature are sure to compensate for that.If performance is your number one priority and you can live with less comfort, the Ather 450S/450X are exciting options. However, given your long daily commutes, do bear in mind, it will demand serious commitment day after day, especially over bad roads. If you must have an electric motorcycle form at this budget, the Revolt RV400 is the most settled option, but neither its performance nor its range are attributes to write home about. The e-bike space is still very nascent and our recommendation today is to buy an electric scooter over them.

autocar.india

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Both the TVS iQube and Ather Rizta are accomplished electric scooters with very few factors to pick between them in terms of the product proposition they present. The iQube is as straightforward and fuss-free as an electric scooter can get in comparison to a petrol option, and if this is your first EV, it would make for a smooth transition. There are five variants available within the iQube lineup, and we'd recommend choosing between the 3.1 / 3.5 models for your daily 45km commute.Where the iQube is the straightforward choice in the EV arena, the Rizta doesn't lag too far behind. Ather's first family e-scooter is comfortable, practical and has more tech than machines three times the price (if you're into that sort of thing). The small 2.9 battery variants can return close to or just above 100km real-world range, which should be more than enough for your use case. Do bear in mind that the S 2.9 variant has a simpler LCD display and doesn't have Ather's Magic Twist regenerative braking system and traction control. This model also comes with a very slow charger, meaning you'll need to plug it in overnight for a full charge.A test ride of both will help you decide which is the better option for you. Whichever option you decide to go for, make sure you have a service centre nearby, that's a key factor in EV ownership because a roadside mechanic can't really fix much when it breaks down, as most functions are electronically controlled.

autocar.india

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For your particular use case, the Hero Splendor XTEC 2.0 would perhaps be the most fuss-free and easy to own machine. Considering the rigors of your profession, you need something that's hardy, frugal and easy to fix when things go sideways - attributes that define the Splendor to the T. At the same time, its hard to ignore the practicality of the TVS Jupiter 110, especially the 33 litre boot, which can accommodate a lot. However, comfort and fuel economy will not be as high as the Splendor. And since fuel economy is an important consideration for you, we'd recommend you also consider the Bajaj Freedom CNG motorcycle. Sure, it has its quirks, but if you want low running costs, then the Freedom is hard to top. In the EV segment, you will get options that can give you 80-90km real world range at real world speeds (read: above 50kph) on a single charge like the TVS iQube 3.1, Bajaj Chetak 3001 and Ather Rizta S 2.9. In their eco modes, you may be able to cross 100km, but your maximum speed will be capped at 35-40kph and it won't be feasible for the time-sensitive nature of your job.Pick between these options depending on what strong points matter the most to you.

autocar.india

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Currently, the electric bike market in India has very limited options under the Rs. 2 lakh mark and even among those, none of them have proven to be compelling alternatives to ICE motorcycles. We'd strongly recommend you consider an electric scooter instead because it will give you the benefits of an EV like low running costs and the comfort of home charging while bringing in practical features like a large underseat storage area. Specifically, options like the TVS iQube, Ather Rizta, Bajaj Chetak and Vida VX2 should be at the top of your shopping list. Take test rides of each and pick a variant with the battery capacity which suits your daily use case and also covers unexpected occurrences.

autocar.india

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The River Indie is an impressive electric scooter and will serve you nicely. It is a large, spacious and comfortable machine that focuses on maximising utility rather than frilly features. Its 43 litre underseat storage is the largest on an electric scooter today and can swallow a lot of daily essentials like groceries, a backpack, a large helmet and also have space for the charger. The only thing to be mindful of is its size and weight, because if you are of a shorter stature, then the Indie's size could potentially prove to be too big for you. In that case, we would recommend you opt for one of these three - TVS iQube, Bajaj Chetak and Ather Rizta. Make sure you take a test ride of these before you decide to go ahead with your purchase, so you can make an informed decision.

autocar.india

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In the electric two-wheeler market, our top recommendations today are the TVS iQube, Bajaj Chetak, Ather Rizta and Vida VX2 models. These come with the peace of mind of being backed by a larger manufacturer and are products that have proven their worth over the numerous years they've been on sale. Picking between them will boil down to which product you prefer and which company's touch point (both sales and service) is near your residence. Since your daily running isn't too high, pick a variant with a battery capacity around 3kWh which should be more than sufficient. We'd recommend a test ride of all products you shortlist before you make a decision.

autocar.india

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Since you have a rather long daily commute, we'd recommend going with an electric scooter with a battery capacity of 3kWh or more. In that space, you have options like multiple variants of the TVS iQube and Bajaj Chetak models. Both are reliable, dependable, comfortable, practical and no-nonsense offerings that come from established companies. You can also look at the Ather Rizta, although in your budget, you'll probably only get the base S 2.9 variant, which has a slightly lower range than the other two, although it should still suffice for your needs. A test ride of these three is imperative before you make a decision.

autocar.india

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Since you said you like the Ather 450 X but it's out of your budget, we'd recommend taking a look at the 450S. It loses out on some techy features and the more exciting Warp mode you'll get on the 450X, but the rest of the chassis remains the same. You also have the same 90kph top speed on both, and its Sport mode is pretty engaging too.However, for daily usage, we've found the Ather 450 models to be a tad sporty and cramped, so unless performance outweighs practicality for you, we'd steer you toward more practical options like the Rizta, Bajaj Chetak 35 models and the TVS iQube range. Since you've also ridden the River Indie, that could be a great option if practicality is your paramount requirement.You need to decide what matters the most to you, performance or practicality and comfort, and take a call accordingly.