good motoring
Electric drive is here
H. Kishie Singh

THE Chinese have flooded the market with consumer goods in the last few years. They tried to break into the two-wheeler market but failed to make an entry. They have not given up because the Indian two-wheeler market is one of the fastest expanding markets.

Chinese companies Guanghou Motor Company and Zongchen Motorcycle Company will be initially zeroing in on West Bengal to sell their products.

Our very own Mahindra and Mahindra, well known for its jeeps and tractors, is also contemplating an entry into the two-wheeler market. They are negotiating with two Chinese companies Lifan and Lonch. While nothing has been finalised about this joint venture, Zongchen and Guanghou will start rolling out bikes as early as January next year.

While the market waits for these two, the Chinese have introduced an entirely new concept in two-wheelers in this country: an electric scooter.

So far the internal combustion engine was used for providing power to move the mobike. Now, an electricity-driven scooter has entered the market. Known as the Eco-Sonic, it claims an operating cost of 10 paisa per kilometre. It is battery operated, which means no pollution, no gears and, of course, no engine, just an electric motor. This means little or no maintenance, electric start, no noise and a one-year warranty.

The Eco-Sonic works with a 12-volt battery that can be charged in four hours and will give you a run of 45 km. The scooter, if it can be called that, weighs 90 kg. The price of the Eco-Sonic is Rs 27,990

If the Chinese have brought out an electric scooter, can Indians be far behind? Indus Elec-Trans, a division of Electro Therm India Ltd, Ahmedabad, has introduced a whole range of scooters and cycles that runs on electric battery. They are in the market under the name of Yobykes. At the top of the line is Yo Smart. It runs on a 20 ampere, 12-volt battery and has a range of about 75 km. It is priced at Rs 27,339. Yo Spin with a 12-ampere battery and a range of 50 km is Rs 24,500. The electric bicycles are Yo Tuff, Yo Trend and Yo Trust. With the exception of Yo Trust, the cycles are priced between Rs 16,000 and Rs 18,000. Yo Trust comes with a double battery and automatic cruise control and is priced at Rs 19,940 with a range of 75 km. The battery is as easy to charge as that of a cell phone.

Having come into the market in February 2006, Yo bikes have already sold 15,000 units. All Yo bikes come with a one-year warranty. The manufacturers claim that Yo bikes can run 700 km for the price of 1 litre of petrol.

Interestingly, the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) do not deem "the electric two-wheeler with pedal assistance" to be a motor vehicle, as described under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. In view of this, it requires no registration and no driving licence. It does have a chassis number and motor number so that insurance coverage will be possible. All that is required is a certificate from the Secretary, State Transport Authority, that the vehicle is ‘road legal’. The dealer provides you with this certificate.

Happy motoring.

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