The electric two-wheeler space is finally gaining enough traction to compete with the ICE scooters, which are, at least for now, the preferred choice of most people. Advances in battery technology coupled with government subsidies have made electric batteries much more practical and affordable.
TVS believes electrics will soon replace ICE scooters, one of the many reasons TVS is the only mainstream manufacturer to offer both options in its portfolio. But is the iQube really that good?
Features And Specs Of TVS iQube Electric
The performance of the iQube will surprise you. In contrast to the other e-scooters in its segment, the iQube has a hub motor. It’s IP67 certified, which means you don’t have to worry about water getting into the motor. However, TVS does not recommend leaving the scooter underwater for more than thirty minutes, so parking the scooter in a flooded area is a big NO.
The motor is able to generate 3 kW of continuous output and a maximum output of 4.4 kW for a short period of 60 seconds. It might not look like much on paper, but it’s actually pretty quick. Although it is the heaviest scooter, it is not only faster but also feels more responsive than its ICE counterpart, the TVS Jupiter. The smooth and immediate development of power also makes quick overtaking child’s play.
Eco is also really useful in the city, which is not the case with other e-scooters. Open the throttle and there will be enough torque to navigate you through traffic. The speed is limited to 50 km / h (actual speed of 45 km / h), which is more than sufficient for use in the city.
Switching to power mode gives you access to the 78 km / h the engine has to offer. This is perfect for moving to open roads or highways.
Turns off the throttle and engages regenerative braking. Use the motor to slow down while you charge the battery a little. However, this function is only activated at a range of 65 km. Another advantage is that you don’t have to rely solely on the brakes while driving. The engine intuition offers a rich driving experience.
Battery Of TVS iQube Electric
Interestingly, even with a 1% battery percentage, the iQube doesn’t go into an inert mode like other EVs but uses every ounce of the battery to make sure it has up to 30 km / h on offer which makes it very useful until the end.
And that’s not all, TVS offers a 3 year / 50,000km warranty on the battery that should last a lifetime considering TVS doesn’t offer the quick charge option for the iQube as TVS says it does reduce the battery. On the other hand, you can’t quickly recharge your battery in an emergency, so planning your trips is absolutely crucial.
Specification Of TVS iQube Electric
Like most e-scooters in this segment, the iQube contains networked functions that allow you to remotely monitor the vehicle’s SOC with the TVS iQube app, configure geofences, and also for navigation.
At 118 kg, the iQube is heavier. But the weight can only be felt when moving in the parking lot. Fortunately, the iQube has a Qpark Assistant, which not only allows you to drive the scooter backward using a motor but also to drive it forward by long-pressing the button, activating the modes via the switches is a bit difficult.
Once you get started, the weight is gone. In addition, the weight of the batteries is well distributed so that the scooter feels light and maneuverable.
Design Of TVS iQube Electric
The underlying hardware is pretty much the same as the Jupiter. It has a telescopic fork but two rear dampers instead of a single one. TVS opts for this setup to compensate for the extra weight on the rear wheel.
While the suspension gear setup isn’t quite as luxurious as, say, the Jupiter, it does a pretty decent job of absorbing bumps and waves at really sharp potholes.
The brake setup of the iQube consists of a disc at the front and a drum at the rear, which offers good braking performance and is equal, if not superior, to the segment standard.
Comfortable Enough?
Despite its weight, the iQube feels light and maneuverable on the go. TVS succeeded in doing this by lowering the center of gravity through the intelligent placement of battery packs. There are three, to be precise, one under the floor and the other two in front of the storage space under the seat. Nevertheless, the saddle still sits at a manageable 770 mm, only slightly higher than on the Jupiter. Average size cyclists will still find it very easily accessible.
The seat itself is long and wide enough for two people on board. It is also well padded so that you can spend a lot of time on the scooter without having to lay your back. The position of the footrests offers enough space for a 5’10” passenger. However, if you have family members who prefer to sit on the side, we recommend opting for the sidekick that TVS offers as an accessory.
When you run errands and carry your purchases, the iQube works just fine. The floor is wide enough and offers plenty of room for the feet even with a small package. It can easily accommodate groceries or even a 14-inch laptop.
There are a few bugs, however, for example, the iQube has neither a four-in-one combi lock system for remote access to the seat nor a mobile phone holder attached to the apron that is held by the battery charging port.
Keeps A Low Profile
We can’t say that the iQube is beautiful because it isn’t. It’s simple, elegant, minimalist, and contemporary. The full-LED headlights and the indicators in the apron look just as modern as the rear light. Touches such as the darkened fly screen, the red seams on the seat, and the iQube logo on the swingarm, which shines when standing, are impeccable design features that are appreciated.
However, there are areas where the scooter could have been better. For example, the quality of the switch feels a bit cheap. The emergency switch on the right just feels unnecessarily large. The tactile feel of some switches is not comparable to that of Jupiter. Therefore, you may have trouble trying to turn the switch on the engine or just change the driving mode.
Conclusion
We think the iQube will easily fit into your family. It has enough power and range for your daily runabouts, with features that make driving so much easier. The more time you spend on the scooter, the more you will fall in love with it. In fact, you will be drawn to the iQube instead of your ICE scooter. What really makes it click is the great smoothness and rich experience of the engine. The tight suspension setup is something you will get used to overtime.
Also, with government subsidies, the iQube costs Rs 1,00,777, which is a little more than Rs 12,000 more than Jupiter. Eventually, it will help us save a lot of money due to the rising fuel prices and the inevitable battery replacements. So we would say that the iQube has definitely bridged the gap between ICE and electric scooters and it could very well be the family scooter you want.
