Planning To Buy A TVS iQube? Here are the Pros And Cons

With Bajaj Auto having the electric Chetak in its portfolio, TVS Motor Company too jumped into the EV fray with the TVS iQube. The TVS iQube Electric scooter was launched in early 2020 and happens to be the first ever electric scooter from TVS. The TVS iQube Electric is a good move, we believe, for the company and it offers a bunch of features along with the 'green' factor too. The iQube is priced at Rs. 100,777 in Delhi and at Rs. 110,506 in Bengaluru. Prices mentioned here are on-road. So is it worth buying, the TVS iQube? We list out the pros and cons.

Also Read: TVS iQube: Top Five Rivals

TVS iQube electric scooter

Pros

1. The TVS iQube gets a 2.25 kWh lithium-ion battery along with a 4.4 kW motor. The scooter has two riding modes which are economy and power. The top speed of the iQube EV is about 78 kmph and it has a range of about 75 kilometres. The battery can be charged fully with the standard 5A charger in about 4-5 hours. The electric motor develops an equivalent of 6 bhp and 140 Nm and the 0-40 kmph sprint is done is 4.2 seconds)
2. There's no significant compromise in performance, even with a pillion on board, and the pillion seat is quite comfortable. The iQube also allows regenerative braking, so every time you close the throttle to slow down, energy is transferred to re-charge the battery. It runs on 12-inch wheels at both ends, with a telescopic front suspension, and twin rear shocks. Braking duties are handled by a 220 mm front disc brake, and 130 mm rear drum brake, with standard combi-brake system (CBS)
   

   There's no significant compromise in performance, even with a pillion on board, and the pillion seat is quite comfortable

3. It is a decent-looking, well-proportioned scooter and gets a bunch of features as well. The fully digital instrument console is Bluetooth enabled and also gets TVS' SmartXonnect technology, which helps the rider to use an app and get access to the scooter's stats along with functions such as geo-fencing, navigation, over-speed alert and so on.

Cons

1. The TVS iQube is yet to be made available across the country, in the hinterland and semi-urban areas. At present, it is available in 30+ cities of India.
2. It is available in just one colour and one variant. A few more colour options and a top-spec trim or a pared down, lower-spec trim would have offered more choice to EV buyers.
   

   A range of 75 kilometres may be too less for a longish daily commute

3. The scooter gets a range of 75 kilometres and takes up to 5 hours to be charged fully, which may be a deterrent to many buyers who have a long daily commute. A range of 100 kilometres would have done better to ease range anxiety.
4. Even with all the subsidies, the on-road price of the TVS iQube goes above a lakh of rupees. Convincing the buyer to part with that kind of money and then face range anxiety could be difficult.