Raptee HV T30 First Ride Review: India’s Fastest Charging Electric Bike

Range anxiety, charging hassles, practicality, reliability and price-to-performance – these are the biggest reasons most riders still hesitate to go electric. A young Indian startup called Raptee HV aims to change that perception. With the new Raptee HV T30, the Chennai-based company takes direct aim at these concerns, introducing an electric motorcycle that promises the convenience of using any public car charging station to quickly recharge, combining real-world usability without sacrificing excitement. Does it deliver? We spent a day riding it to find out.

Also Read: Raptee HV T30 Unveiled: Promises 150 km Real World Range

Dimensions & Ergonomics

The ergonomics are quite friendly with a straight handlebar which gives an upright riding position. The footpegs are mid-positioned, and not too rear set to make it too aggressive for everyday duties. The 790 mm seat height will make it universally accessible to riders of most heights, and a kerb weight of 177 kg makes it easy to handle, while crawling through traffic or while parking.

Ground clearance is 161 mm, decent enough for your daily commute and the occasional speed breaker or pothole that you may encounter during everyday use. Overall, the riding position is comfortable, whether you’re negotiating rush hour traffic, or out on an open road. You can comfortably sit on the T30 for a few hours, before it’s time to recharge.

Home charging in a 15A power socket with the on-board charger is claimed at 1 hour to charge from 20-80 per cent.

Range & Charging Time

The T30’s biggest highlight is its high voltage fast charging capability. Plug it into a standard 15-amp home socket, and you’ll be able to juice up from 20-80 per cent in just an hour – at least that’s what the company claims as the charging time, perfect for quick top-ups between rides. This is courtesy the 3.3 kW on-board charger. The charging cable is light and compact – making it easy to carry around or to tuck away when not in use.

CCS2 charger promises 20-80 per cent charging in just 30 minutes

But the real game changer is the CCS2 fast charger! It’s the only one of its kind on an electric two-wheeler in India. With it, you can charge anywhere you’d plug in an electric car and go from 20 to 80 per cent in just 30 minutes. Raptee HV claims a maximum Indian Drive Cycle (IDC) range of 200 km in Comfort mode from its 5.4 kWh battery pack.

The company says estimated real world range will be 150 km on a single charge. During our test ride though, we mostly used Sprint mode, with the maximum performance, and range depletes fast if you want to use the T30 to its full performance potential.

Features

The T30 comes with a 7-inch TFT display built around an Automotive Grade Linux operating system. It has built-in maps by Raptee, and overall touch sensitivity is pretty good, even with a gloved hand. The map function and GPS weren’t initially working on my test bike, but an over-the-air (OTA) update which took a few minutes at the pit stop soon solved this issue.

The built-in maps also show charging stations near you, and the Raptee mobile app offers you ride insights, charging insights as well as real-time vehicle diagnostics, including battery health and other updates.

Three ride modes offer the convenience and choice of riding style. Comfort offers maximum range and least performance, suited for riding in crowded streets. Power mode offers the best of both worlds – a balance between performance and practical range. Sprint mode offers full performance, but it’s also the mode where range depletes fast. We saw battery percentage drop to below 40 per cent in just around 45 km of riding, mostly in Sprint mode.

Performance & Dynamics

But Sprint mode is for those who seek thrill and entertainment. The T30 picks up speed briskly, and with 22 kW output (approximately 29.5 bhp), acceleration is brisk and will keep you ahead of slower moving traffic from stop light to stop light. Performance and pulling power are both quick and fast, till about 80-90 kmph, and my test unit displayed a speedo-indicated top speed of 128 kmph, although claimed top speed is 135 kmph. It’s only at triple digit speeds (100-120 kmph) where the acceleration slows down. For anyone using the T30 at speeds between 40-80 kmph, Sprint mode is enough to put a smile on your face.

The Raptee HV T30 is built around a steel trellis frame, and straight-line stability is pretty good. Overall dynamics are well-sorted, but the nature of the chassis makes the T30 reluctant for quick direction changes. Our test route didn’t provide any sharp corners to elaborately test handling and dynamics, but the T30 does require a nudge even when filtering through traffic and for quick direction changes in the urban environment.

Ride quality is pliant for the most part, but the rear suspension is on the stiffer side. It’s not unbearably stiff, but the firmness is felt, particularly when going over broken patches, potholes and the like.

Design & Build Quality

The Raptee HV T30 cuts a striking figure with its sharp, aerodynamic lines and aggressive streetfighter stance. It looks packed with performance, and fast, even at a standstill. The LED headlamp gives it that futuristic edge, while the sharp bodywork adds a hint of sportiness. It’s a design that balances subtlety with attitude that is certain to grab attention. While it leans more towards a roadster than a pure street naked, the muscular, yet sleek profile keeps things visually appealing.

Look a little closer though, and you will see there’s room for improvement in fit and finish. The handlebar and clamp finish could be better, paint chipping was noticeable on our test bike, and panel gaps are inconsistent, at least at some places.

Span adjustable levers and better-quality rear-view mirrors would have added a more premium feel, considering the price you will have to pay to acquire the T30.

The switchgear quality is good, but some of the buttons aren’t functional yet, like the cruise control, perhaps kept for the next update.

Raptee HV offers the T30 in four colours – Arctic White, Eclipse Black, Mercury Grey and Horizon Red, across two variants – T30 and T30 Sport, that differ only in subtle cosmetic details.

Price & Value

The Raptee HV T30 is priced at Rs. 2,39,000 (Ex-showroom). The company says there are no hidden costs, including any extras, and at that price point everything is available, including the charging cable. The T30 is available with an on-road price of Rs. 2.55 lakh in Chennai, and that is good pricing.

But for practicality, at that price point, some prospective buyers would have perhaps preferred a bigger battery pack promising more range. But when it comes to peace of mind, the T30 packs an 8-year or 80,000 km battery warranty, plus a 3-year or 30,000 km standard warranty on the bike itself.

Raptee HV T30: Verdict

The Raptee HV T30 is an ambitious and promising debut from a new Indian manufacturer. Its CCS2 fast charging system is a true differentiator, addressing one of the biggest barriers to EV ownership – charging convenience. With expansion plans starting in Chennai, followed by Bengaluru, other southern capitals and Pune, Raptee HV is signalling serious long-term intent.

While the T30 electric motorcycle impresses with its tech and charging innovation, a few rough edges keep it from feeling truly premium. Build quality and fit finish could use some refinement, and ride quality leaves room for improvement. These are minor niggles, but noticeable, especially for a bike priced at Rs. 2.39 lakh (Ex-showroom). At this price point, you do expect a more polished experience, as well as a slightly bigger battery with more range.

That said, the performance, features and charging tech more than make up for it. If charging convenience is your top concern, the Raptee HV T30 deserves a recommendation. With a few tweaks to premium feel and finish, Raptee HV has a very promising electric motorcycle in the T30 and is worth a close look.

Watch the Raptee HV T30 video review:

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