Ampere Vehicles Launches Ampere V48 And Reo Electric Scooters

Coimbatore-based EV startup, Ampere Vehicles, has launched two new electric scooters - the Ampere V48 and Reo - in the country. The Ampere V48 and Reo now pack a lithium-ion battery with a significantly higher life cycle when compared to lead acid batteries, and are priced at Rs 38,000 and Rs 46,000 (ex-showroom Delhi), respectively. Both scooters produce zero emissions and are exempted from road tax. They do not require to be registered either as they clock a maximum speed of just 25kmph.

Both e-scooters come packed with an indigenously-developed electric motor, battery controller and charger, a first for any e-scooter manufactured in India. However, the batteries required to power them are imported from Taiwan and China.

The latest e-scooters from Ampere Vehicles run on a 250W brushless DC motor that draws power from a 48V lithium-ion battery pack. The maximum hauling capacity of the V48 and the Reo are 100kg and 120kg, respectively. Owing to the new lithium-ion batteries, the e-scooters now offer an improved range of 65-70km per charge when compared to the 50km obtained from lead acid batteries. The charge time has also reduced from 6-8 hours to 4-5 hours.

Both scooters will be sold through Ampere’s 150-strong dealership network that spans across 14 states. The company says it’s primary focus will be on Tier II, III and IV cities. In terms of competition, Ampere’s V48 goes up against the Hero Electric Optima (Rs. 36,037) and Hero Electric Cruz (Rs 37,390), while the Reo will lock horns with the Okinawa Ridge (Rs 43,702) and Hero Photon (Rs 49,490) (all prices, ex-showroom Delhi).

Ampere also introduced a new lithium-ion charger priced at Rs 3,000 with a claimed charging time of 4-5 hours. The two-stage charger can be tweaked to handle both charging voltage and current level based on the battery manufacturer’s specification. It also features a built in stabilizer with voltage overload protection. The key customers for the chargers will be manufacturers like Hero Electric, Electrotherm and Lohia Auto, who are currently importing parts for their electric powertrain from China.