Hero Electric Flash Launched At Introductory Price Of Rs 19,990

In January 2017, Okinawa, a new electric scooter manufacturer, emerged out of nowhere and brought us the Ridge. This scooter offers tremendous value for its asking price of Rs 43,702. With the competition heating up, Hero Electric has stepped up its game and is looking to play by the numbers with the launch of the Flash.

Hero Electric’s latest scooter opens up a new chapter with its incredibly low price tag of just Rs 19,990. For comparison, Hero's own electric scooters with similar specifications are priced around the Rs 40,000 mark.

The spec sheet says that the Flash will be able to cover 65km on a single charge while charging it back to full should take about 6-8 hours. The 250W motor can help it attain a top speed of 25kmph. Juice comes from a 48V 20Ah lead-acid battery, which keeps the upfront cost low at the expense of a longer charging duration. The kerb weight of 87kg should make it easy even for women and teenagers to handle the scooter.

Having its top speed limited to 25kmph allows buyers to just pick it off the showroom floor like it was groceries. You don't need registration or driver's license. Insurance is optional too. What it means for you is that the ex-showroom price is its on-road price.

The features list includes under-seat storage, 16-inch alloy wheels, telescopic suspensions and an analogue instrument cluster. A top box with integrated pillion backrest and a perimeter crash guard are available as optional accessories. Colour options are limited to just two: silver and burgundy.

Being an electric vehicle, maintenance and running costs will be minimal. In Delhi, Hero will also provide doorstep servicing to senior citizens and women. The company plans to expand this facility to other cities as the sales increase.

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Upon seeing it in person, we found that the seat was too small to carry two well-fed adults. For just the rider, though, it was very accommodating, with adequate space on the footboard.

At the introductory price, the product will return no profits to the company. But it should lend a helping hand in breaking the psychological barrier associated with electric vehicles. Once the sales take off, Hero should have the economies of scale on its side to drop the production cost without adversely affecting its sticker price.

The first batch of 10,000 units is available in Delhi and, depending on how fast it flies off the shelves, the company will start escalating the production numbers.

The Flash comes with an attractive price tag and costs nothing to run. It’s a Hero product and comes with a two-year warranty, which should offer more than just peace of mind. If Hero continues to sell the Flash at under Rs 20,000, it clearly has the potential to start the electric revolution in India.