The Electric Two-Wheeler Market In India Has A Fresh Face

With the number of Indian companies and start-ups trying their hand at electric two-wheelers these days, it’s not uncommon to come across a vehicle or brand name that you don’t recognise. Things are set to become even more confusing as another new brand has now joined the EV race in India. This new entrant is the M2Go Electric Vehicle, which has just launched its Civitas and X-1 e-scooters in India.

Based out of New Delhi, this new brand seems to source its e-scooters from Chinese manufacturer Wangye Motorcycle. The Civitas and X-1 are both well-equipped, getting 12-inch alloy wheels, tubeless tyres, a disc brake at either end, USB charging and anti-theft alarms. The X-1 is the more feature-rich scooter of the two, while the Civitas has slightly better performance. While both scooters are powered by a 2kW electric motor from Bosch, the Civitas gets a top speed of 85kmph and the X-1 tops out at 60kmph.

Thanks to its 29Ah lithium-ion battery pack, the Civitas manages a 120km range, which is equal to that of the 26Ah lithium-ion battery pack-equipped X-1. However, we must mention that according to Wangye’s website, the Civitas’ battery pack is a 26Ah unit and its range is quoted as 80km. Type approval certification documents filed with the Transport Department in Delhi also mention a 26Ah battery for the Civitas. A ground clearance of just 125mm could also spell trouble with the state of our roads.

In terms of appearance, you’d be forgiven for mistaking the Civitas for a Vespa, with the Chinese electric looking uncannily like the Italian icon. The fluid, curvy design and round headlight and mirrors closely resemble the Vespa but the Civitas misses out on single-sided front suspension. The X-1, in contrast, looks more edgy and modern, with a slimmer overall design featuring a distinctive apron-mounted headlight.

As a trade-off for its lower top speed, the X-1 gets LED lighting, a fully digital display with Bluetooth connectivity, an ambient temperature readout and real-time battery percentage. Despite these extra features, the X-1 is the cheaper of the two, priced at Rs 94,500 (ex-showroom Delhi). The Civitas will set you back by Rs 1.08 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), and bookings for both e-scooters are now open for a fully refundable amount of Rs 5,100.

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M2Go has also opened its first dealership in New Delhi, and deliveries are expected to commence on November 20 and November 30 for the X-1 and Civitas respectively. At this price point, both of M2Go's scooters should be priced close to the upcoming Bajaj Chetak while significantly undercutting the Ather 450.  M2Go's website also lists two more models, the C-One and Zuma which we expect to be launched in India in the coming months.