Bajaj Chetak vs Bounce Infinity E1: Specs Compared

Published December 3, 2021
Views : 5629
4 min read

How well does the newest kid on the block match up to an established rival?

The Infinity E1, the first offering from Bangalore-based EV start-up Bounce, is also the first electric scooter with swappable batteries. It can be bought both with and without the underseat battery pack, significantly reducing the asking price as well. Meanwhile, the Bajaj Chetak has been around for close to two years now, and covers the basics of what one looks for in an e-scoot, albeit at a not-so-flattering price point.

So exactly what kind of fireworks go off when these two go head-to-head on paper? Let’s find out:

Engine

Specifications	Bounce Infinity E1	Bajaj Chetak
Motor	1.5kW BLDC	3.08kW BLDC
Power	3.8kW	4.08kW
Torque	83Nm	16Nm
0-40kmph	8 seconds	--
Top Speed	65kmph (claimed)	70kmph
Battery Capacity	2kWh	3kWh
Range	85km (claimed)	95km (Eco) / 85km (Sport)
Charging time	4-5 hours (claimed)	5 hours

In most criteria, the Bajaj Chetak seems to be ahead of the Bounce Infinity E1. It has a larger motor, quite a bit more torque, and even a higher range and top speed. However, there is one category where the Chetak doesn’t have a clear lead, and that is the charging time, as the figure quoted by Bounce is marginally lower.

Underpinnings

Specifications	Bounce Infinity E1	Bajaj Chetak
Front suspension	Telescopic fork	Leading-link suspension
Rear suspension	Dual shocks	Monoshock
Front brake	Disc	Disc
Rear brake	Disc	Drum
Front tyre	90/90- 12	90/90/12
Rear tyre	120/70-12	90/90-12

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There’s no clear winner, per se, when it comes to the suspension componentry, as both run a mixed bag. While the Infinity E1 packs a modern telescopic front and being a hub-mounted motor, gets a twin shock rear suspension setup, the Chetak packs a link-type front, and courtesy a gear final drive, gets a monoshock rear. Similarly, while both get disc brakes up front, the Chetak seems compromised, at least on paper, considering it only has a drum at the rear. And continuing with that theme, though both scooters have identical 12-inch wheels with 90-section rubber up front, the Bounce’s 120-section rubber at the rear seems better equipped to deal with cornering vagaries than the Chetak’s slimmer 90-section rear.

Dimensions

Specifications	Bounce Infinity	Bajaj Chetak
Boot space	12 litres	--
Kerb weight	94kg	118kg

The Bounce Infinity E1 gets a positively anaemic 12-litre underseat storage (due to the removable battery), while the fixed battery on the Chetak, and the overall bulbous proportions (and also the fact that the charging cable can be packed into an apron-mounted cubbyhole) means the underseat space on offer here will be quite a bit more. The only other bit of information available with regards to dimensions is the kerb weight of both scooters, though here the Infinity E1 has the Chetak beat, as it’s about 24kg lighter which, coupled with the wider wheels (as mentioned earlier) means that it might also be the better handler between the two.

Features

	Bounce Infinity E1	Bajaj Chetak
TFT cluster	Yes	No
Smartphone connectivity	Yes	Yes (Premium variant only)
Turn by turn navigation	No	No
LED Illumination	Yes	Yes
Cruise control	Yes	No
Reverse mode	Yes	Yes
Swappable batteries	Yes	No

Again, the Infinity E1 comes out on top, with a longer list of features. Moreover, it is the only electric scooter currently on sale that packs cruise control as well as swappable batteries. However, one peculiar affliction that both these scooters have is that while they both get smartphone connectivity (though only the higher-end Urbane variant of the Chetak gets it ), neither scooter here gets the option for turn-by-turn navigation.

Price & Verdict

Bounce Infinty E1	Bajaj Chetak
Rs 68,999 (with battery)/ Rs 45,099 (without battery)	Rs 1,42,998 (Urbane) / Rs 1,87,390 (Premium)

(all prices ex-showroom, Delhi)

And finally, this is the category where the Chetak is absolutely trounced by the Infinity E1, as the Chetak’s Premium variant is about Rs 20,000 short of being THRICE as costly as the battery-equipped variant of the Infinity E1. Add to that the Infinity E1’s long list of features, and it seems almost like a no-brainer.

However, there is a caveat here: the Bounce Infinity E1 may be the outright winner in the ‘pocket’ wars, but the Bajaj Chetak brings with itself a wide dealer and aftersales backup. Besides, while the Chetak has already been plying its trade for close to two years now, the Infinity E1 won’t hit the streets till February 2022, at the earliest.

So we hate to leave you on a cliffhanger, but it’s not until the Infinity E1 proves its mettle (read: we give it a full-length review) that we can finally decide whether it indeed deserves a spot on the big boys’ table.