Introduction
The only thing which is constant is change. Indian automobile industry is now in the transition period of migrating from ICE powered vehicles to Electric vehicles. While it is fascinating to know electric vehicles can cut down on your fuel bills, it is important to understand and learn whether battery powered electric scooter can replace the experience which you get in petrol powered scooter. Ampere Vehicles by Greaves gave out their latest and so-far their best in their EV scooter portfolio – Ampere Zeal for us to test. Ampere Zeal is a part of their latest High-Speed series powered by Lithium-ion battery.
First Impressions
Thanks to Ampere’s strong network presence in Bangalore, Ampere Zeal was delivered to us to our office in Yelahanka within a day. The concept of home delivery truly delights anyone as an end-consumer. Very recently, (3rd week of October) Ampere has roped in with Amazon and is accepting scooter bookings online.
While it looked similar to any other regular scooter, we were surprised by the fact that it doesn’t make any sound – even when you are moving! Zeal is a very honest effort by Ampere Vehicles, the manufacturer have done justice to what an EV consumer expects without compromising on riding behaviour. For someone coming from riding petrol scooters – switching to electric scooter requires minimum learning curve. Ampere Zeal looks similar to any normal scooter in the market, has ignition, start-button functionality, accelerator exactly at the positions which you expect. Our initial impressions were pretty pleasant with Zeal.
Design
The design of Ampere Zeal is pretty neat and aggressive. While it looks like it has borrowed few things from the design of Honda Dio, it still holds a great character in it. The Cherry red color combination with black on body, stylish graphics with Zeal logo, elegant front fascia with plentiful lamps in the front, the body lines, the Ampere logo is distinguishingly visible.
At the rear side, neat taillamp design, grab rails, stylish indicators, well-covered wheel guards gives an impression of a premium product.
Performance
At the core of this electric scooter is a lithium-ion powered battery that drives the motor and wheel forward. The motor capacity of Ampere Zeal electric is 1200W , and the lithium-ion battery is rated at 60V/ 30 Ah . Zeal is designed to carry a payload of 130Kgs. During our test, the Zeal performed like how it was advertised. Basically, the scooter can be operated in 2 modes – High and Low. 54 Kmph is the speed which we were able to cross in the High mode, 39 Kmph in the Low mode. You may find the High/Low mode switch on your right hand side near accelerator.
Talking about the dimensions, Ampere Zeal weighs just 78 Kgs, measures 1720mm in length, 670mm in width, 1115 mm in height and has a wheelbase of 1235mm. The seating position/seat height is good for even short riders.
Ride Quality
You should be prepared well enough about the absolute silence which this scooter makes. Your normal riding pattern in petrol bikes includes some amount of spark and rush when you turn the ignition on – which you obviously miss in this electric scooter. Caution: Be aware, any throttling moves you forward – and also ensure you lift your feet from the ground to support the initial motion.
Once you attain a speed above 10 Kmph, it is as convenient as any other scooter – it can even outperform other petrol vehicles on the road. The speed offered by Zeal electric is good and decent enough (54 Kmph) that can be attained in under 7 seconds in high mode. Suspensions are responsive and takes you through rough terrains easily, and the scooter has got good braking system in place.
It is a pretty nice scooter offering a good ride quality – the only issue which we faced is getting used to manoeuvrability in low speeds – as it involved consistent throttling and braking. Ampere says it is a matter of “getting used to electric scooters”.
Charging
So, How far can it go?
The Ampere Zeal High Speed Electric Scooter gets a maximum range of 75 Kms on full charge. And the charging time required is 6 hours for full charge.
When you buy an Ampere Zeal, you will be provided with a lithium-ion battery charger – ideally which you place in under the seat. There are two ports available for charging this electric scooter, one is present inside the scooter and the other one is external. All you need to do is plug it in and connect to a near-by 3-pin socket which you normally use in your house.
Connectivity
Ampere Zeal Electric scooter gets next-level security features – The anti-theft feature which is built-in to the scooter, alerts you with sound when the system notices any impact/change in position of scooter. There are other functionalities provided in the scooter like remote locking, unlocking, underseat space unlocking, sound functionality etc.
Verdict
This was our first ever experience with an electric scooter and we have to admit the overall experience riding this was very satisfying. We don’t find a reason why people should still buy a petrol powered scooter when the same performance can be gotten from an electric scooter. You will be the first one to use a new tech, saves your pocket and makes you a eco-friendly ambassador as well.
When it comes to price of ownership, the on-road price of Ampere Zeal in Bangalore is Rs 74,000 (After FAME2 benefits). Remember, it is an electric scooter and frees you from worrying about petrol price hikes. Ampere is currently offering 3-year warranty on Ampere Zeal electric scooter.
Ampere Zeal Electric Scooter Video
