Developed by Hero MotoCorp, the company behind the iconic Splendor and other iconic brands, this new Electric Scooter has been launched under its sub-brand Vida.
It has been in plans for quite a long time now, and as per the company, 1006 prototypes were rigorously tested across 200,000 km on Indian road conditions and spent 25,000 hours to arrive at the final one.
Variants and Pricing
The Hero Vida V1 Electric Scooter is available in 2 trims, priced closely together. The base level trim price stands at 1.45 lakhs (plus variant), while the second variant (pro variant), which is also the top level one, stands at 1.59 lakh rupees (ex-showroom).
Features
This Electric Scooter is loaded to the brim with features such as a 7" touchscreen on which details such as battery life and expected range etc., are showcased. Apart from that, cruise control, a two-way throttle, and keyless control are on offer. Additionally, three drive modes are on offer, namely Eco, ride, and sports. Also, it is enabled to get over-the-air updates.
Vida V1 Range, Powertrain Details
The Vida V1 Electric Scooter has a range of up to 130 km to 150 km on a single charge for the lower and higher variants, respectively. O-40 km/h can be reached in 3.2 seconds for the Pro variant (higher one) and 3.4 seconds for the plus variant (lower one). Nevertheless, the top speed of both variants is the same at 80 km/h.
The battery pack on offer is removable and tested for drop, crush and nail penetration (But really, this is just done to garner faith from the public for believing that the Electric Scooter is safe from fires).
Nevertheless, it's a first in the industry, and no major brands have yet provided a tested and removable battery!
Apart from that, they have also announced their plans to launch their own Vida charging network it will be interesting to see if their charging network is synced with their sister brand Ather Energy’s Ather grid or not.
Rivals
The Hero Vida V1 Electric Scooter directly locks horns with the Ola S1 Pro variant and the Ather 450x Gen3. Other competitors include the Bajaj Chetak and TVS iQube.
Verdict - Is the Vida V1 Electric Scooter Overpriced?
As a verdict from the initial impressions from the launch event, we present you our own verdict on the Hero Vida!
Hero Motocorp might be late to the party, but they have big plans ahead of scaling up fast. Recognizing the biggest huddle in EV adoption, which is the high upfront cost, they have announced that the interest rate on Hero Motocorp's Vida electric range of Electric Scooters will be the lowest in the industry. They also announced an assured buyback plan of 70% in 18 months to address the anxiety around resell price of the vehicle.
The Hero Vida V1 is an excellent option amongst Electric Scooters in India for anyone. With its compact design and adequate range, the Vida V1 is perfect for commuting or running errands around town. Since the brand is reliable, after-sales service will also be hassle-free. Here's an example - For petrol 2-wheelers, you have the option to go to local mechanics for servicing or vehicle breakdown. However, in the case of EVs, you have to be dependent on a local dealer. So choosing a reliable dealer is absolutely vital, and you can never go wrong while buying a 2-wheeler from a trusted brand like Hero. So if you're looking for a reliable Electric Scooter from a trusted brand, the Hero Vida V1 should be on the list of shortlisted vehicles to test ride.
However, it is also not very affordable when compared with the competition, which gives Electric Scooters at much cheaper rates. When compared with the Ola S1 Pro, priced at 1 lakh for the base variant and 1.4 lakhs for the top end, the Vida V1 has an extremely high starting price. Although top-end variants are priced quite similarly, people looking for a budget-friendly option who don't want a high range wouldn't opt for this. Nevertheless, it comes from a reputed brand and still can target a segment of people looking for a high-range Electric Scooter loaded to the brim with features!