India’s First Hybrid Scooter is the TVS iQube
TVS Motors is on a roll.
Having launched the Apache RR 310, NTORQ 125 and the Apache 160 4V bikes to varying success, the Indian company will be introducing the iQube hybrid scooter to the local market later this year.
(All images taken from Drive Spark)
Reportedly India’s first hybrid scooter, the iQube was first unveiled to the rest of the world at the 2010 Auto Expo.
Design wise, the iQube is expected to remain largely the same, although it was reported that TVS may coat the two-wheeler in brighter colours to make it more visually appealing and desirable.
Being a hybrid scooter means that the iQube gets the best of both worlds. Along with a 110cc petrol engine, the motorcycle is also powered by a hub-mounted electric motor with two battery options - 150Wh and 500Wh.
When the speed of the motorbike is below 20 km/h, the electric motor will kick in. Otherwise, the iQube will be fueled by the petrol engine for further performance. The engines will allegedly be powered by the economy and power riding modes.
As a conventional engine can be rather inefficient during heavy traffic, this means that a significant amount of fuel may be used unproductively and affect the mileage negatively. With the hub-mounted electric motor, this vehicle will be much more efficient during crawling traffic.
According to Drive Spark, the TVS iQube will be priced competitively once it is launched in India. This is because of the government’s FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid & Electric Vehicles in India) subsidy which will be extremely beneficial for the scooter.
With the growing interest towards electric vehicles in India, it has never been a better time to launch an eco-friendly hybrid scooter in the country.