Perth-based e-scooter maker Vmoto plans an onslaught into the Indian electric two wheeler market with CUX and CUmini e-scooters
India’s electric two wheeler market is growing by leaps and bounds. The electric two wheeler market in FY2020 stood at around 1.52 lakh units and is likely to grow at a CAGR of around 25 percent during the period FY 2021-26. The segment is currently ruled by the likes of Hero Electric, Okinawa Autotech Pvt. Ltd, Ampere Vehicles, Ather, etc, and new comers are also making a bee line for this segment noting the demand prospects.
One such new comer into the Indian electric vehicle segment is Perth based e-scooter maker Vmoto. The electric two wheeler manufacturer has signed an agreement with Bird Group for the distribution of SuperSoco CUmini and SuperSoco CUx.
Vmoto is an Australian electric motorcycle maker that have a joint venture with SuperSoco of China to form a company called Vmoto Soco. Bird Group is the parent of Bird Automotive which is one of the leading premium car dealership outlet in India for BMW and MINI range.
Bird Group to distribute CUX and CUmini range
According to a study conducted by Bird Group, even as Vmoto have three electric two-wheelers, namely TS Street Hunter, TC Wanderer and CUmini in their lineup, the SuperSoco CUmini and SuperSoco CUx were ideally suited for the Indian markets.
Bird Automotive also has exclusive distribution rights of Segway Personal Transporters. The company has over 500 corporate customers and a host of individual buyers along with a strong relationship with the Government of India. The company had showcased a SuperSoco electric scooter the 2020 Auto Expo where it was codenamed ES1+.
Bird Group will initially bring in 20 units of the CUmini e-scooter for trials and these will be used under a government led ride sharing project in New Delhi. In its first year of operation, Vmoto targets orders of 10,000 units with total value at around AUD 13.8 million (Rs 77.5 crores).
SuperSoco CUmini and CUx
The SuperSoco CUmini is an entry level model and receives a minimal design. Soco CUx on the other hand is a light weight scooter designed for shorter distances. It rides on 12 inch wheels and gets colour options of red, black, gray and white.
The CUmini receives features such as LED tail lamp and rear turn signals, keyless start with remote and a monochrome LCD instrument cluster. The SuperSoco App allows riders to access the bike, gain vehicle status control and GPS location along with alarm status, movement history and navigation data.
The CUmini is powered by a 0.6 kW electric motor along with a 0.96 kWh battery pack with NCM technology and a FOC 3.3 control unit. The battery pack is removable for easier charging and weighs a total of 7.2 kgs. Charging from 0 – 100 percent is accomplished in around 7 hours to offer a range of 60 – 70 kms while top speed is rated at 45 km/h. SuperSoco CUmini uses less than 1.6 kWh per 100 kms.
