The VX2 is the first electric scooter in which I didn’t get range anxiety. Not because it’s got a very long range, but because it’s got a removable battery that I could charge even at a roadside teashop in case it ran out of power.
The VX2, in short, is common sense meets electric mobility.
It’s the third electric scooter by Vida – Hero MotoCorp’s EV arm – and is available in two variants (Plus and Go).
VX2 Plus: Gets two 1.7kWh removable batteries (total 3.4 kWh), and is priced Rs 99,990 upfront (or Rs 57,990 with BaaS).
VX2 Go: Gets a single 2.2kWh removable battery, and is priced Rs 84,990 upfront (or Rs 44,990 with BaaS).
Vida had earlier launched the V1 (now discontinued), and the V2 (available in three variants: Pro, Plus, and Lite).
It has a neat, uncluttered design, and its road presence similar to TVS iQube and Ather Rizta. All controls and switchgear are ergonomically placed, and the handlebar and display units blend in seamlessly.
There’s a small storage space under the handlebars, and the underseat storage can take a big helmet. The display is colourful, and there’s a dedicated app for the scooter.
I rode the VX2 Plus, whose seat is wellcushioned and the riding posture is upright. The dual battery setup provides predictable power. Acceleration is good in the Sport mode – I was able to easily overtake vehicles on a highway – but for regular city usage, the other two modes (Eco and Ride) are enough. The front suspension seems slightly stiff, which makes going over speedbreakers a bit bumpy, but leads to good handling and confident cornering. Top speed is close to 80 km/h.
Its claimed range is 142 km, but at almost 100% charge, the scooter’s information display showed 110 km (Eco mode), 80 km (Ride mode), and 74 km (Sport mode).
It’s dirtcheap to ride and own – my rough calculations showed its running cost at 35 paise per km (which is 68 times less than a petrol scooter).
– The VX2 doesn’t get keyless ignition, and that feels a bit dated for a modern electric scooter.
– The information screen doesn’t provide the kind of features that the Rizta has.
– While it feels robust, some plastic parts are flimsy (such as the battery lock box, and the lock itself).
In case you will drive only within city limits and nearby areas, there is absolutely no reason to buy a petrol scooter anymore.
Even if you live in a huge city like Delhi or Mumbai or Bengaluru or Chennai, removable battery means you don’t have to rely on public charging stations.
BaaS is short for ‘Battery as a Service’, in which you don’t pay for the battery.
The VX2 Plus costs Rs 99,990 upfront (Rs 57,990 with BaaS, plus 90 paise per km).
The VX2 Go costs Rs 84,990 upfront (Rs 44,990 with BaaS, plus Rs 1.24 per km).
If your budget is limited, obviously BaaS makes sense as it drastically reduces the upfront price. If you ride less than 4050 km per day, then also BaaS appears to make sense. BaaS also gives you battery warranty, and yet is cheaper to run than a petrol scooter.
In case you want full ownership, you can buy upfront, and run it at about 35 paise per km.
Whatever you choose, one thing is certain, the VX2 is the total victory of electric over ICE.
– In the VX2 Plus, if there were a single battery, its weight would have been about 20 kg, and that would be difficult to carry. These two batteries weight about 11 kg each, and can easily be carried to your home/office.
– These batteries can be charged anywhere – at home, work, café, at a friend’s place – by plugging into a regular 3pin, 5A socket.
– These two batteries are identical and interchangeable.
– The VX2 Go has a single battery, whose weight will be slightly more than 11 kg.
