The growing trend of collaborations in the automobile industry has resulted in yet another electric vehicle for the Indian market. This time, it is Kymco and 22 Motors that have joined hands to launch the iFlow electric scooter in India at a price of Rs 90,000 (on-road). The interesting bit? The electric scooter comes with swappable batteries.
First seen at the Auto Expo last year, the iFlow is a retro-design two-wheeler loaded with modern features, including a digital instrument console, Bluetooth and Cloud connectivity and even geo-fencing for accessing the electric scooter remotely.
The iFlow is powered by Kymco¡¯s IONEX battery technology - an aftermath of the 25 percent stakes that Kymco bought in 22 Motors back in October last year. The technology results in swappable batteries, weighing 5 kg each and capable of charging to their full capacity within an hour, as per the company. Up to two of such batteries can be used for an iFlow electric scooter, extending the range of the scooter to a total of 160 km. Regenerative braking employed in the vehicle also helps in extending this range.
22Kymco iFlow. (Image: 22 Motors)
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22 Kymco has put up an interesting business model for the scooter buyers to operate on. The batteries have to be leased separately on a monthly basis at a cost of Rs 500 each. Users can then swap the batteries once they are depleted, for a new one, at an added cost of Rs 50 on every swap. The company is now aiming to setup such battery swapping stations at Delhi, Bangalore, Pune, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Ahmedabad.
The iFlow
As for the electric scooter itself, the iFlow is powered by a 2.1KW motor which claims a top speed of 60kmph and offers modes like Cruise, Drag, reverse assist and even a hill assist mode.
In addition, the iFlow features LED headlamps, LED tail lamps and turn indicators, disc brakes at the front and rear with CBS and 12-inch wheels with tubeless tyres.
22Kymco says that the deliveries for the scooter will begin from September, 2019. Once out, the vehicle will compete with the likes of Ather 450 and Okinawa i-Praise at its price.