Monday, September 7, 2009

Ace Motors of India launches battery powered electric bike

The Ace Motors electric motorcycle runs 200 km on a 6-8 hour charge.

Before you jump up and down, let's say that it is slow. It is electric, it uses a battery, the word bike is used interchangeably for motorcycle in India.. this little electric vehicle shoud ideally be called an electric moped.

Pune based Ace motors is the manufacturer of this e-bike and the majority of the components of this bike are imported from China.

The name 'bike' could make you think of substituting your 100-150 cc motorcycle with this. No such chance. You get an e-bike, which weighs 60 kg, takes 6-8 hours for a single charge that can take it up to 220 kms, and the maximum speed is 25 kilometer per hour. Isn't there some law in India that says that two wheelers not exceeding 25 kmph do not require the rider to have a license?

The price for the battery powered e-bike is Rs 26,250 ex showroom.

The e-bikes from Ace Motors weigh almost 60kg. The bike offers a load-carrying capacity of 100-140 kg. To cover a distance of 220 km, you need to charge the bike for 6 - 8 hours at 220 volts. A little disappontment for the speed buffs, the speed of the bike is only 25 km/hr.

“The e-bike is virtually maintenance free. It has no gears, no engine, no belt or chain drive, zero emission, no pollution, electronic start and accelerator, besides it is exempted from the Central Vehicles registration act by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) and does not require any registration or license," says Kumar Raval, managing director, Ace Motors.

The partner of Ace Motors in this venture is Changtong E Bike Company Ltd from China. Both the companies plan o launch a series of bikes that are more powerful than the e-bikes in the future.

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