Sep 21, 2012 08:33 PM
50733 Views
The first thing -- battery replacement. It costs ~14000 as of the current time (and that too by replacing the old batteries), but compared to Honda 2 wheelers, it'll save you ~5000 per battery replacement.
It'll run for 12-15k Kms (or 2 years, whichever comes earlier) before the battery dies, but care has to be taken on how to charge the battery. Charge maximum for 8 hours, although the charger (or actually 48V SMPS) will give you an appearance that it has shutdown charging (LED indicators), but still float voltage and trickle voltage exist. Although, these voltages should not harm the battery but it appears, in this case (VRLA batteries) it does.
WARNING -- If you keep it charging all the time, the battery will die within 2000kms, so max 8 hours, or remove the charger as soon as it stops charging; you may use countdown timer of your phone for the purpose.
All in all, the cost of battery replacement and it's range does not give any major advantage to a high efficiency internal combustion vehicle; the disadvantage of the range and other things (stated later) take it's advantage away. Point is, if you do not buy this vehicle and buy a high average bike or even a 40 KMPL average scooter (like Suziki's), you won't regret. Likewise, you won't regret, even if you buy this vehicle, but if you take care of it.
You'll get more advantage if you ride the vehicle frequently, for e.g. if you ride it for 40 kms a day, you may just get the battery replacement, or the batteries may last even like... 20000 kms. This happens cause the battery has an expiry date after 2 years (oh... lead acid).
The shockers are not that good (but manageable), and if you're a heavy guy/gal, chances are the stand will get hit on many big speed breakers that're found in India (although rarely).
To reduce weight (and yet it's heavy), they've thinned the frame which makes it less reluctant to major accidents. If it ever happens someday, the vehicle will be repairable, but not the point it was before the accident (e.g. the frame and the front fork (shocker) will change it's shape like gold does, while the other petrol 2 wheeler will remain unharmed with a few cosmetic breakages. Also, the front of the vehicle will completely collapse if there's a head on collision).
Actually it depends on the service center. Hero has no QA whatsoever on the quality of the service centers that they open up after a deal with a local dealer with the franchise; as a result, the local dealers treat the vehicle as bicycles (and actually they're kind of bicycles -- they only have a frame, body, controller, battery and motor; very simple) . They'll do your job in a lot less cost, but will have reduced QA, but is good enough.
Maintenance is less. Taking advantage of the above kind of service center, they'll fix small things (bad lock, bolt tight etc...) free of cost; but generally speaking also, the maintenance IS actually less. There're no valves, no clutch plate, no carburetor, no dirty, no piston cylinders, bad fuel etc... to increase maintenance cost.
The motor life is practically unlimited, and the controller's life is actually unlimited.
As of water proofing, the parts which most people think are vulnerable are actually the best protected against water. Practically, the thing is water proof; although the company doesn't claims, but I've driven the vehicle in high flow (flood) knee deep water, where the motor was actually submersed and I think the water even reached the battery compartment. Water may have affect on the generic electronics like horn (in my case, who's switch misbehaves after a shower), but not the critical parts, only the which may give problem in all vehicles.
The design of the thing is horrible. This vehicle was supposed to be a unisex one (as shown on their website), but it looks as if it's for girls and ladies . I'd say, from the front it looks ugly and a big guy on it looks funny. Even Optimus looks better. I'd not suggest the vehicle if you're macho like, or even if you're a guy; you'll feel embarrassed!
