Travel light

Another electric bike, Rahee, is set to hit the market. But this one doesn’t look like a toy, and of course, saves you money

Saving the world from pollution and protecting the middle class from the sky-rocketing fuel prices have become the latest obsession for automobile manufacturers. After years of marketing branded products from TVS motorcycle and HCL laptops to insurance products like Bajaj Alliance and Tata AIG, the RMP Infotec Group will soon join the electric two-wheeler brigade by launching its energy saver scooter, Rahee, in March. It will be rolled out from its all-women Vrla plant in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh. That’s right; no men work at this plant.

The Rahee has a very contemporary look that makes it stand out in the crowd. But what’s

most impressive is its size. Even though the company claims Rahee’s size is perfect for an adult and a child, rest assured there is enough room for two adults unlike on other electric scooters. Another good thing that RMP Infotec has done is to make sure the Rahee looks like a scooter, not some oversized electric-powered toy. This means no adult need feel embarrassed or look out of place while riding it.

The complete body is made of fibre plastic, which not only reduces the weight of the energy-saver bike but also cuts down on the maintenance bill. Its alloy wheels try hard to make the vehicle look sporty.

Story continues below this ad

The scooter weighs 70 kg with the battery load thrown in. Unlike most two-wheelers, the Rahee gets twin headlights, which means it glares back at you should you stare at it. The minor hiccup with these lights is that they are not attached to the steering bar, so one has to be cautious at night while turning. One big letdown: the sad rip-off of the BMW kidney grills in front.

The electric scooter is powered by a 48v/14Ah battery which gives an output of roughly 250 watts. In simple words, the Rahee can hit a cruising speed of 22 kmph. The two-wheeler is completely noiseless and pollution free. The initial pick-up is quite impressive but once it reaches 20 kmph, the speed seems static. It comes with drum brakes which stops the vehicle efficiently.

As the vehicle doesn’t cross 25 kmph, no registration is required, nor is a helmet mandatory. “Though helmet is not a must, we will still tell our buyers to wear one for safety reasons,” says Dhaval J. Chandan, Chairman, RMP Infotec.

With a charge of 6-9 hours—at most an outgo of Rs 4—the Rahee does 40 km. That works out to cost of a paise per kilometer. The company believes with hardly anything to pay for running the scooter, many youngsters and middle class families will be tempted to buy it. “We are targeting youngsters and the middle class who want to cut down on fuel bills,” Chandan says.

Story continues below this ad

The Rahee’s batter can also be easily removed and charged at home—another first in an electric scooter. So there is no need to buy additional power cords for the two-wheeler. The scooter also has adequate space in the compartment under the seat. Even though the dashboard is spacious, the built quality is a bit plasticky. The fit and finish of the indicator and other switches look tacky. Unfortunately, this is a common complaint in electric scooters.

The Rahee comes in three colours—beige gold, black and red. This scooter is big but a tad slower. The size, therefore, is important. It creates an image and ensures an adult will not look like an oversized kid on a tricycle. But at the end of the day, energy bikes are all about saving money and Planet Earth, and the Rahee does exactly that.