We compare Hero MotoCorp’s first e-scooter against its rivals on paper.
The world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer, Hero MotoCorp, recently debuted the Vida V1, which is its maiden product in the hotly contested electric scooter market.. This scooter is going up against some established rivals, both from startups as well as large OEMs, and has its work cut out for it. For the sake of this specification comparison, we have chosen the range-topping variants of all electric scooters and hence the Vida V1 Pro is the variant featured here. We stack it up against its main rivals on paper and see what’s what.
Vida V1 Pro vs rivals: electric motor, battery and charging
| Electric motor, battery and charging | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vida V1 Pro | Ola S1 Pro | Ather 450X | Bajaj Chetak | |
| Peak Motor Output | 6kW | 8.5kW | 6.2kW | 4.2kW |
| Continuous Motor Output | 3.9kW | 5.5kW | 3.3kW | 4kW |
| Rated Torque | 25 Nm | 58 Nm | 26 Nm | 20 Nm |
| Top Speed (claimed) | 80kph | 116kph | 80kph | 69kph |
| Battery Capacity | 3.94kWh | 4kWh | 3.7kWh | 2.88kWh |
| Claimed Range | 165km | 181km | 146km | 90km |
| Charging Time | 0-80% in 5hr55min | 0-100% in 6hr30min | 0-100% in 5hr40min | 0-100% in 4hr |
In this company, the Vida V1 Pro has the second largest battery pack, which also translates into a range figure that’s second only to the Ola S1 Pro. Its peak output figure also closely trails that of the Ather 450X and with such numbers it’s not surprising that Hero claims a 0-40kph time of just 3.2s, which makes it actually faster than the Ather 450X. Compared to all these scooters, the Chetak is the least powerful and also has the smallest range figure, no surprise considering it has the smallest battery pack here. However, it does make up for it with a charging time that is considerably lower than the others and a continuous power output that’s on par with the others. The Vida V1 Pro has the slowest charging time here, with a 0-80 percent charge taking nearly 6 hours, which is more than even the Ather’s 0-100 percent charging time.
Vida V1 Pro vs rivals: dimensions and underpinnings
| Dimensions and underpinnings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vida V1 Pro | Ola S1 Pro | Ather 450X | Bajaj Chetak | |
| Wheelbase | 1301mm | 1359mm | 1295mm | 1330mm |
| Seat height | 780mm | 792mm | 780mm | 762mm |
| Ground clearance | 155mm | 165mm | 153mm | 160mm |
| Weight | 125kg | 125kg | 111.6kg | 133kg |
| Suspension (F/R) | Telescopic fork/Monoshock | Single fork/Monoshock | Telescopic fork/Monoshock | Leading link/Monoshock |
| Brakes (F/R) | Disc/ Drum | 220mm disc/180mm disc | 200mm disc/190mm disc | 200mm disc/130mm drum |
| Tyres (F/R) | 12-inch | 110/70-R12 | 90/90-12/100/80-12 | 90/90-12 |
| Storage | 26 litres | 36 litres | 22 litres | 18 litres |
When it comes to its underpinnings, the Vida V1 Pro is a mixed bag. On one hand it has a wheelbase that’s only slightly longer than the agile Ather 450X but it does weigh the same as the 125kg Ola S1 Pro. Suspension hardware and the 12-inch wheels it rolls on are par for the course as well but one thing that’s disappointing, especially at its high price point, is the presence of a rear drum brake. The other e-scooter to get a rear drum brake is the Bajaj Chetak which is also the heaviest of the lot at 133kg due to its all-metal body. The storage capacity on the Vida V1 Pro is second only to the large one found on the Ola S1 Pro (which incidentally is twice the size of the one on the Chetak) and seat height is an unintimidating 780mm, the same as the Ather 450X.
Vida V1 Pro vs rivals: features
In stark comparison to its sister company, Hero Electric’s products, the Vida V1 Pro is a tech-laden offering and brings a few segment-firsts to the table. The removable batteries, which will effectively reduce a full charge to a matter of minutes, as well as the fully customizable Custom riding mode are features that haven’t been seen before in this space. Controlling all the electronic features on the Vida V1 Pro is a touch-compatible 7-inch full-colour TFT display with OTA (Over The Air) updates functionality built in. Additionally, the Vida V1 Pro is equipped with keyless functionality, 3 preset riding modes- Sport, Ride and Eco, reverse and regenerative assist, SOS functionality and all-LED lighting. It also boasts of fast-charging capability at the rate of 1.2km/min, a feature that extends to the more affordable Vida V1 Plus as well. Since the charging port of the Vida V1 has been sourced from Ather, it will also be able to access Ather’s widespread fast-charging network.
The Ola S1 Pro and the Ather 450X hold their own against the Vida V1, with both sporting multiple ride modes, touch-compatible TFT displays and a proprietary app as well. The Ather 450X is the only other scooter here to boast of fast-charging capability and can be topped up at the rate of 1.5km/min (slightly faster than the Vida V1). While the Chetak gets nearly the same features as the other, it misses out on a TFT display like the other three, although it does boast of keyless functionality like the Vida V1 Pro.
Vida V1 Pro vs rivals: Price
| Price | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vida V1 Pro | Ola S1 Pro | Ather 450X | Bajaj Chetak | |
| Price (ex-showroom, Delhi, including FAME-II subsidies) | Rs 1.59 lakh | Rs 1.39 lakh | Rs 1.39 lakh | Rs 1.47 lakh (on road Mumbai, with charger/after all subsidies) |
When it comes to price, the Vida V1 Pro bucks the long-standing trend of Hero’s usually aggressively priced products and is the most expensive electric scooter in the Indian marketplace today. Even the relatively more affordable variant, the Rs 1.45 lakh Vida V1 Plus, is more expensive than the other scooters here. In fact, the Vida V1 Pro is Hero MotoCorp’s most expensive product across its entire two-wheeler lineup currently.
With more affordable offerings promising similar levels of performance, and features, it remains to be seen whether the Vida V1 electric scooter is able to establish itself as a major player in the marketplace. As of now, the Vida V1 electric scooters are only available in Delhi, Bengaluru and Jaipur, with more locations being offered further down the line and deliveries will commence in the second week of December.
Also See:
Ather 450X vs Ola S1 Pro vs TVS iQube S vs Bajaj Chetak comparison
Hero MotoCorp Vida vs Hero Electric: what’s the difference?
Hero Vida V1 walkaround video
Hero Vida V1 vs rivals: price comparison
Would you purchase the Vida V1 Pro over its considerably cheaper rivals? Let us know in the comments section below.