The Vida V1 is a well-equipped but uncomfortably high priced scooter.
Hero MotoCorp was the last two-wheeler maker in the Indian market to launch electric vehicles, and like Bajaj, they decided to do so through a dedicated, premium EV sub-brand. The new EV brand is called Vida and the scooter is called V1. Vida V1 is available in two variants, V1 Plus and V1 Pro. We have the Pro here and the main difference between the two is in the battery capacity. So most of what you read here will apply to both models.
Vida V1 review: design
Vida V1 carries a completely new and quite unusual design. The most striking viewing angle is the aggressive-looking face with low-mounted LED headlights, wide bodywork and a flying screen above. The side panels are all about the large body panels and the unusual split seat design. From the driver’s point of view, the Vida has some premium-looking switches and a 7-inch touchscreen TFT display.
The combined trunk space is 26 liters.
Things get a bit more unusual at the rear, where there’s a lot of black plastic around the boot area. This is designed to be a modular system where you can remove the black plastic or the rear seats, but the company says the functionality will be available at a later date. In its current form, boot space comes in at 26 liters, which isn’t class-leading, but it’s pretty good. However, since the trunk is divided into two parts, you will only be able to store a small open-face helmet in it.
Personally, the design is not a deal maker, nor a breakout, however, quality and finish can certainly improve. The problem is mainly in the feel and quality of the plastic, of which there are many on this scooter. In some places they are rough, while in others the spacing of the panel is uneven. The switches themselves look nice, but we noticed that the entire set of switches would wobble up and down on the handlebars. The company told us that these are pre-production vehicles and that these issues will be resolved once the production vehicle reaches the customer. This is something we will find out when we properly evaluate production spec scooters on public roads. However, while the quality needs to be improved, the fundamentals seem to be in place when it comes to comfort.
Vida V1 review: ride and handling
The Vida V1 looks like a pretty big scooter to a person and that changes the way you sit on it. The floor feels natural at a height, the seats are nice and spacious, and the steering wheel position is also quite nice.
Although we only got to drive the V1 on super-quiet test tracks at Hero’s vast Technology and Innovation Center in Jaipur, from what I can tell, there seems to be a good degree of compliance in the interim. stop. I suspect that this scooter should have a unique absorption suspension set up on the road.
What we can be sure of is that it is a very good handler. On Hero’s handling, the scooter behaves in a predictable and steady manner without feeling too nimble or steering as fast as some scooters can. The V1 rides on 12-inch wheels with MRF tires that provide enough traction in dry conditions. Finally, the limiting factor on the track is that the main rack starts to scratch at high inclines. That’s hardly an issue in the real world and what you can expect is a well-balanced scooter and a lot of fun to ride.
The Vida V1 Pro weighs in at 125kg, which is on par with the Ola in the heavier segment of the scooter market, but it doesn’t feel bulky and like most EV scooters, has a reverse function if you need it. . Braking is also good enough for this level of performance.
Vida V1 review: performance
The Vida is probably not the best handling e-scooter available today, but it’s pretty good and so is its performance. With a top speed of around 80 km/h, it’s not the fastest e-scooter out there, but it’s faster than most and the performance on offer is more than enough for big city living.
The air-cooled swing-arm motor produces a peak power of 6kW and the promised performance is similar to what you’ll get with similar Ather 450Xs. In Sport mode, the acceleration from 20-50kph feels pretty strong, but the urgency in acceleration diminishes after that. The scooter can reach the specified top speed above 80 km/h and it showed no signs of thermal deterioration during our time using it.
The base V1 comes with three driving modes while the V1 Pro adds a custom mode that can be set up to the rider’s liking.
Swingarm mounted PMSM motor generates 6kW.
Along with good performance, the Vida V1 also promises good range. The V1 Pro has a 3.94kWh battery while the V1 Plus has a smaller 3.44kWh battery. Those numbers are good, but what separates the V1 from the competition is that this battery is split into two removable units located under the saddle. Each battery weighs 11kg, so I don’t think most people will want to take them out that often, but it would be nice to have the option.
Vida scooters can be charged in three ways. You can remove the battery and charge it externally, or you can charge the scooter directly using the provided home charger. Finally, the scooter also supports fast charging, and while Hero says it will set up its own network, the V1 can also use Ather’s fast charging network as it shares the same connector design.
Vida V1 review: features
Hero is positioning the Vida as a premium product and they are bringing in a bunch of features to try and prove it. On the scooter itself, you will have full LED lighting, completely keyless functionality, cruise control and automatic lights. There is also a shielded SOS button on the handlebars that can send alert notifications via the mobile app in the event of an emergency. In addition, there are many features that will be enabled by the application, but it is not ready for us to try at launch.
The only scooter in this price range with a removable battery.
While the scooter is rolling out now, as we’ve seen with most other electric scooters, deliveries will only begin after a while and in a few cities to begin with. Hero says that orders are now open and deliveries will begin in December. Sales will begin in Delhi, Bengaluru and Jaipur with more cities to be added later.
Vida V1 review: price
Obviously, the Vida V1 is a well-equipped scooter, but that doesn’t shake the fact that the machine is uncomfortably priced. Vida V1 starts at Rs 1.45 lakh, in old showroom and Vida V1 Pro goes up to Rs 1.59 lakh, in showroom and these prices are after FAME 2 subsidy. Those prices have put this scooter at the top of the EV scooter market as of now. With such an ambitiously high price tag, the Hero seems to have drawn inspiration from the Ather 450X and the Bajaj Chetak, both of which are doing pretty well at the moment despite having similar prices.
The fast charging port is the same as on the Ather 450X.
The thing is, Heros have always been positioned as cost-effective, value-for-money options in the market, and they almost always cost less than the competition. Not only is the Vida V1 the most expensive Hero on sale today, it costs twice as much as the company charges for some of its petrol scooters and I think this price will be a challenge for the company. .
However, we will reserve our full judgment for the time when we properly test Vida on public roads and against its rivals.
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