India happens to have some of the most polluted cities in the world, and of the millions of people that live in India, more than six lakh of them are killed by pollution, while road accidents are responsible for around two lakh people’s deaths. There’s no denying the fact that the fumes from an exhaust are one of the major reasons people lose their lives in our country. And so, with the Hero Electric Optima, the brand hopes to garner as many buyers possible.
Engine
Packed neatly within the frame is a 550 W brushless DC hub motor.
Specifications
The Optima is actually a rather good looking scooter, like most conventional scooters. It gets a stylish front apron with two creases forming a ‘V’ pattern. The clear lens indicators look smart, and the headlight is nice and bright. The side profile is nicely sculpted, while the seat has a step-up look to it. The tail light at the rear is stylish, and the grab handle feels good to hold. The five-spoke mag wheel up-front looks cool, while the rear wheel is covered completely. The plastics are of a good quality, but not under the seat. The digital display is bordered by a lot of faux chrome. The display features battery level, a trip meter, odometer and speed. In terms of dimensions, the Optima is 1970mm in length, 745mm in width and 1145mm in height. The motor delivers 1200W of peak power. When the scooter cruises on a straight stretch of tarmac, at its top speeds, the motor produces constant power, but on a hill climb or from standstill, it delivers peak power. The Optima weighs only 73 kgs, making it lighter than a petrol-engined scooter. The Li-ion battery weights 7 kgs. The motor is quite peppy and it can reach a top speed of 35kph. Open the accelerator, and the motor provides instant torque. The scooter can climb slopes too, provided you use the entire throttle travel. At 73kgs, the scooter feels light and nimble.
Mileage
The Hero Electric Optima has a battery capacity of 48V/20Ah. In terms of range, the scooter is capable of covering 70kms on a single charge, by ARAI.
Mechanical Parts
The seat is sufficiently comfortable, and you sit with your back upright. The overall seating position is like that of any other conventional scooter. Thanks to its light weight and proportions, the Optima fits into tight spots and narrow lanes with aplomb. The ride experience is free of vibrations or squeaks or rattles. Over certain patches of road, the ride does unsettle the rider, but otherwise, the ride is quite smooth. The underseat storage can swallow a full-face helmet, and there’s a hook in the front too. The brakes shred speed pretty well. At the front, the scooter rides on telescopic forks, while the rear gets a box swing arm and dual springs. The Optima runs on 16×3 tyres at the front and 16×3 tyres at the rear.
Features
The scooter comes loaded with a slew of features like mag wheels, pass light switch, digital instrument console, rear grab handle, drum brakes, bag hook and under-seat storage.
Colours
The Hero Electric Optima is available in three shades like Cyan, Matt Grey and Matt Red. Matt Red is certainly a colour that is bound to be a favourite among young riders.
Prices and Variants
The Hero Electric Optima is available in four variants: Optima Lead Acid for ₹ 41,770, Optima Lithium-Ion for ₹ 54,281, Optima E5 for ₹ 61,866 and Optima ER for ₹ 68,721 (ex-showroom, Delhi).
There is a lot more information available on the Hero Electric Optima, along with detailed reviews of the same. Also, grab the latest info on the upcoming scooters, only at autoX.
