Hero Electric has expanded its product portfolio
with the launch of the Extended Range (ER) variants of the Optima and Nyx.
Christened as the Optima ER and Nyx ER, the electric scooters are priced at INR
68,721* and INR 69,754* respectively.
The Optima ER and the Nyx ER boast a range of 110 km
and 100 km respectively. The extended range has been achieved with the use of a
dual battery-pack (Lithium-Ion battery) on the electric scooters. The
batter-pack takes approximately five hours to fully charge. The new variants
aim to address the range anxiety associated with electric scooters.
Both scooters boast a top speed of 42 km/h. Both
vehicles are part of the company’s high-speed range of products. The electric
scooters ride on conventional telescopic front suspension that should soak
undulations on the surfaces efficiently and offer a comfortable ride quality.
Stopping power comes from drum brakes on both ends. Other key features of the
products include a digital speedometer, regenerative braking and LED headlight.
Do note that Hero Electric is one of the five brands
in the country to benefit under the FAME-II scheme. Other brand names to
benefit from the subsidy include Ather Energy, Ampere, Okinawa and Jitendra
Electric Vehicles. Electric vehicles also benefit from the revised GST rate (5%
as against 12% previously) and other tax benefits.
Apart from the launch of the new variants, Hero
Electric also announced the inauguration of its new corporate office in
Bangalore. The new office is part of the company’s expansion plans for southern
India. The electric two-wheeler brand targets to place 1,000 touchpoints (from
existing 615) by the end of 2020. Hero Electric also plans to make an
investment towards ramping up the annual production capacity to 5 lakh units.
