Hero -Ultra..
Hero Cycles Ltd (HCL) entered into a joint venture with the Ultra Motor Co (UMC), a Britain-based electric vehicle company, to form Hero Ultra Pvt Ltd. The Hero Cycles earlier in Oct 2006 signed a technical collaboration-cum-joint marketing agreement with the UMC to produce and jointly market a range of electric-powered two-wheelers in the country. The joint venture company, Hero Ultra Pvt Ltd., will most likely come into effect from January 2008, and would launch around three e-scooters within the coming six months. Hero -Ultra’s offerings are likely to be high-powered scooters, capable of a maximum speed of 100 kmph, up from the current maximum of 70 kmph.
To mark this occasion, Hero launched two new electric-powered two-wheelers named ‘Velociti’ and ‘Optima’, which are priced Rs.34,000 and Rs.29,000, respectively. The new company will continue to produce and market the range of seven electric-powered two-wheelers priced between Rs.14,000 and Rs.27,000 that have been launched in March this year. The company is planning to open 150 outlets across the country by the end of this fiscal. It is also planning to showcase its products in Reliance Retail’s supermarkets.
Velociti and Optima..
Velociti is based on the patented ‘impulse inertia technology’ that gives it a higher speed of 40 km per hour and a better torque to help scale gradients. It comes with a powerful motor of 500 watts that delivers a peak motor output of 1000 watts and a range of 50km per charge, under standard test conditions. Velociti has a powerful 48V/ 24 AH Sealed Lead Acid battery, hydraulic disc brakes in the front and drum brakes in the rear wheel, and is supported by the telescopic suspension system.
Priced at Rs34,000 (ex-showroom Delhi) Velociti will be available across select showrooms in North, West and South India initially. Targeted largely at the 28 year plus, evolved commuter, Velociti will be available in two colour options – silver and burgundy.
Optima is a new addition to the already existing range of seven models of basic electric scooters from Hero Ultra. The largest selling model Maxi, rated as the Best Electric Two Wheeler by Bike India, a leading two-wheeler magazine, contributes to about 80 per cent of the sales for the company. Hence keeping in mind the same performance parameters and to give a new variant to the consumer ‘Optima’ has been launched with new looks and design. The ‘Optima’ delivers a range of 70 km per charge and a maximum speed of 25km per hour.
Three wheeler..
Ultra Motors plans to launch its first hybrid electric three-wheelers in India by early January 2009 . The three wheeler being planned for India by Ultra Motors will be a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), which uses both an electric motor or motors and a petrol or diesel engine to extend the car’s range and often to provide additional power. Toyota’s much popular hybrid car Prius uses battery power up to certain speeds and the gasoline engine for higher speeds, and can draw on both power sources if needed. The batteries are recharged by the fuel engine, which acts as a generator, and in most models by the energy generated from braking. The CNG and Diesel prototype is already ready and India will be the first country, where Ultra Motors will introduce the model.