TVS iQube

TVS’ iQube is born into a family of scooters that set very high standards. The TVS Jupiter, NTorq 125 and the Zest are the straight-A variety of scooters, with strong hearts and good heads on their shoulders. So yes, the iQube has a lot to live up to. Aside from topping the scooter class, as an electric, the task of taking TVS Motor Company into an increasingly electric world sits firmly on its saddle. No pressure, huh? 

Looks, feel and quality

We wouldn't call the iQube beautiful because it's not. When it comes to putting on a show, the iQube is a bit lacking. Its design could well be considered to be the Jupiter 10 years into the future. No doubt the slim headlamp and tail lamp look pretty cool, but the overall shape feels quite conservative. This clearly isn’t a young and trendy design. However, that is a good or bad thing depending on who you are. But we are dead sure that the tone played at startup is from an Aquaguard, and that isn’t good. 

Although, there are areas where the scooter could have done better. The switchgear quality, for instance, feels a bit cheap. The hazard switch on the right-hand side just feels unnecessarily large. The tactile feel of some switches isn't on par with the Jupiter. As a result, you may struggle to try to start the motor or simply change the riding mode.

Power & Mileage

The heart of the iQube is a 3kW hub motor sourced from Bosch, which is a bit disappointing. Even the 4.4kW of peak power, translating to about 6PS of power, sounds quite middling. TVS’ claims of accomplishing the 0-40kph dash in 4.2s and hitting a top speed of 78kph don’t mean much either, unless it does so in a fun and confident manner. 

And, it does, convincingly. The hub motor is an unconventional layout but its claimed 140Nm of torque at the rear wheel feels urgent and plenty. Even in Eco mode the torque will get you to 40kmph swiftly, before tapering off towards the 45kmph limiter. Even with a pillion on board, performance doesn’t feel sluggish. You can toggle to Sport mode even on the go, requiring just a dab of the Mode button on the right-hand-side switchgear. 

The regenerative braking system uses the electric motor as a generator, generating electricity which then tops up batteries. This gives the feel of “engine braking,” slowing the iQube down like a regular petrol-powered scooter. 

Suspension, Ride Quality & Comfort

The underlying hardware is pretty much the same as the Jupiter. You have a telescopic fork, but dual shock absorbers at the rear instead of a single shock. TVS choose to go for this setup to balance the additional weight on the rear wheel. While the suspension setup isn’t as plush as say the Jupiter, it does a decent enough job at absorbing bumps and undulations. What you do notice, however, is the firmness from the rear shocks which might even toss you off the seat on really sharp bumps.

Despite its weight, the iQube feels light and nimble on the go. TVS has managed to pull this off by lowering the centre of gravity using clever positioning of the battery packs. There are three to be precise, one stored under the floorboard and the other two in front of the underseat storage. Despite this, the saddle still sits at a manageable 770mm, just a tad taller than the Jupiter. Average-sized riders will still find it quite accessible.

Ease of Riding - City, Highway & Corners

Even in Eco mode for that matter, it is actually very usable in the city, which isn't the case with other e-scooters. Open the throttle and there's enough torque to help you weave through traffic. The speed is capped at 50kmph (45kmph true speed) which is more than enough for city use.

Switching to Power Mode gives you access to the full 78kmph the motor has to offer. This is perfect for when you move to open stretches of roads or highways.  

Roll off the throttle and the regenerative braking kicks in. It uses the motor to shed speed while topping off the battery just a tiny bit. However, this feature only activates itself once you drop down to 65km of range. Another plus is that you don’t need to rely on the brakes completely while riding. The intuitiveness of the motor offers a rich riding experience.

Features

It does have a bright and sharp colour TFT display that is great to use at any time of the day. But, it could be a bit more crafty too. Some pizzazz like the keyless go and touch-sensitive switches of the Bajaj Chetak or the touchscreen of the Ather would be welcome.

The awkwardly large switches for the hazard lights and the Parking mode, which are also horribly mushy to use, can be better too. Even the fit and finish of the panels around the instrument cluster felt below TVS’s usually high standards. 

Is the TVS iQube  worth buying?

We think the iQube could easily fit into your family. It has enough performance and range for your daily runabouts, with features designed to make riding much easier. The more time you spend on the scooter, the more you fall in love with it. You would actually find yourself gravitating towards the iQube rather than your ICE scooter. What really makes it click is the sheer smoothness and rich experience from the motor. The firm suspension setup is something you will get used to over time. 

Besides, with the government subsidies, the iQube comes in at Rs 1,00,777, that’s just a little over Rs 12,000 more than the Jupiter. Even when you factor in the ever-increasing fuel costs, and the eventual battery replacement costs, you actually end up saving a lot of money. So we’d say that the iQube has definitely narrowed the gap between ICE and electric scooters, and could very well be the family scooter you want.