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Ampere Reo Elite Electric Scooter Review: A Starter-Pack To The Electric Scooter Segment In India
Ampere Vehicles launched their latest electric scooter offering, the Reo Elite in Bangalore in late-December 2019. The Ampere Reo Elite is the entry-level 'low range' electric scooter offering from the brand in the market offered with either a lead-acid or lithium-ion battery pack.
The entry-level Ampere Reo Elite electric scooter promises a stress-free mode of commute between point A to point B, with a bit of style. However, does the electric scooter have what it takes to take on some of the other products in the segment or even its entry-level petrol-powered counterparts?
We rode the Ampere Reo Elite on the streets of Bangalore for a week to put to test the latest electric scooter from the brand and also find out how it is in the real-world conditions.
Design & Style
The Ampere Reo Elite is a stylish-looking electric scooter with compact dimensions. The electric scooter features a sleek and simple design when viewed from any angle.
Starting from the front, the Ampere Reo Elite electric scooter features sharp-looking angular turn indicators on the cowl.
Moving further down the front apron features a rather large set of stylish LED headlamps. Both the front cowl and the apron also come with contrasting black elements, adding to its character.
The side profile of the Ampere Reo Elite electric scooter carries forward the sleek and slender design from the front. The side panels come with nicely designed body graphics.
The lower part of the scooter comes finished in black, along with the grab handles for the pillion; adding a bit of style to the side. The 10-inch alloy rims at the front are also blacked-out further adding a bit of character.
The blacked-out lower section on the Ampere Reo Elite helps mask the large floorboard area, which comprises of the battery pack positioned below. Having said this, the battery-pack does protrude slightly below and is noticeable when viewed from a distance.
The seats on the Ampere Reo Elite e-scooter are a single-piece unit. There is also a one-piece grab handle positioned at the end for the pillion rider, finished in black. The rear wheels house the electric motor, which propels the Reo Elite forward. The rear section, however, is kept simple with the stylish-looking taillight being the only talking point.
Powertrain, Performance & Handling
The Ampere Reo Elite electric scooter is powered by a small 250-watt electric motor paired with either a 48V-20Ah lead-acid or a 48V-24Ah lithium-ion battery pack.
We drove the slightly premium version powered by the lithium-ion batteries. The batteries on the Reo Elite are non-removable and the only way to charge the electric scooter is by connecting it directly to a wall-mounted socket.
The lithium-ion batteries we tested took around 5 to 6 hours to charge completely. The more basic lead-acid batteries, on the other hand, need 8 to 10 hours to charge fully.
Ampere hasn't revealed the official power output figures of the Reo Elite e-scooter. However, the 250-watt electric motor provides a top speed of just 25km/h. The electric scooter also doesn't offer any riding modes, which could have vastly improved the riding dynamics.
During our time with the Reo Elite, the electric scooter did manage to return a range of around 50km on a single charge. Ampere recommends a load capacity of 75kg for maximum efficiency from its batteries, although the Reo Elite is capable of handling a maximum load capacity of 120kg.
Coming to the important bit, the performance and handling characteristics of the Ampere Reo Elite. The lithium-ion powered variant of the electric scooter we test rode weighs in at just 68 kilograms. This allows the rider to confidently navigate through traffic with ease.
Being lightweight, the e-scooter can also be pushed around into corners with ease, while the sleek dimensions allow it to get in and out of tight spaces as well. Like all other electric scooters, the Ampere Reo Elite also offers good acceleration from the get-go, however, the power does taper off quickly.
The seats are soft and offer good-levels of comfort even for tall passengers. However, the Reo Elite does come with a raised footboard, which does impede the comfort levels for tall riders, especially during longer riding durations.
The suspension on the electric scooter is through telescopic forks at the front and a set of dual shock-absorbers at the rear. The setup of the suspension is a bit on the harder side, which does mean potholes can be felt more prominently.
The Ampere Reo Elite features a 110mm drum brake setup. This brake setup feels sufficient for the lightweight electric scooter, although we would have preferred a slightly larger set of drum brakes.
The electric scooter does offer a good amount of ground clearance, even with the batteries positioned below the footboard. The ground clearance of 130mm easily allows the electric scooter to pass over any road bump without the bottom part scraping through.
Features, Colours & Availability
The Ampere Reo Elite comes with a host of features and equipment, making it an attractive offering for its price. Some of the main features on the Reo Elite electric scooter include LED DRLs integrated on the headlamp cluster, stylish taillights, alloy wheels, LED instrument cluster, a USB charging port and plenty of under-seat storage as well.
Ampere will also offer the electric scooter in a range of four colour options: Glossy Red, Glossy Black, Glossy Blue, and Glossy White. The Reo Elite electric scooter is currently offered only in Bangalore, and the company is planning an expansion in other cities in the near future.
Rahul Nagaraj Thinks!
The Ampere Reo Elite electric scooter comes across as a very user-friendly commuter offering from the brand. Being a low range offering, the Reo Elite doesn't require any licence or registration to ride.
Further to this, the low starting price of Rs 45,099, ex-showroom (Bangalore) will see the Ampere Reo Elite being mostly used by university students shuffling between home and college.
The Ampere Reo Elite is perfectly targeted towards either college students or first-time buyers in the market. It offers good amount of features, is lightweight and offers decent performance to transport you from point A to point B.