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Numeros Diplos Max Review - Tough & Utilitarian But Flawed
Numeros Motors, another Bangalore-based startup in the two-wheeler EV market, launched the Diplos Pro in March 2024. Aimed at the commercial segment, this electric scooter featured a carrier at the back, a large-ish floorboard, and a rugged build. It has a claimed IDC range of 140km.
Now, with Auto Expo 2025 around the corner, Numeros Motors is readying the Diplos Max, the scooter version meant for the everyday Indian commuter. We recently got to experience the Numeros Motors Diplos Max in Bangalore and what follows are our first thoughts about it following a day in the saddle.
Numeros Diplos Max Review: Design & Features - A Passenger Conversion
Those of you who've had the opportunity to glimpse the commercial Diplos Pro will be wondering what the firm has changed to make it the Max other than removing the rear carrier and replacing it with a seat. In every other way, the Diplos Max looks the same as its commercial sibling.
So what exactly do you get in this commercial two-wheeler turned family ride? At the front, the upper section over the handlebars sports a dual-tone look with the blacked-out section housing the Diplos nameplate and the LED DRL strip.
The front turn signals are almost hidden atop the front apron, which angles forward before dropping vertically just as it reaches the round headlight, something fans of the Iron Man suit will find quite fascinating. Underneath this sits the front fender and the front suspension setup, with the former sitting quite high above the front alloy wheel.
The floorboard is flat and long enough for most riders and post that the body panels (which feel solidly built and can take a beating) rise up and straighten out above the rear shocks. The seats are big but the space underneath (only under the front seats) is minimal thanks to the removable battery pack.
The side panels like the front apron feature a contrast stripe that ends up with the full nameplate of the electric scooter - Numeros Diplos Max. The back section is the weirdest of the lot with an oval LED brake light sitting above the rear numberplate and the rear reflector.
Once you're seated the view in front isn't what you would call envy-inducing. The screen is tiny but thankfully not too reflective. The switchgear also feels a bit undercooked in terms of its looks with the ones to change modes feeling like more of an afterthought than anything else. The Diplos Max is offered with a USB charging port, to keep your phone charged up on the go.
Numeros Diplos Max Review: Specs & Dimensions - Made For Jam-Packed Cities
The Numeros Diplos Max features a removable dual-battery pack setup that has a combined capacity of 3.7kWh pack. To charge the Diplos Max, you can either plug it directly into the 1.2kW charger or remove the battery packs and charge them where you have an available plug point. A full charge takes 3-4 hours.
If you do need to remove the battery packs, Numeros Motors has provided a kill switch. Next to the housing for the battery packs is a kill switch for safe removal. However, there is a delay of around 3-4 seconds after you put back the batteries and switch the power back on, which is a good thing.
The battery packs of the Numeros Diplos Max are connected to a hub motor with a peak power output of 3.58bhp (2.67kW) and 138Nm of peak wheel torque which allows for a claimed top speed of 63km/h.
The Diplos Max features telescopic front suspension and adjustable dual shocks at the rear. Braking duties are carried out by a 220mm front disc and a 180mm rear disc. The 12-inch wheels are shod with 90/90 tubeless tyres.
The Numeros Diplos Max measures 1,960mm long, 720mm wide and 1,125mm tall and features a 1,430mm long wheelbase. The electric scooter offers 150mm of ground clearance and tips the scales at 137kg.
Numeros Diplos Max Review: Riding Impressions - A Bit Lean On The Electric Fun
On the go, the Diplos Max feels very basic. The throttle response feels decent up to around 30km/h but post that the scooter's ability to gain speed, made us wonder if it could actually reach its top speed of 63km/h.
The Diplos Max with a single rider can ride up gradients of up to 14 degrees but this does drop significantly when you have two riders present. Get on a steep-ish road and you'll find yourself rolling back if you ever come to a stop in the middle of it.
While the seat of the Diplos Max is a comfortable place to be in, the suspension setup is on the stiffer side, which while good for stability means that you feel the bumps and the ruts as you pass over them. The brakes of the Diplos Max are decent but when the combi braking system comes into play the rear brake felt a bit too light for our tastes.
However, the biggest issue with the Numeros Diplos Max as an electric scooter for the everyday rider is its lack of any practical storage space. Sure the floorboard feels large enough for most Indian riders but there is barely anything on the Diplos Max to make this space usable and the under-seat storage is annoyingly small to be of any use.
The other weird issue we faced while riding it was the fact that it dozed off after being left idle for a few minutes when switched on. To wake it back to life, we had to lift the front seat, hit the kill switch to turn the electrical system off, turn it back on again, then turn the scooter back on and wait for another 4-5 seconds for the bike to finally wake up.
It is almost like the system needs shock therapy if it goes into sleep mode, which can be very annoying if you find yourself stuck in one place in a traffic jam.
Numeros Diplos Max Review: Verdict & Final Thoughts - Tough, Utilitarian But Flawed
The Numeros Diplos Max sees the Bangalore-based startup try and reinvent its electric last-mile commercial scooter into one a family can live with. While the Diplos Max has got most of the basics right, when it comes to practicality, it is flawed, especially with a price tag expected to be more than Rs 1 lakh (ex-showroom).
If you're looking for a tough and practical everyday electric scooter and think that Numeros Motors may be for you if you are willing to live with the practicality issues and the other niggles.
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