Bounce Infinity E1 First Ride Review: The Perfect Honda Activa 6G Alternative?

With its prices starting from as low as Rs 70,999, the Infinity E1 sounds like a mouth-watering proposition. 

• The E1 has a range of around 85km per charge. 
• Its battery, meanwhile, takes around four hours to charge. 
• Features on the scooter include an LCD display. 

One of the most appealing aspects of electric scooters in India right now is their extremely low running costs - the average gas scooter costs roughly Rs 2 per km to run, whereas an Ather 450X costs just 27 paise (Rs 0.27) per km! However, the decent high-performance electric scooters on the market are fairly expensive to begin with. Bounce, with its new Infinity E1 electric scooter, is the latest business attempting to fix this challenge.

It costs little more than half the price of the Ather and is roughly comparable to the average 110cc petrol scooter. That is if you buy it the traditional way, with the battery pack and home charger included. So how good of a scooter is it? We find that out: 

Bounce Infinity E1: Design & Features

The Bounce Infinity E1 has a sleek, European design with smooth, flowing lines. Some quality features include flush-fitting pillion footpegs, an aluminium finish on the swingarm, and a body-colored inner apron.

Bounce Infinity E1: Motor

With the unique ownership possibilities of Bounce out of the way, let's get into the scooter itself. The BLDC hub motor is rated at 2.2kW peak and 1.5kW nominal power, which is sufficient for a claimed top speed of 65kmph. But there's a reported 85Nm of torque, and because this is an electric, it's all accessible from the start.

When you start the scooter in Sport mode, you can feel the quick electric torque. The scooter accelerates quickly and feels like it can bear its weight comfortably, reaching speeds of around 40kph. Beyond this point, though, the rate of acceleration slows significantly, and it's a long way to the indicated top speed of 65kph. 

As a result, the E1 feels usable on narrow inner-city routes, but it is better avoided on bigger, faster-moving roadways. You can get by on the narrower intra-city highways found in metros, but you'll be best off staying to the left and out of people's way. Eco mode restricts top speed to an indicated 40kph, so use it only if you're nearing the end of your range.

Bounce Infinity E1: Chassis

When riding the E1, you notice how light and manoeuvrable it is. It has a reverse mode, which is noteworthy at this price point, but its 94kg kerb weight is extremely manageable, and the E1 is friendly to novice and inexperienced riders. And, while the suspension isn't particularly soft, the ride comfort is adequate, which is more than can be said for some similarly priced competitors.

Bounce Infinity E1: Dimensions

While it outperforms the competition in terms of functionality, it falls short in terms of underseat storage. With the removable 12kg 2 kWh battery pack stored under the seat, there's very little room for your trinkets, and a compact half-face helmet will only just fit. Even if you travel with the supplied home charger, this may not be possible.

Space is a motif throughout the scooter - the E1 feels rather tiny, obviously a size down on most petrol-powered scooters. The floorboard isn't the most spacious, and the handlebar will rub against the knees of even the shortest riders when fully locked.

Bounce Infinity E1: Variants & Price

The Bounce Infinity E1 is priced between Rs. 70,999 to Rs. 89,999. The Infinity E1 is available in four configurations: With Battery, With Battery As A Service, With Battery As A Service - Pro. 

Verdict

To summarise, the Infinity E1 is a terrific city commuter with a rich feature set and a good riding experience, as long as you don't spend too much time on the highway. True range will be verified at a later point, but the USP of this scooter is the flexibility afforded in terms of charging and ownership options, as well as Bounce's commitment to a swapping infrastructure. 

The Bounce lacks the performance and range of comparable scooters, but the option of charging the battery at home or, more conveniently, subscribing to the exchanging programmes does exist. That is, it is a viable option for the average consumer, and it may be for many others. However, if you are in a similar circumstance, it would be recommended that you wait until Bounce's swapping infrastructure is operational.