River Indie e-Scooter: Decently Value-for-money Scooter

The River Indie is one feature-loaded scooter. 

• It gives back a real world range of 120 km while facilitating a 90 kmph claimed top speed. 
• Its battery will take about five hours to charge upto 80%. 
• Rivals include the Ather 450X, TVS iQube and Ola S1 Pro. 

River, an electric vehicle startup with headquarters in Bangalore, priced its first model, the "Indie," at Rs. 1,24,999 (ex-showroom, Bangalore). One thing is certain: the e-scooter industry is becoming quirkier, and the Indie's design undoubtedly attests to that. 

Here's a closer look at what to anticipate from this brand-new electric scooter that offers tried-and-true performance and never-before-seen features while also attempting to demonstrate other approaches. 

So how successful has this approach been? Let’s find out: 

River Indie: Design & Features

The style of the Indie is eccentric and mimics that of the Yamaha Neo. In addition to having a cool-looking LED headlight with LED DRL, the scooter has a generally tough appearance. The front and side crash protectors, as well as the large single-piece grab rail, add to the strong appearance.

In true EV flair, the Indie also includes a number of noteworthy features. Its six-inch LCD instrument console may be utilised to operate any of its three riding modes, Eco, Ride, and Rush. 

The convenience is increased by features like reverse parking assistance and two charging connections. Along with a 12-liter lockable front glove box, it has the largest under-seat storage capacity on the market at 43 litres. In fact, upping the convenience factor, you can even get yourself panniers, accessory mounts, bag hooks, top boxes, and other accessories. 

River Indie: Motor

A 6.7kW, 26Nm (both peak) motor connected to a belt final drive powers the scooter. The top speed, according to the firm, is 90kmph. The e-scoot's 4kWh battery pack is said to provide a real-world range of 120 km. Using a regular charger, it will take roughly five hours to charge the battery from 0% to 80%. 

The Ather 450X, TVS iQube Electric, Hero Vida V1, and Ola S1 Pro are some of the few vehicles that the River Indie competes with. The Hero XPulse 200T 4V, Yamaha FZS-FI, Vespa VXL 125, and the Hero Xtreme 200S are affordable alternatives to the River Indie.

River Indie: Chassis

The River Indie is suspended on a telescopic fork along with a monoshock at the rear. But what is virtually unheard of in this segment are its big 14-inch wheels. They help a lot when cornering the scooter or even when it comes to straight line stability. 

Additionally, the Indie seems relaxed when driving around curves. With its 100-section MRF tyres, it can turn in with agility and confidence. It travels quickly through curves and on straightaways with lots of front-end sensation as well as a sense of strength and stability. Despite the significant regen in Sport mode, the braking mannerism is confidence-inspiring, and the deceleration feels quite natural in all modes.

River Indie: Dimensions

The River Indie’s robust 14-inch wheels suit its  slogan, "The SUV of Scooters." The BGauss D15 gets 15-inchers for perspective. It is much more conducive to India thanks to its 165mm ground clearance and 770mm seat height.   

On paper, the Indie is one of the heaviest scooters on sale today. But when manoeuvring on foot or in confined spaces, it feels lighter. The Ather or the iQube will still be the more practical choices for those seeking lighter scooters. Compared to the Indie, which from the saddle feels like a big scooter, the iQube is also easier on the wallet and feels friendlier with its low seating and slimmer dimensions. 

For shorter riders, the 770mm seat height, which is almost as tall as the Ather and Ola, can feel like a perch. While the foot space is relatively ample, taller riders may find the riding geometry difficult because the switchgear is likely to touch their knees.

River Indie: Price

The River Indie's initial pricing (ex-showroom Bengaluru, including FAME II subsidy) is Rs 1,24,999. There are three colours to choose from: Monsoon Blue, Summer Red, and Spring Yellow. Preorders are now being accepted for Rs 1,250 on River's official website, and deliveries will start in August 2023.

Verdict

The River Indie, hence, appears distinctive and has all the necessary components. What we really hope though, is that the firm can establish enough dealerships across India, in order to be able to meet demand without experiencing any bottlenecks, and then fulfil its commitments on all fronts. We expect deliveries for this electric scooter to begin in August this year.