TVS Apache RR310 ‘Electric’ version imagined

For 2020, TVS Motor Company launched the Apache RR310 with updated features, new body colour and new tyres. Indonesia-based Simon Designs is looking much ahead, and has produced digital concepts of the Apache RR310 ‘Electric’ version.

The electric bike keeps much of the Apache’s upper half intact and reimagines the lower part helped by a new paint job. One of the major highlights of the design is the hubless wheels. There is no front suspension in the design and the swing-arm gets a sleek design. Agreed that the design of the electric rendering is not a practical one but it sure trapped our attention!

Though TVS Motor doesn’t have plans today to launch an electric version of the Apache RR 310, it is inevitable that all scooters and motorcycles will switch to battery power this decade. The electric motorcycle segment is certainly picking up in India thanks to the falling prices of Li-Ion batteries and the ever-increasing acquisition and running costs associated with petrol-powered vehicles. Revolt is the only brand in that segment, where it has launched the RV400 and RV300. Hero Electric has showcased the AE-47 and will be launching it in 2021, while Tork has started testing the production version of its T6X for a rollout in the coming months. About 6 electric motorcycles from brands like EeVe, Ultraviolette and Okinawa are to launch in India by the end of the year.

TVS has ventured into the electric two-wheeler segment with the launch of the TVS iQube earlier this year. The iQube, which is a learning curve for the company, is fitted with a 4.4 kW hub motor, which propels the electric scooter to a top speed of 78 km/h and from 0 to 40 km/h in 4.2 seconds. The battery offers a range of 75 km in a single charge. TVS has also equipped the iQube with features such as TFT display for the instrument cluster, regenerative braking, LED lights all around and mobile charging. The price of the scooter is Rs 1.15 lakh (on-road Bengaluru).

The 2020 Apache RR310 gets several new features with several first-in-segment like the multiple ride modes (Urban, Rain, Sport, and Track) and Bluetooth enabled SmartXonnect system. The RR 310 also gets a new colour TFT instrument cluster, throttle by wire technology and sports new rubber in the form of Michelin Road 5 tyres. There is also a new Titanium Black colour on offer for the bike.

The refreshed RR310 retains the same 313 cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine making a maximum power of 34 PS at 9,700 rpm and 27.3 Nm of peak torque at 7,700 rpm.