TVS iQube S long-term review, 1,000km report

“No, we don’t want to do that because the wires will make the building look ugly and, you know, these EVs are catching fire these days also… so we don’t want to take the risk”. That was effectively what I was told when I asked my building society if I could have a power outlet added to my covered parking spot. The joys of living in Mumbai (especially on rent) are unending.

Effectively, that is why I have not yet lived with an EV on a daily basis, but our long-term TVS iQube has given me the confidence to give it a shot. We rode hundreds of kilometres in the build-up to our recent electric scooter comparison and all that testing made me realise that the iQube’s range is more than enough to support my in-city commute needs. My round trip from home to the office and back is about 27km. With the scooter in Sport mode throughout, and me riding as fast as I want, I manage the round trip with about 60-65 percent charge remaining. Technically, I could cover two days of commuting before charging at the office, but I make sure to top it up every day so that the scooter is ready to go if some unexpected requirement comes up.

With range no longer a cause for anxiety, I can now thoroughly enjoy the electric experience. I’ve maintained for a while that I’d happily switch to an EV for my daily commute and after a few weeks with the iQube that belief has only been reinforced. The ease, calm and sheer effortlessness of riding a peppy EV makes dealing with Mumbai’s nasty traffic and shoddy roads just that little bit less stressful.

What I’ve been enjoying on the iQube is its soft suspension that soaks up the road nicely, but you do have to be careful at higher speeds over bumps because the fork can bottom out quite easily. The acceleration is just about strong enough to keep things interesting and the brakes are just about capable enough when things get a bit too ‘interesting’. Most of all, I like that the scooter can get up to an indicated 70kph with ease before topping out at about 80kph. That’s fast enough to not make me feel like a sitting duck on Mumbai’s Western Express Highway, which comprises a part of my daily route. Like with most TVS scooters, I also enjoy the fact that it’s roomy enough for tall folks to be reasonably comfortable.

What I don’t like is that regenerative braking still feels a bit too strong and unnatural, although I have gotten used to it now. Most of all though, there is no carry case for the portable charger, which permanently lives in the boot and you can hear it clattering around. That’s a particularly off-putting sound when you consider that the charger costs Rs 9,450. I will have to figure out a way to effectively protect the charger.

The iQube has now run 994.4km with us and it has been free from any issues since the random shutdown we reported in our last report. The first service isn’t due for a while (6 months/4,000km) and there really isn’t much that needs to happen there apart from inspecting tyre pressures, bolt torques, cable conditions, brake fluid levels, etc. Subsequent service intervals are set at every 12 months or 4,000km. When the first service happens, we’ll let you know how much it costs. But so far, it’s smooth sailing on this likeably simple and straightforward EV.