Okinawa Scooters has become the first electric two wheeler maker in the country to receive approval of subsidy under the FAME-II (Faster Adoption and Manufacture of hybrid and Electric vehicles) scheme. As per the scheme which aims to promote green vehicles in the country, subsidies are granted if the OEMs meet certain conditions.
The Okinawa i-Praise and Ridge+ electric scooters both of which employ Lithium-ion battery now enjoy government subsidy between Rs 17,000 and Rs 26,000 based on their battery capacity (KWh). This makes the scooters effectively cheaper than Honda Activa 125. In order to receive FAME-II approval, the product must have a top speed of at least 40 kmph, range of at least 80 km per full charge, must use lithium-ion battery pack and must have 50% local content. Both the aforementioned products meet these criteria.
The i-Praise is a premium electric scooter which is powered by a 2,500 watt (peak power) water-proof brushless DC motor which is capable of a top-speed of 75 kmph. The motor is supported by a 2.9 KWh battery pack which has a range of around 160-180 km per charge depending on the operating conditions. The scooter features regenerative braking assistance and takes 2-3 hours to achieve full charge.
The feature highlights of Okinawa i-Praise are front and rear disc brakes (two options of front brake size are available), LED headlights, fully digital instrument console, smartphone connectivity, USB charger, tubeless tires, adjustable brake levers, aluminium alloy wheel, telescopic front fork, etc. The price before subsidy starts at INR 1.16 lakhs (ex-showroom). The i-Praise competes with the Ather 450 which is currently available only in Bangalore.
The Ridge+ employs a 1,200 watt BLDC supported by a 1.75 KWh Li-ion battery pack. The range stands at 90-100 km while top speed stands at 55 kmph. Like the i-Praise, the Ridge+ also comes with smartphone connectivity via Okinawa Eco App. The e-scooter is priced at INR 79,290 (ex-showroom).
The FAME-II subsidies take a significant chunk out of the acquisition price, making these two scooters strong options for urban commuters. We expect more electric two wheeler makers in India work towards receiving FAME-II approval in the near future.
Mr. Jeetender Sharma, Founder & Managing Director, Okinawa Autotech Pvt. Ltd., said, “With eligibility under Fame-II, our customers will be able to enjoy standard subsidy depending upon the model battery kwh. For Okinawa Ridge+ & i-Praise the subsidy would be between Rs 17000 – Rs 26000 based on KWH. We are confident that this will motivate more environment conscious customers to become a part of the Okinawa family to enjoy not only the benefits of e-scooters but also the advanced features offered in the Okinawa range.”
