CarTrade.com: India's renowned automaker had showcased their capabilities in the hybrid segment with the Halo concept sports-car and the XUV 500 hybrid unveiled at the February held Auto Expo event held in Delhi. Mahindra has now also decided to unveil its potential in the hybrid two wheeler segment with its first electric two wheeler rechristened as 'GenZe'. The scooter is slated for release in the US market sometime in the second half of this year.
A team based in Palo Alto, California has been working on GenZe. The first prototype was seen at an event in US held last year where the scooter was first showcased. As per sources, the idea behind the electric scooter was first conceived at Silicon Valley and was stated as, “ part of a single global initiative from Mahindra to address the growing problem of transportation in crowded cities across the world.”
Mahindra expected to launch its first electric scooter in USA this year
The Mahindra GenZe shall be powered by 1.4KW (1.8bhp) electric motor that is capable of covering about 50 kms and attain a top speed of about 50 km/hr. The scooter gets an integrated power module that includes – a charger, battery pack and controller along with the replaceable lithium ion battery. The GenZe sports a wind-cheating windshield for the rider's convenience.
The GenZe from Mahindra has been designed to deliver maximum utility. The abundant amount of space in the bucket behind the rider lets you fill it up with laundry, grocery or collect parcels on your way back. A USB charger has been provided below the seat for on-the-go recharging of your mobile phones or other electrical gadgets. To make this scooter high on technology, it gets a weather-proof seven-inch touchscreen that reads out every bit of vital information like battery charge status, diagnostics, range and route update. The device is Bluetooth enabled and is compatible with GPS applications. Moreover, it also streams your favorite music while on the move.
For now the Mahindra GenZe scooter shall only be launched for the US market at a price tag of USD 3,000 (Rs 180,000). Though the Indian automaker has also been working on plans to launch something similar to the Indian market. Sources have also stated that EV team at TVS Motor Company have also been working on similar lines for their electric scooter.
