Bajaj Chetak C2501

If you are looking for a scooter that is packed with power, quick acceleration, and a long list of  features, the market is full of options. However, if you are looking for an affordable and simple electric scooter that offers a hassle-free commuting experience, then the Chetak C2501 is here for you. It focuses on the essentials, providing a reliable ride for those who want to get from point A to point B without any unnecessary complications.

But does its low cost affect its overall quality and range? 

Chetak C2501 looks young and classic with its horseshoe-shaped LED headlight and an evergreen curvy silhouette. The graffiti sticker on the side panels add a youthful and energetic touch to it. This neat appearance is perfected by specially designed plastic panels that cover the front suspension and swingarm. This ensures the clean and sophisticated design even more. 

Paint quality feels impressive for its segment. However, on the Ocean Teal color, which has matte finish, the choice of glossy sticker doesn't feel right. The scooter would have looked cleaner and more premium without them.

Chetak C2501 comes in 6 vibrant color options- Active Black, Racing Red, Classic White, Ocean Teal (Matte), Opalescent Silver and Misty Yellow. Of these, I really liked Racing Red and Ocean Teal, which makes the scooter stand out from the crowd.

Chetak C2501, being the most affordable in Chetak lineup, still feels impressively solid. It holds onto its premium reputation by using metal for the front apron and rear unibody, which makes it feel sturdy. All the panels are snugly fitted and there are no irregular gaps between them.

And to keep it lightweight, certain parts like the headlight cover, mudguards and side floorboard panels are made out of plastic. However, they don't feel like ‘cheap’ plastic, giving off a high-quality and durable vibe. Even the switchgear has a neat piano black finish that feel easy to operate on the fly, even when wearing proper riding gloves.  Overall, the build quality is great and it doesn’t leave any room for complaints.

Chetak C2501 is a no-nonsense, easy-to-use e-scooter and that's why it only has limited features. It has a colour LCD display that is bright and easy to read. It provides all essential information like a speedometer, odometer, range, battery charge state, call alerts etc. It has separate buttons for Drive, Reverse and Neutral, which is not seen in many electric vehicles as it improves its ease-of-use.

But if you desire just a tad bit more, you can buy the optional ‘TecPac’ for Rs 3,000. This TecPac unlocks several other features like Sports mode, Hill Hold, Music Controls, Emergency Brake Alert and Self-Canceling Indicators. Adding TecPac would definitely enhance your riding experience. It can be either bought straight from the factory or post purchase. However, it needs to be taken to an authorised Chetak service centre to add the goodies to the scooter.

It gets only basic features like Combined Braking System (CBS) and front disc brake. This is a major plus point for Chetak because most of its rivals offer a front drum brake setup in this price segment. 

When it comes to practicality, the Chetak 2501 offers only 25-litres of underseat storage area, which is quite a bit smaller than its other siblings. However, the boot is quite deep and has a flat bottom without any protruding awkward shapes. It should make it easy to fit an ISI full-face helmet or a week's worth of groceries easily. The only minor drawback is the absence of boot light, which could have helped a big time in dark situations.

It has two small cubby holes on the front apron for storing items like a mobile phone or a wallet. A sturdy hook is placed right between these cubby holes to hang small, light bags.

Chetak C2501 comes with a slightly firm suspension setup that makes you take notice of the small, sharp bumps on the road. The setup is not a deal-breaker but a bit more plushness would have been appreciated. If you have a pillion riding with you, then the ride becomes a bit more absorbent.

The Chetak C2501 is built for urban jungle. It features a 1.8kW hub motor which gives peak power of 2.2kW. The acceleration feels smooth and linear, which gives confidence boost to new riders. It has a top speed of just 55kmph (claimed VBox test) yet the performance doesn't feel underwhelming at all. Overtaking slow moving traffic is not a major problem and switching to Sports mode (which is available in TecPac) makes the acceleration feel a bit more prompt. However, one must remember that this scooter is not made for high speed, thrilling rides.

The Chetak C2501 doesn't compromise greatly on range, offering a healthy  claimed IDC range of 113km. In the real world, if you ride it decently then it should give you a range of 80-90km, which is sufficient for daily commute and it would drop down to 60-70km if ridden at max potential. If your daily commutes are short, then a single full charge will easily last you a good couple of days.

Also, considering the smaller 2.5kWh battery pack and the 750W charger, charging times are also pretty quick. It takes 2 hours 25 minutes to charge from 0-80%, while a full charge takes 3 hours and 45 minutes. 

The braking also feels equally impressive and predictable. It offers a good stopping performance with enough feel to compliment the riding capabilities in a neat and safe manner. 

It only weighs 107kg and has a wheelbase of 1225mm. These qualities make it incredibly easy to maneuver through city traffic and taking U-turns feels like a piece of cake.

Seating comfort is this scooter's forte. The seat is spacious for both rider and pillion. The rider gets a neutral and upright seating stance. Shorter riders will find it very accessible to hop on to the 763mm tall seat of the Chetak 2501. And the seat is spacious enough to accommodate pillion riders of all sizes quite comfortably. The footpegs fold away in a neat manner and the grab handle is easy to locate.

The Chetak C2501 might feel like a boon to many people. It is compact, easy-to-ride and perfect for new riders. Even if it is a low-cost scooter, it doesn't give the buyer the feeling of being cheap or crude. It comes with all essential features onboard, be it safety or convenience. It is practical enough to help you with everyday commutes and chores. The seat feels comfortable with linear, predictable and safe performance characteristics. And given the price tag of Rs 91,399 (ex-showroom), it is an absolute value for money e-scooter.