Avera Retrosa e-Scooter To Be Introduced In Northern And Southern India

So far, the brand has been operating only in Andhra Pradesh 

• The Avera Retrosa is priced at Rs 1,19,400 (ex-showroom).
• Has a claimed range of 120-140km.
• Takes 3 hours to charge 80 per cent.
• The scooter offers a company-claimed top speed of 90kmph.

Homegrown two-wheeler manufacturer Avera Electric has revealed its expansion plans for MY2020. The brand, which has dealt only in Andhra Pradesh so far, will enter Telangana by March and the rest of the southern states by May this year. It’ll tap into the northern part of India by the third quarter of 2020. The Avera Retrosa is priced at Rs 1,19,400 (ex-showroom AP), but it doesn’t benefit from FAME-II subsidy.

According to the company, it doesn’t qualify for FAME-II subsidy as 50 per cent of its scooter components aren’t localised. Plus, it has only nine dealerships across Andhra Pradesh, while the required total is over 25. 

As for the Retrosa itself, it’s powered by a 3kW Bosch motor that catapults the scooter to a top speed of 90kmph. It uses a single 2.6 kWh (72Vx36 AH) lithium ferrous phosphate battery pack rather than the previous twin-slot setup. It can deliver a claimed range of 140km when ridden at 45kmph. In terms of charge times, the Retrosa can be juiced up in 3-4 hours via a conventional charger and in 1-2 hours using a fast charger. If there’s a demand for it, the company says it will develop the batteries in-house, which should bring down costs. 

The Retrosa uses a telescopic fork and dual shock absorbers setup along with disc brakes at both ends. Moreover, at 88kg, it’s one of the lightest in India. The TVS Scooty Pep Plus, for instance, is 9kg heavier.

Rather than taking a futuristic approach, Avera has designed the scooter to look more European with a soft design language. Feature-wise, the Retrosa gets two ride modes (Economy and Sport+), a fully digital instrument cluster, and LED lights at both ends. 

At this price point, the Avera Retrosa goes up against the Okinawa i-Praise (Rs 1.14 lakh) and the Bajaj Chetak Premium priced at Rs Rs 1.15 lakh (both ex-showroom).