The dawn of e-bicycles

More and more manufacturers are launching e-bicycles in India. They come with hub motors and single or dual batteries and the bicycles do not need any registrations making it feasible for a wide variety of usages. Rahul Ghosh tries out two rather unique offerings

- Rahul Ghosh

Hero Lectro C8 ₹ 32,499 Hero Lectro C8

The Lectro C8 is essentially a commuter bicycle. It is made from 6061-grade alloy and is pretty lightweight considering it is an electric cycle. The overall design looks simple and there is an 80mm travel lockout suspension upfront. There is a 7-speed Shimano gear set which is operable via hand shifters. Front and back the E-Bike sports mechanical disc brakes. The Ralson tires are slim and deemed perfect for on-the-road use and occasional trail rides. The seat is comfortable as well. It offers a decent amount of space and offers a quick release to adjust the height. At the back, there is a 250W hub motor which is powered by a li-ion battery pack cleverly hidden in the mainframe of the bike. The motor is operable via the switchgear provided on the handlebar and the twist grip on the right side for full-electric mode. The same switchgear can be used to operate the rather powerful Cree LED headlights.

The Lectro C8 comes with a Li-Ion 36V, 5.8Ah battery with IP67 ratings. The battery pack can be charged by a small charging port provided next to the pedal. The company claims an all-electric range of 25km and 30km on pedelec.