Mystery scooter snapped testing in Bengaluru could be an EV

An eagle-eyed photographed has snapped a mystery scooter testing on Bengaluru’s Bannerghatta Road.

While at first glance, the camouflaged two-wheeler seems quite familiar to the popular TVS iQube electric scooter albeit a closer look reveals concealed bodywork that appears quite different. Furthermore, TVS two-wheelers out on testing runs generally do not wear KA registration plates and are rarely spotted on the road. Whenever that does happen, it is generally near the company’s Hosur factory and almost never right inside Bengaluru city. Therefore, this is unlikely to be a TVS product. 

This scooter’s handlebars appear to be positioned quite high up, which means taller riders’ knees shouldn’t foul while taking a U-turn. The overall seating position appears to be conventional with a focus on a relaxed riding and a comfortable riding posture. 

A telescopic fork can be seen along with a front disc brake. The front apron-mounted LED headlight does look very similar to the iQube’s unit but, closer inspection does show some differences. 

It’s difficult to tell straightaway whether this is a petrol-engined scooter or an EV, but the fact that it is Karnataka-registered vehicle and spied in Bengaluru strongly suggests the latter, considering the large number of EV startups that call India’s tech hub home. Some contenders to whom this test mule could belong to include Ather Energy, Ultraviolette Automotive and River, all of whom are based in Bengaluru. Autocar India has, in August 2023, reported that Ather is working on a family scooter of its own. 

Considering that this test mule on two wheels appears to be quite production-ready, we should know soon enough.

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