KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- The Orbiter is TVS' fourth electric scooter in the Indian market.
- It gets a 14-inch wheel at the front and a 12-inch wheel at the rear.
- The 3.1kWh battery pack gives it a claimed range of 158km.
The TVS Orbiter has finally arrived, and it is now the fourth electric scooter in the Indian two-wheeler maker's lineup. Well, third technically, given that the X is has been sold in very limited numbers. The Orbiter joins in as an alternative to the iQube, which has been around for quite some time now.
Before we dive into the first impressions of the Orbiter, make sure to join the 91wheels WhatsApp Community to keep up with the latest news and automotive updates.
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TVS Orbiter First Look Review
Design
The Orbiter is quite different from the iQube in terms of appearances, and that is a good thing, since we finally have an alternative from TVS. The Orbiter gets a more futuristic design compared to the simpler approach of the iQube. The front panel comes with a connected DRL strip, and the turn indicators are also integrated within it, similar to what's also seen on the new Jupiter.
The side profile has traces of the Ather Rizta in it, and the side panels come with a dual-tone paint treatment. You also get flush-fitting footpegs for the pillion, which is similar to the River Indie. Towards the rear, things have been kept minimalistic and clean, with a slim strip split for the tail lamp and turn indicators.
There are six dual-tone paint schemes on offer. Neon Sunburst, Stratos Blue, Lunar Grey, Stellar Silver, Cosmic Titanium, and Martian Copper. While the scooter is yet to be seen in the flesh, it is nice to finally a different approach to electric scooters from TVS.
Motor And Battery
Powering the Orbiter is a hub-mounted electric motor, and while the power and torque specs remain unspecified for now, the battery is a 3.1kWh unit. TVS has not mentioned any charging times either, but the Orbiter comes with a claimed range of 158km on a single charge. Given the Orbiter's practical approach, we can expect it to cover about 110km in the real world.
The Orbiter rides on a 14-inch wheel up front and a 12-inch wheel at the rear, while suspended on conventional forks and twin shocks at the rear. We can expect the Orbiter to ride fairly comfortably over both rough and smooth roads, and we can also expect it to have better handling chops than the iQube.
Features And Practicality
The Orbiter comes equipped with a decent set of features. It gets two ride modes, cruise control, hill-hold assist, an LCD screen with bluetooth connectivity, which also adds on turn-by-turn navigation and incoming call/SMS alerts. Additionally, it also gets connected features via the SmartXonnect suite, with anti-theft alerts, geo-fencing, tow alerts, and crash alerts.
Additionally, the Orbiter also comes with a practical approach, and thus it gets a 34-litre underseat storage space, which should be good enough to fit in two half-face helmets. Certain larger full-size helmets may not fit in this space. The floorboard is also flat, and measures 290mm, which appears fairly spacious when seen in pictures, and we can expect the ergonomics to be good enough for riders of various heights and frames.
Verdict
The Orbiter certainly seems like an interesting option from the Hosur-based manufacturer, offering a more affordable alternative to the iQube. With a good list of features in its arsenal and an affordable price tag, the Orbiter should pose as a good option from a reputed brand against the many low-cost Chinese products flooding the market.
