We all remember the TVS Orbiter EV, which was launched last year. Our road test review of the TVS Orbiter went live just 5 days ago and today, TVS Motor has announced a new base variant V1 of the Orbiter and a solid BaaS pricing model that brings the initial purchase cost to one of the lowest in the industry. let’s take a closer look.
TVS Orbiter V1 Launched – BaaS Prices
If you look at the electric 2W segment in India, TVS Motor and Bajaj Auto have overtaken Ola Electric and climbed the ladder. TVS, in particular, is India’s best-selling 2W EV brand with its iQube and Orbiter models. The Chennai-based company secured the top spot without any BaaS pricing model.
Now, the company aims to surpass its already stellar sales performance and reach new heights by introducing a BaaS pricing model for the first time. The first scooter to get BaaS pricing is the Orbiter, which now starts at Rs 49,999 for the newly launched V1 variant with a smaller battery and attractive BaaS pricing model.
The Orbiter is now offered in two variants – V1 and V2. The model we have experienced so far is the V2 and a new base variant has been created with a smaller battery while keeping most of the equipment. TVS is offering a subscription-based BaaS ownership model, in which buyers will have to pay an upfront price of Rs 49,999 for the V1 and Rs 59,664 for the V2 variants.
Unlimited KM BaaS Subscription Model
Subscription prices start from Rs 862 for V1 and Rs 1,155 for V2, depending on the tenure chosen – 24 months, 36 months, 60 months. There’s no need for buyers to get out their calculator as there are no metrics like minimum distance per day or minimum subscription. This is because the subscription price is standard for unlimited kms based on tenure.
Typically, rival OEMs have a fixed minimum subscription price per month with a daily distance limit and then some pre-determined price per kilometer travelled. There is no such thing with the TVS Orbiter BaaS subscription model as the usage is unlimited and the fixed subscription price is the only thing you have to pay.
New V1 base variant
Along with the BaaS pricing model, TVS Motor has also introduced a new base variant of the Orbiter EV. Called the Orbiter V1, it is priced at Rs 92,250 (ex-sh, without subsidy) and is placed below the V2 variant, which is priced at Rs 1,04,900 (ex-sh, without subsidy). The V1 variant gets only two color options – Martian Copper and Stellar Silver.
The base Orbiter V1 variant comes with a smaller 1.8 kWh battery pack that promises a range of 86 km on a single charge. It takes 2 hours 20 minutes to charge from 0% to 80% SOC with the provided charger. Almost all instruments on the orbiter are likely to be the same as the V2 variant. Notable among these are cruise control, LED lighting, hill hold, Bluetooth and LCD color cluster with navigation etc.