Bgauss RUV350 Launched, Prices Start From ₹ 1.10 Lakh Onwards

Bgauss has unveiled its latest electric scooter, the RUV350, with prices starting from ₹ 1.10 lakh onwards. The design is sure to grab attention as it comes in 3 variants – RUV350i EX, RUV350 EX and RUV350 Max.

Bgauss RUV350 Design

The Bgauss RUV350 breaks the mould when it comes to electric scooter design. It has a step-through design, similar to those popular in Southeast Asia, offering practicality and ease of use. But unlike traditional step-through scooters, the Bgauss RUV350 features a larger body and larger wheels, giving it a more motorcycle-like look. This unique design is further accentuated by its metal body panels, a rarity in the electric scooter world. Not only do metal panels provide a more premium look and feel but also enhance durability compared to plastic body panels found on most electric scooters. However, that will make it a bit heavier than usual. All 3 variants get 5 colour options, though.

Bgauss RUV350 Features

The Bgauss RUV350 packs a punch when it comes to features. They differ according to which variant you take. On the top of the line RUV350 Max and the RUV350 EX variants, you get a 5-inch TFT touchscreen display offering clear information about speed, battery level, odometer, and trips. There is a built-in turn-by-turn navigation and one can have user profiles which allow for personalised settings for multiple riders. The RUV350i EX gets a segmented LCD display with speed readout.

Safety comes with features like hill hold and roll-over detection that automatically shuts off the motor in case of a fall. It also gets a motor cut-off that activates when the kickstand or main stand is engaged.

Bgauss RUV350 Battery And Range

The Bgauss RUV350 MAX comes with a 3 kWh lithium-ion battery that is not removable. The claimed IDC range for the electric scooter is 135 km in Eco mode, but expect around 110 km in real-world riding conditions. The other two variants get a removable battery of with a real-world range of 90 km.

There are 3 charger options with the Bgauss RUV350 - 500W, 840W and 1350W. A full charge with the slowest 500 W charge takes 5hr 30 min to charge the batteries from 0-8% and 6 hrs 50 mins for a complete charge. This is available as standard on all three variants of the scooter. The 840W charger is a portable and optional purchase which you can add carry along on your rides. It is slightly faster than the standard variant and can charge the scooter from 0-80% in 2hr 40 min and full charge in 3 hr 55 mins. The fastest 1350W charger is also an optional purchase but is a wall-mounted unit that can fully charge the e-scooter in 2 hr 35 mins.

The charger slot is positioned below the seat, and one clever aspect is the dedicated slot provided there. So after plugging in the charger, you can close the seat, which means nobody can remove the charger when the scooter is getting charged. But that's not it, on the footboard there's a small slot in which you can store the charger thereby not affecting the underseat storage space.

Bgauss RUV350 Motor

One of the key highlights of the Bgauss RUV350 is its motor. It's not a hub motor, which is commonly found in electric scooters, nor it is a conventional side-mounted motor. Instead, it has a patented technology called In-wheel Hyperdrive. In this innovative design, an external motor drives the rear wheel hub. Essentially, it combines the packaging efficiency of a hub motor with the performance advantages of a conventional motor.

A major benefit of the In-wheel Hyperdrive is its superior efficiency. Conventional motors rely on belts to transfer power from the motor to the wheel. These belts can cause energy losses due to friction. The Bgauss In-wheel Hyperdrive eliminates this issue by using a direct drive system, resulting in better overall efficiency and potentially more range.

As the motor as well as its peak power of 3.5 kW is the same on all three variants, the RUV350 in any trim has a top speed of 75 kmph. It has 3 modes – Eco, Rider and Sport – which limit the top speed at 45 kmph, 60 kmph and 75 kmph respectively.

To celebrate the Bgauss RUV350 launch, the brand is offering a limited-time introductory offer packed with over ₹20,000 worth of benefits. For a limited period, you'll receive a free BG Connect worth ₹8,000, unlocking features like remote diagnostics and vehicle tracking. The company is further enhancing the value proposition with a free extended warranty worth ₹ 6,000 and free insurance coverage valued at ₹ 6,000. These reduce depending on which variant you pick.

Bgauss RUV350 Rivals

The most affordable variant, the Bgauss RUV350i EX, starts at ₹ 1.10 lakh, potentially undercutting popular options like the Ather 450S and the Ola S1x. For those looking at mid-range options, the Bgauss RUV350 EX (₹ 1.25 lakh) and RUV350 Max (₹ 1.35 lakh) will compete directly with the Ola S1 Air (prices start from₹ 1.05 lakh) and the TVS iQube (starting from ₹ 1.15 lakh). The only gripe here is the lack of brand recognition. Bgauss isn’t as prominently known in the EV space as the aforementioned products and customers hence will have to proceed with caution in case they want to purchase the RUV350.