I lived in Gurgaon for over 2 years before shifting my base to Noida. The tech hub of Haryana always found me complaining about one thing — its local transport. With a wafer-thin metro network and reluctant auto drivers charging obnoxious fare charges, I always struggled with my local commute.
That feeling changed dramatically when I moved to Noida, with electric rickshaws willing to go anywhere at reasonable fare charges. Then I got a chance to swing my leg over EMotorad Lil-E at the office and decided to take matters into my own hands.
I live close to my office and that worked out perfectly when it came to convincing my editor to use the Lil-E for my daily office commute. Of course, I was apprehensive about its ability to haul my weight and the unforgiving road conditions in Noida but to my surprise, the Lil-E has held up pretty well.
It’s been over a month since I started using Lil-E for my 3 km office commute, which roughly gives me a riding range of 3 days counting to and fro distance. EMotorad claims that the Lil-E can deliver a range of 20km on a single charge, which is impressive. It comes with an easy 2-step folding mechanism, which comes in handy to carry the Lil-E to your house for charging.
What’s a caveat is the slow charging speed, as it takes over 5-6 hours for a full charge. Days when I forget to plug the Lil-E on charge overnight, I find myself taking electric rickshaws to the office since they were generous enough to put theirs on charge. Sigh!
Enough digressing, let’s talk details now, shall we? Sitting at the front wheel of the Lil-E scooter is a 250W electric motor, which can catapult this zippy scooter to up to 25kmph. There are 3 riding modes to choose from, which alter the top speed of the scooter thus impacting the range as well. I always ride the Lil-E in the most-powerful mode and while it does take a toll on the riding range, I can make my way through the traffic in a jiffy. Another very thoughtful feature of the Lil-E is the cruise control. Yes, you read that right! Hold the accelerator knob on the Lil-E at a fixed speed till you hear a beep sound, post which the Lil-E continues with the same speed without you needing to use the accelerator. Like in cars, the feature disengages the moment you apply brakes.
The battery pack of the Lil-E sits under its floorboard, which is surprisingly broad to accommodate my feet. It also carries underboard LED lighting, adding to its blingy appearance in the night. Speaking of which, the Lil-E also features a bright LED headlight that does a great job of illuminating the road ahead. All these nifty details and additions prove that the Lil-E has been designed in cohesion, which enables it to offer a complete experience without any major downsides.
However, it’s not all rainbows and sunshine. In the first month of use, it has come to utter a few peculiar squeaks and rattles, which are irritating when you go over rough roads. In addition, if you encounter standing water on your way, take full precaution since the cover for the charging point in the Lil-E tends to become loose with use, which could let water sneak inside and mess with the battery.
Another drawback in my opinion with the Lil-E is the lack of a locking mechanical, or even a provision for it, which truly limits its real-world usage. Something as desirable as the Lil-E, everyone from a kid to a grown-up adult would want to take it for a spin and I fear, never turn back!
Jokes apart, I wouldn’t mind people riding it and experiencing the joy but the Lil-E has a learning curve, which is hard to come by at the start. Its diminutive tyres and tall handlebar give it a very sensitive handling, which riders may find hard to manage while struggling to put both their feet on the floorboard. Another quirk of the Lil-E is its rather powerful rear disc brake, which could draw long streaks of rubber if you are goofy enough.
If I try to sum it up then, at INR 29,999, the Lil-E from EMotorard is an expensive purchase. However, for someone who wants to grab as many eyeballs as a Lamborghini without breaking a bank, it is a bargain. No matter where you go, Lil-E sparks up a conversation and brings joy around you. If that’s the feeling you’re chasing, you might as well chase it on Lil E.