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NIU falls amongst the first electric scooter brands to make its way to Nepal, and they have enjoyed a decent bit of success in the alternatively powered vehicle segment in Nepal. Their modern yet minimal styling was captivating and it managed to garner the interest of electric scooter buyers in Nepal.
The NIU UQi GT is an electric commuter scooter which, amidst the skyrocketing fuel prices, appears to be a beneficial proposition. When the folks at NIU handed us the fancy keys, we decided to put the UQi GT to the ultimate test by plopping on a rider and pillion whose combine weight tips the scales at 180kgs.
STYLING AND FEATURES
The keys of the NIU UQi GT sets precedent for the overall modern approach to the scooter. Much like modern car keys, the key of the NIU UQi GT gets three buttons to lock, unlock, and start the scooter. It took some time to get the hang of the keys, but once we did, not needing to place the key in the ignition was a refreshing departure from the routine.
Another welcome change comes in the form of an intuitive app that gives you access to your riding statistics like riding distance, average speeds, maximum speed and so forth. Amongst other features such as remotely starting, locking, and turning the alarm on and off, you can also use the app to check how much pollution you have prevented by riding the NIU UQi GT and give yourself a pat on the back.
As you might have already guessed, UQi GT is not your conventional scooter. A circular automatic light-sensing LED headlight sits on the front apron with the handlebars peeking up over it. Daylight running lights come in the form of an LED lighting system that combines low energy consumption with strong light intensity. Side indicators are slim but visible. The indicators automatically switch off once you complete your turning maneuver, which is a useful feature for people who forget to switch off their indicators.
Switches that operate the lights are well accommodated on the handlebars. They are tactile to operate and feel like they are built with quality materials. You get skinny telescopic forks up front with twin shocks in the rear. 220mm three piston caliper disc occupies the front wheels and 180mm single-piston caliper disc takes up the rear.
RIDE AND HANDLING
Finding a natural riding position comes easy on the NIU UQi GT. The seat height comes in at 845mm which means riders will be perched pretty high up when riding. On one hand, this gives you a good vantage point to navigate through traffic. On the other hand, this also means that shorter riders will have difficulties keeping their feet grounded. Thankfully, the scooter is not a heavy unit which makes life easier. The seats, both rider and pillion, err on the stiffer side of the spectrum and you will start noticing it as you spend a long time on the saddle.
Riding ergonomics suit everyday riding and you’ll find a comfortable position on the rider’s seat in no time. Furthermore, despite appearing cramped the NIU Uqi GT can easily accommodate both rider and passenger. The grab rails also help the case. Under the seat is where you will find the battery pack and charging port. You can charge the battery by plugging it in, or take the portable battery out and charge it according to your convenience. You would think, having put in so much effort on the keys and ignition system, they would have included a system that could remotely unlock the seat storage. However, that is not the case.
Nevertheless, we are sure the lack of the function fulfills some security purpose that we can’t pinpoint. The charger connects directly to your home outlet, and a full charge takes around seven hours. Rather than draining and charging it entirely, you would probably be better off using it like a phone and topping up the battery charge every night, which takes less time and becomes part of your daily routine.
The battery itself is a Panasonic Lithium-Ion 48V 31 AH unit that powers the NIU self-adaptive motor electric motor mounted in the rear wheel that is rated at 1200W. The battery range comes in at a respectable 70-80kms as claimed by the company. You get to choose from two riding modes, one which delivers full power and the other that cuts the power by 50% to conserve battery life.
Regardless of which mode you select, you aren’t going to find a performance scooter in the UQi GT. This is especially true when you’re riding with a pillion and really piling on the weight. With the full power mode selected, you get off to a very lethargic start. After consistent coaxing, it finally gets rolling. You can wring the throttle as hard as you can, but the fastest you’re going is 45kmph. Keep at this for long enough and you will see your battery drain before your very eyes. It took less than 15 minutes of aggressive throttle action to drain the battery by almost 10%. We soon figured out that SPEEEED was not its forte.
Instead, it is more comfortable ambling around at slower speeds. To be honest, a glance at the spec sheet alone should be enough to help set you a realistic expectation. Having said that, once you understand what the UQi GT is capable of offering, it is a decent scooter to ride. If you ride it like a motorcycle, you’ll end up draining your battery quickly and still get nowhere fast. Ride it like an electric commuter and you can possibly make this your daily rider to get you to and from work, and around the city.
Keeping in mind that this is a functional machine, engineered to transport you around the city and assist you with your chores, the handling is very good. The chassis is stable and instils the agility to help you navigate through traffic and potholes. Suspension is slightly stiff, but it is capable of withstanding potholes without losing composure.
Braking is incredible, thanks to the CBS braking system that splits braking force between the front and rear brake discs (the RHS lever operates two-thirds of the front brake while the LHS lever does the rear brakes and one-third of the front too), making them more effective. Furthermore, the EBS Energy Recovery System uses regenerative braking to recover battery energy, which extends your battery time and range. We did notice that the brake levers are slightly sensitive. So, if you have a habit of resting two of your fingers on the brake levers as we do, it ends up triggering the brakes and you notice it when you are trying to move from a standstill.
VERDICT
As long as you use it for its intended purpose, the NIU UQi GT makes sense. It is a modern scooter with a list of modern functionalities. It can get you to work, to college, help you run errands, and all of that with practically zero running cost (apart from repairs and servicing). Ride it for this purpose and it gets the job done. Ride it like a motorcycle, violent on the throttle and in corners, and you will be left disappointed.
Our test put the electric scooter through a lot by plopping two hefty passengers on a tiny electric scooter. Yet, it managed to trudge us along for a slow ride. We would have loved to have more range with the battery since it was draining pretty quickly when riding aggressively, but it is still more than most would travel in a day or two.
The modernity in terms of features and design is commendable, and it reflects the incredible strides that technology has made in the automotive sector. However, all of this comes at a hefty price of Rs. 2,55,000. The justification of the price depends on how you look at things: either you’re investing in a fancy, technologically advanced functional electric scooter that will save you money in the long run, or you are paying top dollar for a slow-moving scooter.
