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Sunra is the latest entrant among the hordes of Chinese electric scooter companies in Nepal. With a widespread presence across 100+ countries, Sunra has over 20 years of experience in the field and a lineup of 14 electric two-wheelers and one electric car model. Under the umbrella of Italia Motoworks, Sunra has introduced two electric scooters - Robo-S and Hawk, to meet the increasing demand for eco-friendly transportation. Unlike other electric scooters in this segment, the Sunra Robo-S is a more performance-oriented scooter that’s being targeted at younger buyers. Let’s take a look at what it has to offer.
The first thing that you notice when approaching the Robo-S is its petite dimensions. The simple yet futuristic front end gets an LED headlight and a thin strip of DRL across the handlebar to make it stand out. The bodywork is industrial and only features simple badging at the front and the sides. What we really liked about the Robo-S was its bright and well-laid-out digital instrument cluster. The dash is crisp and provides all the relevant data to the rider.
There’s also a touch-start, a first in this segment. The Robo-S also has keyless ignition, three-speed modes, cruise control and a reverse function. There’s app connectivity, 5V USB cell phone charging and retractable footrests as well. Another useful feature is the deep pocket on the apron that can easily accommodate your keys and gloves.
The electric motor of the Robo-S produces 4300W of peak power and a peak torque of 280 Nm from its dual motor. What’s noteworthy is the availability of three-speed modes (1,2 and 3). It’s the top two modes where the Robo-S has all the zip. The acceleration is similar to what you would find on many 125cc petrol scooters.
In comparison to other electric scooters, the overall performance levels of the Robo-S are adequate to run errands around the town, with enough juice if you want to take it on open roads. The scooter quite easily crossed an indicated 75 kph in mode 3. The top speed is rated at 80 kph.
That being said, the Robo-S does seem to struggle with throttle calibration like many e-scooters to some extent. The accelerator will get disconnected if you even slightly trail either of the brakes. On a brighter note, the scooter didn’t lose much performance as the battery charge dropped.
The Robo-S gets a dual 72V20Ah portable lithium-ion battery pack to provide an acclaimed range of 135 km. It’s a non-removable unit housed under the seat. We spent most of our test run toggling between the top two modes where the Robo-S provided somewhere between 80- 90km on a full charge. This is higher than many other EVs and definitely enough for everyday city commutes. As for charge times, the scooter will take around 4 hours for a full charge on the standard home charger. The battery pack comes with a warranty of 2 years.
The Robo-S is small. Although you get a roomy floorboard, it’s a little higher than normal, it tucks you into an uncomfortable position where your knees are higher than your hip, especially for taller riders. At the same time, it doesn’t have sufficient space to comfortably accommodate a pillion.
However, the seat is wide and spacious enough to accommodate the rider. The under-seat storage compartment is decent and fairly long to throw your belongings into, but it won’t fit a full-size helmet. There’s also a retractable hook to carry light luggage weighing up to 3 kg below the handlebar on the rear panel of the front apron.
The Robo-S is quite a quick scooter, but it leaves much to be desired in the handling department. The front end feels rather numb when you push for that extra oomph. At higher speeds, when the scooter lurches forward aggressively, stability becomes a concern. Because the steering feels light and the scooter excessively quick, it doesn’t feel surefooted at high speeds. Still, the scooter is quite easy to manoeuvre and you should have no problem handling this scooter around the city.
The Robo-S rides on 12-inch wheels and the combined braking performance, disc brakes at both ends, is decent enough to bring the scooter to a confident halt. Similarly, the suspension setup, a telescopic fork setup upfront and twin shocks at the rear do a reasonable job of handling our surface irregularities.
Should you buy one?
Priced at Rs 3.79 lakh, the Sunra Robo-S is an expensive proposition, especially when compared to its petrol rivals. So, is the premium justified? For now, the Sunra Robo-S does offer good performance and a better range than other e-scooters in the market, but the features and the overall design remain near-identical to other EVs. What’s nice is that this scooter has the performance to keep up with fast-moving city traffic. If you’re okay with this, the Robo-S should work as a stylish option for city commuting.
