Yadea G5: Not Your Average Electric Scooter

When it comes to electric scooters, there seem to be two distinct divides in the Nepalese automotive industry. One segment encompasses the economically sensible, less extravagant, workhorses. These scooters don’t come with chic design work or fancy frills, but they make practical sense. They’re here to get the job done, for instance, Pathao riders and food delivery folks with their great big bags. The second includes the ones that are elegantly designed, futuristic, equipped with bells and whistles and often ridden by trendy, fashion-conscious, air-pod wearing urban youngsters. The Yadea G5, which we have for you here, falls into the second category.Yadea was established in 2001 and stands as one of the top manufacturers of electric scooters in Asia. Producing six million e-scooters annually, the brand ships to 77 countries worldwide and serves over 36 million users.DEFINITELY STANDS OUTIf you’re looking to blend into a crowd, the Yadea G5 isn’t going to be of much help. The G5 has a futuristic yet retro design language that will get you noticed. It teeters towards the lines of minimalism and has a very clean-cut styling. The front apron houses the LED headlights with a light bar right above the front wheel fender while the LED indicators are mounted higher up, right under the handlebars.We also like how the pillion footrest seamlessly integrates into the side of the body which gives it an uninterrupted style. The rear gets a massive Yadea logo that lights up as a tail light along with a light bar underneath it. The Yadea G5 also feels like a well-built machine. The materials used feel sturdy. The buttons and switches have a tactile feel and exude quality. Overall, the Yadea G5 looks like a well built, futuristic electric scooter.ALONG WITH THE GOOD LOOKS COMES A LIST OF GREAT FEATURES AS WELL.The features that come with the Yadea G5 lives up to expectations set by the design. We’ll start with the brilliant 7-inch LCD display. It is clearly visible throughout the day and you also get a precise percentage reading of how much juice you have in the battery. It also shows the remaining range on your scooter.[gallery size="full" ids="28931,28932,28933,28934"]Behind the front apron, you get a bag clip to hang your belongings along with small compartments for things you don’t want to put under the seat or your bag/pockets. Also in terms of storage, you get 26L worth of it under the seat. That’s enough to store a helmet, and/or a raincoat under the seat. There are many electric scooters that lack under-seat storage because the battery takes up the space. However, the Yadea G5 has its battery stored under the footwell.SPEAKING OF THE BATTERY…… you get a Panasonic 60V 32Ah battery. It weighs 11kgs and has a host of safety that ensures the longevity of the battery. These features protect the battery from overcharging, over-discharging, short circuits, fluctuating temperatures and more. Yadea claims it has a battery life cycle of 800 and a charging time of 6 hours. This battery powers a high-performance waterproof hub motor. You can plug in the scooter to recharge it or you can remove the battery and plug it in separately.BUT HOW FAST DOES IT GO?Pretty fast actually. You get two modes to choose from for the Yadea G5, the Eco Mode and Sports Mode. The max power tops out at 2300 W and has a maximum torque of 120Nm. This gets you up to 60kmph pretty quickly and the battery will let you ride around for around 80kms. Amongst the many electric scooters that we have test rode, the Yadea G5 definitely finds its way to somewhere around the top of our list; at least in terms of riding experience. It is a zippy little thing and responds instantly to your throttle input. The eco mode itself has ample zap to get you around town, so it should be more than enough to cater to your daily commuting needs. Even at low speeds, the Yadea G5 is also easy to maneuver.If you want to do more than just tootling around town, you can switch to power mode. Then you get a significant boost in power output. While around town you might be better off saving the battery in eco mode, you can switch to power mode when climbing up steep inclines or overtaking slower-moving vehicles. Additionally, the lag in power that you feel when you try to accelerate after coasting most electric scooters is minimal. The instant you get back on the throttle, the G5 proceeds forwards. Also, with electric scooters, there is no engine braking so the moment you roll off the throttle the power isn’t completely cut off.Braking duties are undertaken by disc brakes in BOTH the front and rear wheels and they do a decent job of bringing the G5 to a stop. The suspension, which is claimed to be motorcycle standard, also does a decent job of soaking up minor road undulations within the city. Another positive aspect was the ergonomics. Unlike most electric scooters there is ample legroom, even for taller riders.LET’S GET TO THE VERDICT.Here’s what we think of the Yadea G5. It is a premium electric scooter, and it feels like it too. Like we said before, the Yadea G5 is a great looking scooter. It beautifully balances eloquence and simplicity while providing utility. The seats are comfortable, and you get plenty of storage underneath them. We also love how much comfortable the riding position is. Even tall riders will have nothing to complain about while riding the Yadea G5.Now, we know what you’re thinking: range. 80kms of range doesn’t really seem like a lot. However, when was the last time you rode around for more than 50 kms in a day? While there are other options that provide more range, we feel that the quality and riding experience makes up for it.Also, the battery life cycle of 800 is not something worth bragging about since other brands in the market boast of bigger numbers. Nevertheless, by the time you need to purchase a new battery (which will set you back around Rs. 90,000 at the moment), the prices of the battery should have dropped significantly.And this is the final take that we have: The Yadea G5 is a premium electric scooter. All of the style, features, and futuristic elements all come at a price. And that price is Rs. 3,30,000 (including a 2-year warranty on the battery and motor). It is a pretty big number, enough to ward some off their choice of electric scooters to better-performing ICE motorcycles. This is why the Yadea G5 will never be shortlisted as just an average electric commuter scooter.While it does fulfill the commuting responsibilities, it isn’t your everyday electric scooter. The attention to quality and the list of features puts the Yadea G5 in a different league. Not only do you save money in the long run and help protect the planet, but you also look pretty good while doing it.