Bounce Infinity E1 Review - Likes & Dislikes

Can the Infinity E1 bridge the wide gap between low-speed and high-speed electric scooters?

Another day and we are riding yet another electric two-wheeler. With fuel prices reaching record high, electric vehicles are making themselves more attractive and a plethora of brands are entering the Indian market. However, the electric two-wheeler is split into two factions – cheap, usually China-built, low-speed EVs and premium high-speed EVs. Understandably the low-speed electric two-wheelers have the lion's share with respect to sales but Bounce has plans to change it with the Infinity E1. We got to spend a couple of hours riding the new Infinity and here’s what we liked and disliked about the new electric scooter.

What we didn’t like

Quality
The first thing that you will notice is the amount of exposed wires below the headstock. Bounce could have used a cowl to hide the wires and the current design makes it look as if something has fallen off the scooter and it’s unfinished. The other issue we faced during the test ride was the amount of rattle from the rear body panels whenever we rode over rough roads and the noise amplified on potholes.

Egonomics & Storage
Once you get on the scooter, the first thing that you will notice is how low the handle bar is positioned. Apart from the handle bar, the other issue is that the footboard feels close to the seat and this results in a very cramped riding position (I am 5’ 10’’ tall). While the seat height is low at 780mm, the seats are a bit wide and that might bother shorter riders.
Additionally, the swappable battery comes at a cost, and that’s storage space. The underseat storage space is narrow and one can barely fit a half-face helmet. We would have appreciated cubby holes below the handlebar as that could have been utilised to add convenience and compensate for the poor underseat storage space.

Jerky Throttle
There was a bit of a play in the throttle and we would have preferred a more direct throttle action. Also, the throttle action was a bit jerky on a few occasions, which did get a bit scary while riding. Another issue is that the power gets cut-off when you’re on brakes and this can get irritating while taking a U-turn. While I did get a hang of it after a couple of hours, it was bothersome while riding down a slope as one is modulating the brake and throttle simultaneously.

Brakes
Unlike conventional ICE scooters, the Bounce Infinity E1 features disc brakes on either end. The front disc brake is progressive and the bite too was fine, but it started squeaking by the end of our test ride. On the other end, the rear disc brake offers too much bite and locks up very easily and that can be unsafe and we would prefer a milder bite.


What we liked

Price
While most scooters have variants, the Bounce Infinity has different pricing options. Either you can pay one fixed amount and get the electric scooter or the second option is to buy the scooter and then rent the battery via a subscription plan (two options for this as well).

There are two plans for the subscription as well, the cost for which varies depending on the cost one pays up front. We would suggest going for the battery and charger variant, as it will have a lower running cost in the longer run. Yes, without subscription, the rider doesn’t get to utilise the battery swapping station facility, but then again, you can always charge the removable battery at home, office or any other location with a conventional 5 Amp socket. Also, at Rs 70,000 the Bounce Infinity E1 is significantly more affordable than premium electric scooters and compared to good low-speed scooters, the cost is around Rs 20-25,000, which isn’t a huge premium given its performance and features advantage.

Removable & Swappable battery
One of the biggest roadblocks for an electric scooter apart from range anxiety is charging. Not every EV buyer has the luxury of a private parking space with an easy accessible electricity connection. The Bounce Infinity fixes this by offering you a removable battery, one can remove the battery and charge it using a conventional 5 Amp socket. However at around 13kg, it isn't light and Bounce officials claim that they are working to reduce it in the future. Also, if you opt for the subscription model, you can swap the battery in minutes and not be worried about range anxiety as well. Talking about range, Bounce claims a real world range of 65km in Eco mode and 55km in Power mode, which isn’t bad.

Easy To Ride
Unlike premium EV scooters like the Ather and the Ola, which offer you thrilling acceleration, the Infinity is more chilled out. Yes, the initial pull is missing owing to the lag, but once it gathers momentum, it does build speeds at a fair pace. It’s this easy going nature of the scooter, which will attract a lot of mature riders. In Eco mode, even with a pillion, I was able to maintain speeds around 40kmph, while the Power mode helps with a bit more momentum for overtakes. As I mentioned before, it isn't as exciting as premium electric scooters, but quicker than your conventional low-speed EVs.

Style
Apart from the exposed wires, the Bounce Infinity is a pretty good-looking scooter. It has a bit of retro Vespa vibes with its round LED headlight and the exposed wide handlebar. The taillight did remind us of the Honda Activa a bit, but that isn’t a bad thing. The Infinity doesn’t have the futuristic styling of the Ather 450 or the snazziness of the Ola S1, but it did attract a lot of curiosity from bystanders during the shoot and it’s available with some bright colour options as well.

Handling
The Bounce Infinity E1 feels extremely nimble and it was a joy to ride it through traffic. Given its compact dimensions and swift steering, you could squeeze through the smallest gaps in an effortless manner. Apart from the 12-inch wheels, that offer good stability and agility, the under 100kg low kerb weight.

Drag Mode
Don’t get too excited, this isn’t a  mode for the drag strip, but to help the owner drag the scooter in case of a puncture. Since the Infinity is powered by a hub motor, it isn’t easy to push the scooter manually and this mode will be a big boon.

Verdict
By now you would have realised that the Bounce Infinity E1 isn’t a fast, feature-loaded EV, and focuses more on the commuter end of the EV scooter segment. It bridges the gap between the low-speed scooter and the premium high-speed scooter not only with performance, but also cost which is very crucial. Yes, the quality levels could be better, but then again it’s fair for the price that one is paying. The removable battery tech opens new avenues for EV buyers and the swappable battery system with the proper infrastructure will help with range anxiety. We just hope Bounce are able to fix the jerky throttle and the braking issue in the production version. So if you want an affordable EV commuter, the Infinity can be the one.