iVOOMi JeetX ZE Electric Scooter Road Test Review

Does the iVOOMi JeetX ZE have what it takes to stand apart?

iVOOMi had recently launched the iVOOMi JeetX ZE electric scooter, with ZE standing for ‘Zyada Extra’. This new electric scooter is the Pune based manufacturer's flagship offering and it comes with better range and a bunch of new features. Here’s what we think about the e-scooter’ real world performance. 

Design

The JeetX ZE features a classic or retro style design which looks inspired from premium petrol-powered scooters like the Vespa SXL range. At the front, it comes with that iconic rectangle shaped headlight that makes it stand apart, along with neatly integrated apron mounted indicators. The body features some good looking design elements that add to the visual appeal overall, such as the body accents and a JeetX badging on both sides. 

It's hard to deny that the JeetX ZE looks good, and during the testing for this review I personally had experiences where many people came up to me and asked about the e-scooter and which brand it is from.

Now, although the overall design of the e-scooter is quite good there are still some issues. First of all, the fit and finish levels aren’t the best. There are some panel gaps which are quite pronounced when looking at the scooter upclose. There’s a big gap between the handlebar cowl and the scooter’s apron, which is a big let down. Another issue is that the wires leading to the switchgear from inside the cowl are quite exposed and take away from that premiumness the design overall has to offer.

Lastly, the rear view mirrors on our test scooter were a bit of a concern. They do look nice and go well with the JeetX ZE’s retro design, but their adjustment felt a little too tight. Now most likely this was only an issue on our particular test unit, where the left mirror could only be moved a little, while the right one wouldn’t move at all. We’re sure that with a bit of tinkering with the mirror screws, this would be a non-issue.

Overall, the JeetX ZE is a stylish e-scooter and one which grabs attention. But these minor issues are a bit annoying and we hope iVOOMi is able to iron them out.

Powertrain, Battery And Range

The JeetX ZE comes in 3 sub variants offering different battery capacities: 2.1kWh, 2.5kWh and 3kWh. We tested the entry level 2.1kWh battery pack, which offers a claimed range of 120km. In our tests we were able to get a real-world range of 77km, which is decent for an urban electric scooter that comes at an ex-showroom price of Rs 89,999.

All 3 variants are powered by a hub-motor with a peak power output of 7kW. It also gets 3 riding modes, Mode 1: Mode 2 and Mode 3. The modes change the power delivery and speeds. 

While the power delivery feels lazy in Mode 1 and Mode 2, it is quite linear. But the scooter feels a bit jerky when opening the throttle in Mode 3.

Coming to real world performance, the scooter is able to accelerate from 0 to 40kmph in 7.52 seconds (in Mode 3). Overall, the performance is just about adequate for the city and the top speed of 55kmph is acceptable. The JeetX ZE keeps up with city traffic reasonably well. 

But when riding on the highway, it does struggle quite a bit, given its extremely limited top speed. But this shouldn’t be much of an issue as the scooter is primarily meant to be a city commuter and does that job well enough. 

Handling And Ride Quality

When talking about handling, the JeetX ZE is quite agile and nimble. The scooter feels very light and cutting through tight traffic is a very easy affair. The suspension setup is a bit towards the firmer side and on good roads this keeps the e-scooter planted and also inspires confidence when trying to corner. 

What’s interesting is how well the scooter just leans in when taking turns, and if it wasn’t for the main stand scraping after a point, the scooter could have leaned-in even further.

Ride quality is one place where things take a turn, especially when taking Indian road conditions into account. The firmer suspension setup, although good for riding on good roads, makes things quite difficult when the road quality becomes bad. The light weight of the scooter combined with the firmer suspension tuning makes it bounce around quite a bit when going over rough patches of roads. Small bumps and potholes will be felt when going over bad roads, but the bigger ones can cause the main stand of the scooter to scrape the road.

In terms of braking performance, the scooter is decent. The disc brake at the front has a good initial bite, but like all drum brakes, the rear drum needs you to pull the lever quite hard if you want to stop in a hurry. So here, we wouldn't recommend relying only on the rear brake in an emergency. Pull both brake levers at the same time, and the scooter comes to a halt in a safe and fuss-free manner. While these aren't the sharpest brakes we've tested in scooters, they get the job done without too many issues, and in fact might feel quite friendly for riders who might get intimidated with very sharp braking.

Comfort

The seat on the JeetX is quite large and spacious, with the cushioning being more towards the softer side. Although this is good for short journeys, longer trips or just being stuck in traffic in general will be an uncomfortable experience for most. Soft cushioning leads to a situation where the rider experiences that feeling of sinking into the scooter and after a point your butt and thighs start aching. 

Pillion comfort wise, the scooter is able to offer a decent experience and the large seat can easily accommodate pillions of all sizes with ease. But the issue with the soft seating is still there and on longer rides or even being stuck in traffic, there will be a slight discomfort.

Features

The JeetX SE comes with a colour LCD display which gives readouts like speed, battery level, expected range, odometer and tripmeter readouts. The console’s layout is quite simple and logical, and you can find most of the info you need at a quick glance. The only issue is that under harsh sunlight, the display becomes quite difficult to read. Also, the range prediction readout tended to fluctuate quite a bit while riding, causing a bit of range anxiety. But this is a simple software fix, which we think iVoomi would apply on all the JeetX ZEs which reach customers.

The e-scooter comes with 3 riding modes, as mentioned earlier, and riders can cycle between the modes using the S button. There’s also 2 other modes offered, Reverse and Parking. Both modes can be easily accessed by the R & P buttons respectively. The Parking mode disconnects the motor making it easy to move the scooter around (think of it like a neutral gear in motorcycles).

Other features on the scooter are there to enhance practicality, the first of which is the larger boot space which can easily accommodate a week’s worth of groceries in one go. The scooter also has an apron mounted rack which can store small items, increasing the scooter’s overall storage capacity. There’s also a hook on the apron to stow luggage.

With all these features, the JeetX ZE does make for a good family oriented scooter that can easily handle most family needs, from short trips here and there, to the month’s grocery shopping.

Lastly, the battery pack on the e-scooter is swappable and can be charged from any regular plug point, once it has been removed from the scooter. This setup is quite convenient and makes it easier for those who live in flats and others who don’t want to deal with the hassle of having to set up a power plug near their parking.

Should you buy the iVOOMi JeetX ZE?

The iVOOMi JeetX ZE is a very simple, no nonsense electric scooter that doesn’t come with an intimidating set of features or similar complexities. This makes it  very easy to use for first time EV buyers, and they  will find it very easy to get adjusted to its use as it doesn’t feel very different from a simple petrol powered electric scooter. 

The good looks and decent performance that it offers in an overall simple and easy to use package makes it a somewhat appealing package. So if you are someone who is looking to buy their first electric scooter, then the JeetX ZE might be an option you could consider. The performance or features might not excite you, but the practicality and affordable price tag certainly make a strong case for it.