River Indie

The River Indie promises great practicality and a fun riding experience. The quirky looking Indie has a strong spec sheet and is one of the most unique EV scooters on sale in India. Branded as the SUV of EV scooters, the River Indie aims to offer a practical and functional riding experience.

The Indie looks very unconventional for an electric scooter. The design is very eye-catchy and makes people turn heads wherever you go. 

It has a twin-pod LED setup for the headlight mounted on the front apron. The charging port is located behind the apron on the left side, which can be opened via a pull-tab inside the glove box. The scooter has a big spacious floorboard which can be covered on the sides with the optional detachable floor cages. It's when you look at the Indie from the side, you notice how long the scooter actually is. The design is very practical for two people to sit comfortably and carry luggage as well. Overall, the design is quite cohesive and looks well-rounded, quite literally. 

The River Indie gets a mid-mounted motor that makes 4.49kW (continuous) / 6.7kW (peak) and 26Nm. It’s powered by a 4kWh battery pack, which River claims gives it an IDC (Indian Driving Cycle) range of 161km.

The River Indie has three riding modes: Eco, Ride, and Rush. You can switch between these modes on the fly; all that is needed after switching is to close the throttle. The acceleration is linear in Eco mode but to make quick overtakes, riders will need to switch to Ride mode. 

At 100% battery, the predicted range is between 69km to 105km, depending on the mode you are in. In our real world test in a mix of Eco and Ride modes, the Indie ran for 115km before we had to charge completely which shows how well the regen is calculated. Additionally, regenerative braking is also effective.

Despite the bulky looks, the River Indie is quite nimble and agile to handle. The suspension is on the stiffer side and rides 14-inch wheels. The rear suspension is preload adjustable however, the front is not and is sprung stiffly. The stiff suspension is particularly felt when going over bumps and ditches if you are not careful enough. The 14-inch wheels do help in taking away the harsh impact from rough patches, but the ride quality is firm, especially when you are riding solo. 

The firm suspension does come into play when you wish to do some sporty stuff. The scooter tips into corners easily and holds the line without feeling unsettled. The brakes too have a really good bite considering it does not have ABS.

The River Indie is a comfortable scooter due to its long, spacious seat with a soft cushion. The ride quality is better when you have a pillion.A good ground clearance of 165mm allows the Indie to go over tall speed breakers easily. The only drawback in terms of comfort is the stiff suspension especially at the front. Which in its current tune, feels a bit firm and jarring over sharper bumps. Offering preload adjustability at the front would make it a whole lot better and the Indie would become a complete package. 

The River Indie is not the most feature loaded when it comes to other electric scooters. It gets a 6-colour digital LCD instrument cluster, that shows speed, state-of-charge left, range, riding mode, two trip meters, an odometer, and the other usual indications. There is no Bluetooth connectivity on offers. However, River will offer you a bolt-on phone holder, that you can use to mount your phone on the handlebar, below the instrument cluster.

The River Indie is priced at Rs 1,38,000 (ex-showroom, Bangalore), which is quite premium. The River Indie is a great family scooter which promises practicality and a fun riding experience. The main problem is the scooter is only available in Bangalore and Hyderabad. If you live in either of these cities, do take a test ride and definitely consider it if you are looking for a fun and practical electric scooter.