Raptee T30 First Ride Review: High Voltage Ambition Meets Real-World Reality
This first ride review of the Raptee T30 electric bike highlights its faired design, high-voltage tech, and CCS2 charging as key draws, while noting minor glitches like noise and stiffness. Balanced performance across modes shines, but urban comfort and braking reassurance could improve. Priced at Rs 2.40 lakh, it's positioned as a solid contender without overhyping its potential in India's EV surge.
Raptee T30 First Ride Review: High Voltage Ambition Meets Real-World Reality
The Raptee T30 builds upon the increasing electric two-wheeler scene in India, yet does it truly stand out in a segment where customer expectations are high? We delve into this newcomer by putting it through its paces on the bustling roads of Chennai.
Q/A is AI-generated, newsroom-reviewed How does the Raptee T30 compare to the Ultraviolette F77 in terms of performance and specifications?The Raptee T30 features a 5.4 kWh battery delivering 29 bhp and 70 Nm of torque, with a top speed of 135 kmph and a real-world range of approximately 150 km. In contrast, the Ultraviolette F77 boasts a larger 10.3 kWh battery producing 39.65 bhp and 100 Nm of torque, achieving a top speed of 155 kmph and a range of up to 323 km. The F77 also offers faster charging capabilities and advanced features like traction control and regenerative braking options, making it a competitive alternative in the electric motorcycle segment.
What are the charging capabilities of the Raptee T30, and how does it compare to other electric motorcycles?The Raptee T30 is equipped with a CCS2 charging port, allowing it to connect to over 13,500 car charging stations in India, which is a significant advantage for electric two-wheelers. It can charge from 20% to 100% in about 36 minutes using fast chargers. In comparison, the Ultraviolette F77 offers similar fast charging capabilities but has a larger battery, resulting in different charging times. The T30's compatibility with car charging infrastructure is a unique feature that enhances its usability.
What safety features and certifications does the Raptee T30 have?The Raptee T30 has received ARAI certification, which ensures that it meets specific safety and performance standards. Its battery pack is rated IP67, indicating it can withstand challenging conditions, including water and dust exposure. This adds to the bike's durability and reliability. Additionally, the T30 is equipped with robust braking systems and features designed to enhance rider safety, which are crucial for urban commuting.
What are the key design elements and features of the Raptee T30?The Raptee T30 showcases a fully faired design that resembles traditional petrol bikes, featuring a centrally placed battery pack and a complete LED lighting system. It includes a 7-inch colored display with three riding modes and an intuitive control layout. The bike is relatively lightweight due to its aluminum frame, yet it weighs around 177 kg, which impacts maneuverability. The design aims to blend aesthetics with functionality, catering to modern riders' preferences.
What is the expected market reception for the Raptee T30, and what are the company's future plans?The Raptee T30 has already received over 8,000 registrations since its launch, indicating a positive market reception. The company aims to achieve sales of $25 million in its first year and plans to expand its product lineup, launching a new motorcycle every 12 months. This strategy reflects Raptee's commitment to innovation and meeting the growing demand for electric motorcycles in India, positioning itself as a significant player in the EV market.
Ever since the electric vehicle market in India kicked off with impressive growth over the past few years, much of that surge has been fuelled by electric two-wheelers. Today, we're spotlighting a fresh entrant: the Raptee brand with its T30 electric bike. This review uncovers everything from its styling to features, range, and performance. Let's dive into this first ride of the Raptee T30.
The Raptee T30 boasts a fully faired look similar to traditional petrol-powered bikes
Photo : TIMES DRIVE
Raptee T30 First Ride Review: Design and Features
Starting with the aesthetics, the Raptee T30 boasts a fully faired look that mimics traditional petrol-powered bikes, largely thanks to the centrally placed battery pack enveloped in fairing. Up front, you'll find a complete LED cluster with daytime running lights and upside-down forks. The tyres are chunky: a 17-inch 110-section at the front and a 150-section at the rear. Instead of the usual 'EV' badge, it sports 'Raptee HV', signifying high voltage at 240 volts, a novel twist not commonly seen in conventional electric two-wheelers, promising enhanced efficiency and performance.
Raptee T30 features intuitive controls
Photo : TIMES DRIVE
The rear features full LED tail lamps and indicators, contributing to a sleek profile. Weighing around 177 kg, it employs an aluminium frame to keep things relatively light, though the heft is noticeable during manoeuvres. A standout feature is the CCS2 fast-charging port, allowing up to 7 kW charging. This means you could juice up for about 100 km in roughly an hour using CCS2 public fast chargers, a rarity in two-wheelers.
Controls are intuitive: left-side buttons manage the 7-inch coloured display with three modes-Comfort, Sprint, and Power, plus a cruise control option slated for activation in the final production version. On the right, there's a kill switch, ignition, function switch for the instrument cluster, and a hazard lamp button. The bike packs a 5.4 kWh battery, claiming a real-world range of around 150 km.
The performance of Raptee T30 across modes is commendable, with no complaints in traffic, city, or highway scenario
Photo : TIMES DRIVE
Raptee T30 First Ride Review: Performance and Ride Quality
Power figures impress on paper: the 5.4 kWh battery delivers 29 bhp and 70 Nm of torque, sprinting from 0 to 60 kmph in 3.5 seconds with a top speed of 135 kmph. Different modes cater to city, highway, and mixed riding, offering solid acceleration in both urban crawls and open stretches. However, the bike's weight from the battery and motor is evident at low speeds, though it balances well once momentum builds.
During my ride, one unit exhibited minor wobbling, possibly due to low tyre pressure, but switching to another resolved it, maintaining stability at higher speeds. The riding posture strikes a fine balance which is not too aggressive for city duties nor overly relaxed for highways, easing strain on wrists and shoulders. Ride quality shines overall in varied conditions, though the suspension feels a tad stiff, which aids high-speed stability but compromises comfort in urban potholes.
A glitch cropped up: about 10 minutes into traffic, the bike shut down automatically with a glitching display, restarting shortly after. The Raptee team attributed this to a drained auxiliary battery, similar to those in ICE bikes, a fixable issue, but worth noting.
Things I didn't fancy include a persistent noise between 20-50 kmph, likely from the belt drive, which disrupts the typical EV serenity and can grate during city rides. The stiff suspension, while great for revving, lacks plushness in town, despite decent seat cushioning. Braking performs adequately at low and city speeds, but at highways, it falls short on reassurance, denting confidence for sustained high-speed runs.
On the flip side, performance across modes is commendable, with no complaints in traffic, city, or highway scenarios. The 7-inch instrument cluster is crisp and visible even in bright sunlight, though navigation (Raptee's proprietary system) showed minor lag. Lastly, the posture blends worlds effectively for versatile riding.
Raptee T30 Review: Verdict
Photo : TIMES DRIVE
Raptee T30 First Ride Review: Worth buying?
Priced at Rs 2.40 lakh (ex-showroom), the Raptee T30 enters as a compelling package in India's electric two-wheeler arena. Its features, especially CCS2 compatibility, are noteworthy, build quality feels robust, and performance holds strong despite minor niggles like noise and stiffness. Comfort takes a slight hit, but overall, it presents a solid option. If you're eyeing an electric bike in this segment and price bracket, the Raptee T30 merits consideration amid the evolving EV landscape.
