For drivers who earn daily income by driving auto, the mileage and maintenance of the vehicle matters the most. Amidst the fluctuations in the prices of petrol and CNG, electric three-wheelers are now emerging as an important option for commercial use. In this segment, Bajaj has introduced its electric auto Bajaj WEGO P9018.
According to the company, this electric auto is capable of giving a certified range of 296 kilometers on a single charge. It has been provided with many such features along with a big battery, which has been specially designed keeping in mind the commercial drivers who cover long distances every day. Its starting ex-showroom price in Delhi is said to be between ₹ 4.41 lakh to ₹ 4.58 lakh.
Large battery of 17.7 kWh, range up to 296KM
Bajaj WEGO P9018 has a 17.7 kWh LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery. The company claims that this battery has been designed keeping commercial and heavy-use in mind.
This battery has also been given IP67 rating, which provides protection from dust and water. This feature is considered especially useful for commercial vehicles, as the auto has to be driven daily in different weather and road conditions.
According to the company, with the help of the on-board charger, it can take less than 4 hours to charge the battery from 0 to 80 percent, while it takes about 6 hours to charge 100 percent.
Energy goes back into the battery when the brakes are applied.
Regenerative braking system is also provided in this electric auto. When the driver applies the brakes or slows down the vehicle, the motor acts as a generator to send some of the energy back to the battery.
This recovers energy during driving and can help improve the vehicle's actual mileage and range, according to the company.
Claim of 2-speed AMT gearbox for the first time
A special feature of Bajaj WEGO P9018 is its 2-speed AMT automatic gearbox.
While single-speed transmission is seen in many electric three-wheelers, this one has a two-speed system. According to the company, it helps in managing the power of the motor according to different road and load conditions.
This system works to make driving easier, especially during climbs, flyovers or under heavy load.
Strong capability even on hilly roads
The company has given it a 6.2 kW PMS motor, which generates peak torque up to 40 Nm.
Its features also include 36 percent gradeability. To understand in simple language, the vehicle has been designed to move forward with sufficient power even on uphill roads.
This feature can be useful for those drivers who have to drive the auto on city flyovers, high climbs or on bad and sloping roads in rural areas.
four different driving modes
It has been provided with different driving modes as per the need of the driver. These include Eco, Power and Climb modes.
Apart from this, Park Assist feature is also provided for easy reverse. Through different modes the driver can adjust the vehicle's behavior according to the road, traffic and load.
For safety, it has been provided with Hill Hold Assist, which helps in preventing the vehicle from rolling backwards on slopes. Apart from this, features like rollover detection and strong monocoque metal chassis are also provided.
Comfortable large cabin for driver
Commercial auto drivers have to drive for long hours. Keeping this in mind, the company has also laid emphasis on making its cabin comfortable.
The length of Bajaj WEGO P9018 is stated to be 3,095 mm, width 1,490 mm, height 1,855 mm and wheelbase is 2,039 mm.
The vehicle has a ground clearance of 180 mm, which helps in reducing the chances of collision with the vehicle from below on bad and bumpy roads.
Better suspension on bad roads
The auto has been provided with telescopic fork at the front and swing arm suspension with helical coil spring at the rear. Its purpose is to reduce the potholes and shocks of the road, so that the driver and passengers can get more comfort during long distances. To keep the grip on the road, it has been provided with 130/80 R12 radial tubeless tyres.
Many features from USB charging to digital display
Keeping in mind the daily needs of the driver, it also has many small but useful features. It has a digital LCD instrument cluster, USB Type-A port for charging the smartphone, lockable glove box, bottle holder and cabin lamp. Apart from this, an attempt has been made to make the cabin more comfortable with dual-tone seating.
Vehicle tracking through connected technology
Connected telematics support is also provided in Bajaj WEGO P9018. This can help in monitoring information like vehicle location and condition of the vehicle. This feature can be important for commercial vehicle owners as it helps in monitoring the vehicle and managing daily operations in a better way.
Will it prove beneficial for auto drivers?
The biggest attraction of electric auto may be reducing the regular expenditure on petrol or CNG. However, just looking at range and price is not enough before purchasing any commercial vehicle. Drivers should also keep in mind the charging availability, daily range, battery warranty, service network, finance EMI, insurance and local electric-auto regulations. If the company's stated range of 296KM and other features perform as expected in actual use, then Bajaj WEGO P9018 could become an interesting option for drivers in the commercial electric three-wheeler segment. Could.