After conducting the ground-breaking ceremony of its first integrated EV manufacturing plant at Thoothukudi (in Tamil Nadu) on February 25, VinFast has filed a design patent for the Klara S electric scooter in India, suggesting that it could enter the two-wheeler market soon. The Vietnam-based EV maker, a relatively young company established in 2017, sells the Klara S in seven paint options in the home country at VND 39,900, which roughly translates to Rs 1.35 lakh. The price is exclusive of the batteries and charger.
VinFast Klara S: Battery, Range, Top Speed
The VinFast Klara S is powered by a 4bhp (3kW) electric motor, which is hub-mounted. The scooter's top speed is 78km/h (48mph), while the company claims a range of 194 kilometres on a single charge. Speaking of range, a 3.5kWh LFP (lithium-iron-phosphate) battery, which can be charged in 6 hours, sends power to the hub motor.
VinFast Klara S: Hardware, Design
The Klara S has a telescopic hydraulic setup at the front and a coil spring/damper hydraulic setup at the rear. Meanwhile, the braking hardware consists of discs at both ends, mounted on a 14-inch front and a 12-inch rear wheel. The Klara S is styled along the lines of a conventional scooter, similar to the likes of the Bajaj Chetak – which received the 2024 version of the Premium variant in January 2024. It features a round LED headlamp and LED turn indicators, and it has an accessible seat height of 760mm.
Moreover, VinFast could also launch the VF3 in India in 2025, given the fact that the design patent for the small electric SUV has been registered. While the company has yet to reveal battery specifications, it expects a range of about 201km on a single charge.
VinFast Begins EV Plant Construction in India
Early last month, VinFast signed a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with the government of Tamil Nadu to invest approximately Rs 16,600 crore to build and export vehicles from the country. Out of the said investment amount, about Rs 4,165 crore has been secured for the first phase of the project (EV facility), the ground-breaking ritual for which was conducted in the presence of M K Stalin, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
Spanning 400 acres, VinFast’s integrated EV plant in Tamil Nadu is expected to generate about 3,000 to 3,500 jobs, and will have an annual production capacity of 1.50 lakh units.
Ather 450 Apex Deliveries to Commence in March
In other EV-related news, Ather will begin the deliveries of the newly launched 450 Apex in March 2024. The first batch will arrive in Bengaluru, Goa, and Pune, followed by test rides. The 450 Apex is the most expensive and powerful Ather built on the 450X platform, priced at Rs 1.89 lakh (ex-showroom).
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