VIDA V2 Plus Electric Scooter by HERO MotoCorp, 2 Removable Batteries, 143 km IDC Range, 85 km/h Top Speed, Matte White (Ex-Showroom)

I am writing this review after using the Vida V1 Plus for almost 15 days and may amend it after using it further.

1) Early Warrantee Dates: I bought it on 7th Oct 2024 and the vehicle was delivered to me on 12th Oct 2024. The RTO registration came on 18th Oct 2024 but the vehicle and battery’s Warrantees were started on 5th Oct 2024 on the date of its manufacturing from the factory itself. I wrote about it to the company by the response is still awaited despite a rigorous follow-up with dealer, amazon and the company itself.

2) iOS app issue: My entire family uses iphone and the utter shock came to us when dealer informed us that the iOS app is still under testing mode. We found his admission correct as many features of the app are not working. The only option we have now is to change our phones to Android and see if it works.

3) Single FOB Key: Vida V1 comes and works with a single FOB key only and it’s quite discomfortable as you have to handover the key to other family members. I enquired to have another key as substitute to
have an alternative arrangement if the key is misplaced. The request is declined as the vehicle has to be recalibrated with new key. We have multiple users at home and at least two FOB keys could have helped in many ways.

4) Subscriptions: Vida V1 comes with two free of cost subscriptions ie. Vida Charge and Vida Secure. I was taken aback when got to know that both subscriptions do not work as of now and the company will inform me when they are active. I confronted with the dealer if so then why their expiry date is marked as 31st March 2025. He showed his inability to explain and requested me to wait. I compromised as the Vida Charge facility is free-of-cost as of now for fast charging.

5) Pathetic Buttons: All the buttons whether it is push start, horn, warning lights, handle lock etc, in the vehicle are really painful. I do not believe that brand like HERO can offer such pathetic experience. Entire button system has to be redesigned and rearranged in the vehicle. I am sure that HERO has already realised it and is already working on it.

6) Double Seats: Locking & opening double seats is difficult. I have learnt the technique after few weeks of using it but my wife has raised hands. HERO, please review why two separate seats, which is not common in such vehicles, are at all fixed in the Vida V1.

7) Deviating Range: Vida V1 offers range of 100KMs but it fluctuates when you ride. But don’t worry, vehicle recalibrates and gives you minimum 100 KMs on a single charge.

8) Two removable Batteries: The best feature of Vida V1 vehicles. This makes the Vida V1 the best & unbeatable EV in the price range.

9) Free usage: Vida V1 takes 4 units of electricity for a full charge and the cost of single unit varies if you charge it at home or at Adani/ Tata Power (from Rs.8/- to Rs.20/- per unit. As Vida Charge subscription is not working presently, all the fast charging sessions at Vida Charge is made free of cost for 80% of vehicle charging.

10) FAME Discount: Govt offers Rs.10,000/- FAME subsidy on EV purchase to the customers after clicking the selfie with Modi ji and uploading on Govt website. I am yet to figure out whether company keeps it by discounting at show room price or the dealer keeps it without the knowledge of the company.

My experience with Vida V1 plus has been mixed and it may have been the best if HERO could have entered into the market after making the Final Product and ensuring all the testing.

Updated on 20.10.23….

Actual range is only 80km in Eco mode with single passanger in Bangalore, Battery is draining very fast. It may come down to 40km range in eco mode may be after 3 or 4 year.

In display it shows 114km range with 100% charge. But it practically runs only 80km from 100% to 0% of charge. So far 2000km runned.

App is useless, it won’t work properly. It gets logout on every day & provides inaccurate information’s most of the time.

Every time, Toll free peoples will take complaint but they will not respond or react to complaint.

Charging time is 8hrs for this 80km range

Door step service & buy back option are wrong commitment from hero motor, as of now there is no such option is available across India. Even battery cost is not fixed yet.

All other spec is good. But in battery vechile battery is not good means, what is the use of this plastic box with other spec. That too with no resale value.

Don’t waste your hard earned money on this scooter, better go for any other known & tested & proven brand.

You can purchase only if the on road cost is below Rs80000.

Price review:
I got the product at a very decent price of ₹1,06,500 after bank discount. This is the ex showroom price. Depending on the dealership, you will have to pay registration charges and insurance charges. I had to pay ₹10,124 which is on the higher side. Some dealers offer for a little lower price of ₹9000 or so.

Product review after 10 days:
I have used Vida V1 Pro for around 10 days now and faced no major issues with the product itself.

Pros:
1. For the price I got, this is really a value purchase. A full charge gives around 80 KM of range (Mixed modes) and very good for city travel locally.
2. The acceleration is also really good. When driving alone, it can reach speeds of upto 80kmph and when there is a pillion rider, it reaches a peak of 65kmph. Luckily, I didn’t notice much range change in both these situations.
3. Ride suspension comfort is really good like many reviews. I really put it through a good deal and faced no issues with the suspension. I would say its a level close to bike suspensions and a lot better than any scooty suspensions.
4. Removable batteries was a plus for me. I live in high raise apartments and having the option to charge batteries at home saved me from a lot of hassle.

This is where the pros stop unfortunately.

Cons:
1. Quality of build – Bike seems to be of lower quality compared to other ones out there. Plasticky feel everywhere and you can clearly feel the frustration when using the buttons especially menu navigation buttons
2. Regen – Vida V1 has regen for namesake only. I have never noticed the regen to work properly in most cases. App seems to have a setting to control it but I never found it useful or working
3. Brakes – Front brake is really good but the back brake is non existent. You can press it as hard as you want and the scooty will never come to a halt. You have to always rely on front brakes using back brake only to slow down.
4. Navigation – Well, to be frank, it doesn’t work mostly. If you are buying this as a secondary vehicle for small commute, may be that’s okay but if you want to commute to new places and travel long distances, I would suggest getting a phone holder or in my case a cheap phone for navigation purposes (Camera OIS will be damaged. If you have a good phone, I suggest not using it as a mount). 7′ screen is nothing but useless in this case.
5. Seat comfort – From my experience, pillion seat comfort is better than rider seat comfort. Even travelling for an hour would make your but* sore and make you feel irritated. Would advise getting a soft seat cover for comfort.
6. Battery charging – Charging time is weird. If you charge a battery from 0 to 100, it will take you around 3 to 3.5 hours and charging the same from 40 to 100 also takes 3 to 3.5 hours. I don’t know how that works, or if its a mistake.
7. App – Vida app is the worst there can be. Like I don’t even understand why it exists and what purpose it serves. Very hard or impossible to use. Hero sucks in User experience of their app and cheaped out on hiring designers may be.

Considering these are minor inconveniences, except for navigation and seat comfort, the Vida V1 Pro performs well and is a really good daily driver.

I would suggest buying during offers and all as that reduces its price from ₹1,49,990 to ₹1,06,500 which makes the inconveniences acceptable and hope to get fixed in near future for navigation and app experience.