Life in a Tremendous Soco: Evaluate of the TC-1900 (Plus, the Way forward for the Model)

In June 2022, simply earlier than the second spherical of Colombia’s nationwide elections, former President Ivan Duque introduced that the de-facto subsidy for gasoline* can be progressively dropped. The choice, fortunately, was accepted by the brand new administration of President Gustavo Petro, and the price of gasoline began to extend month-to-month. The method will proceed till parity is reached with worldwide oil costs. As soon as it was clear that the choice was ultimate, I instructed my companion it was time for us to purchase an electrical bike. To be clear, we didn’t have a gasoline-powered bike (or any type of automobile for that matter), however I feared that rising gasoline costs would push e-bike costs up.

This wasn’t our first rodeo relating to e-powered two-wheelers. Again when she owned an ICE automobile, we had bought a lead-acid powered 800W e-moped ($500 value) to maneuver round in rush hour or when there have been transit restrictions. However when she bought the automobile, it grew to become clear the moped was not highly effective sufficient nor dependable sufficient as a most important automobile, so we bought it and began fascinated with a bigger, extra succesful e-motorcycle … till the federal government’s announcement made us soar the gun.

The selection? A two-year-old, 5000-km Tremendous Soco TC-1900.

(And, in the event you want to know, an electrical automobile was not even thought of due to their excessive value and the hellish visitors in Bogota).

Tremendous Soco TC-1900: The Fundamentals

In case you haven’t heard about it, the Tremendous Soco model is owned by Australia’s Vmoto e-motorcycle firm. The 83-kg TC-1900 is a retro-style e-bike (or e-moped, in keeping with Colombia’s authorities laws) that features:

• A detachable 1.8-kWh lithium-ion Panasonic battery that gives 40 to 80 km of vary (and a slot for a second one, ought to the proprietor want for it).
• A 1.9-kW in-wheel motor, peaking at 2.7 kW, able to reaching some 80 km/h (50 mph) with one passenger.
• An analog speedometer and digital display.

And … that’s just about it. However for $6,000,000 COP ($1,200 on the change price again then), I discover it unreasonable to ask for extra. The bike is completely value its value, after which a bit extra.

Driving Expertise

The TC-1900 has three driving choices creatively referred to as Mode 1, 2, and three. They mainly restrict energy and pace to 50, 65, and 80 km/h respectively. The longer vary, the decrease the ability. A fast estimate might be 80 km for Mode 1, 60 km for Mode 2, and 40 km for Mode 3. A quirk about this automobile is that energy will begin diminishing when you get to 70% cost or so: one can really feel within the acceleration and the highest pace whether or not the battery is sort of full or not.

As all EVs, this one has instantaneous acceleration, to the purpose the place one have to be cautious if carrying a passenger: in that case, it’s advisable to start out in Mode 1. Small and light-weight, the TC-1900 is right for Bogota’s visitors situations, making it straightforward and sensible to maneuver round within the heavy jams that abound everywhere in the metropolis. The seat is snug, however clearly designed for an city setting, not for lengthy(ish) journeys.

Its 1.9-kW motor is greater than highly effective sufficient for steep inclinations, even with two passengers, and the bike doesn’t stall when it wants to start out on a hill. Nonetheless, it’s value mentioning that the automobile’s carrying capability is just 150 kg, so you might not be capable of carry two passengers (Colombians, fortunately, are often on the smaller facet).

On the Battery

One of many most important causes individuals reject e-bikes right here in Colombia has to do with the period of the batteries. And despite the fact that it’s the identical previous argument used towards electrical automobiles, this time, they do have a degree.

I — supposedly — know learn how to look after batteries, and even then, I had three lead-acid batteries in a row fail me in my earlier e-moped (all, fortunately, beneath guarantee). Apparently, there was a brief circuit that broken them. Lithium-ion batteries are alleged to be sturdier, however most e-bikes lack any form of thermal administration system — don’t take heed to the producer’s suggestions (I’ve seen native manuals recommending 100% prices as frequently as potential and full discharges earlier than charging). Additionally, the minuscule batteries are unlikely to have that a lot of a buffer.

Consequently, one has actually no thought how lengthy a battery will final.

Our TC-1900 was registered in January 2021, so we’re approaching 3 years (and 7000 km) of use. We haven’t seen any significant degradation, however then once more, it’s onerous to measure it if you not often make common journeys at fixed speeds. My expectation is for the battery to final not less than 5 years, and ideally 8, however we’ll have to attend and see.

The excellent news is: battery costs are falling rather more quickly than we anticipated. Again when this e-bike arrived in Colombia, in 2018 or so, a battery substitute was anticipated to value $4,500,000 COP ($1,150), or half the worth of the bike. In 2022, I checked once more and it was already at $3,000,000 COP ($765). Again in March, once we final did upkeep, it was already at $2,500,000 COP ($636). And final week, I referred to as and had it quoted at $1,800,000 COP ($464), that means a 60% worth lower over 5 years. At this worth, we’ve already determined to buy our second battery, in order that our city e-bike turns into a suburban e-bike able to making quick journeys to the encircling cities.

I do know a few of you in all probability want to know the price of charging the battery, however that has confirmed onerous to calculate, as we don’t know charging effectivity. Regardless, our month-to-month invoice hasn’t noticeably elevated with use, so we calculate some $6 a month, at most.

Points with the TC-1900

No automobile is ideal, and low cost autos like this one often have some quirks. Nonetheless, I solely actually have three complaints about my TC-1900:

1. First, the dearth of an anti-lock braking system (ABS) makes this automobile extra harmful than it must be.
2. Second, the again of the TC-1900 is just not sturdy sufficient so as to add a small trunk or prime field. Something one needs to hold, one should tackle their very own again.
3. And third … the parking button. It’s been reported by Tremendous Soco homeowners all around the globe that the parking button begins failing in some unspecified time in the future, activating parking mode at random occasions and thus dropping all energy to the accelerator. Once we bought the bike, this was a minor nuisance that was solved honking, however over the months, it grew to become an increasing number of problematic, leaving us stranded in the midst of the highway for as much as 3 minutes. We ended up altering your complete half throughout the yearly upkeep, at a value of some $30, and now, six months later, it’s as soon as once more often beginning to fail. We might find yourself having to disconnect the button solely from the circuit.

Vmoto’s Mistake & the Way forward for Tremendous Soco

The Tremendous Soco TC-1900 is an effective wanting, reasonably priced, and dependable e-bike that may give its gasoline counterparts a run for his or her cash.

It additionally appears will probably be phased out quickly.

Vmoto ceased manufacturing on the reasonably priced TS-1200 and it appears will pull the plug on the TC-1900, as an alternative changing the mannequin with the attractive, bigger, and extra highly effective TS Avenue Hunter and TC Wanderer. Nonetheless, in doing so, it destroyed the area of interest the place it had succeeded (not less than within the Colombian market): reasonably priced but putting and nicely designed electrical bikes.

The TS Avenue Hunter practically triples the price of the previous TS-1200, and the TC Wanderer practically doubles that of the TC-1900. At $16,000,000 COP ($4,000), they not compete with reasonably priced 125cc and 150cc city gasoline bikes, as an alternative going head-on towards rather more highly effective and higher designed 200cc to 350cc bikes, in addition to extra succesful Chinese language sport e-bikes.

This can be a struggle they’re certain to lose.

Tremendous Soco’s TS and TC lineup went from promoting a pair hundred models a yr in 2021 to solely 40 models thus far in 2023… however 35 of them are the remaining TC-1900, so the actual gross sales quantity is just 5! For now, they continue to be as a viable model due to their scooters, a lineup which continues to be reasonably priced(ish).

The TC-1900 has disappeared from each the Colombian webpage and Vmoto’s official web site, so it might not be bought for for much longer. As soon as that occurs, we may even see a 95% or so market share discount for Vmoto on this phase.

Appears to be like have been one of many most important causes we selected the TC-1900, and it’s a disgrace this received’t be an choice for these selecting an e-bike sooner or later. In case you ask me, changing the TS-1200 and the TC-1900 for costlier alternate options is mindless in growing markets, and can harm Vmoto’s gross sales numbers for the foreseeable future until they enhance energy and vary and make their bikes appropriate with Sort 2 quick charging (in order that they will actually compete towards these 200cc to 350cc gasoline bikes).

Regardless, we’re comfortable to have bought one whereas they existed, and we really feel the TC-1900 has clearly provided fairly the worth for its low value, after which some extra. E-bikes are an actual various for many who both don’t need or can’t afford an electrical automobile however nonetheless want to take part on the transition to cleaner, greener transportation. Oh, and costs for this mannequin have certainly climbed up (20% or so for the used ones), however now I don’t know if it’s as a result of gasoline costs are up or as a result of the mannequin has been discontinued and individuals are scrambling to purchase no matter’s left in the marketplace (or a little bit of each).

I want to learn your feedback on my evaluation of Vmoto’s choice. Am I being too harsh? Or is that this, in actual fact, the tip for the model in most growing markets (not less than on this phase)? Might this be offset by higher gross sales in additional developed international locations?

*It wasn’t initially a subsidy. For over a decade, greater oil costs would trigger a revaluation of the Colombian Peso (COP), and decrease oil costs would devalue it. On this context, gasoline costs principally remained fixed, and the Stabilization Fund was meant to stop fast worth drops and/or hikes. However the direct relationship between oil and the COP began to erode again in 2016 and utterly disconnected after the pandemic, when huge oil worth will increase paired with vital COP devaluation. Below this situation, the fund discovered itself having a billion-plus deficit that needed to be coated by the federal government, changing into a de-facto subsidy that needed to be dismounted.

Pictures courtesy of Tremendous Soco.