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-   -   Okinawa Scooters @ Auto Expo 2020 (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/motorbikes/218913-okinawa-scooters-auto-expo-2020-a.html)

Okinawa scooters had on display their offerings in India as well as some concepts and informative cut-outs for better understanding how electric vehicles work:


The stall attracted decent number of visitors:


They claim to offer the largest number of electric two-wheelers in India:

Praise Pro with app control was displayed:


Pillion can rest his feet on this small section:


Note the 2 horn buttons! Useful in India, but also shows that this is just petrol scooter switchgear (specifically the starter button) that has been converted into an additional horn button!


Dial on the levers to adjust reach/grip:


The app shows your current speed (not sure why this would be useful), battery level, vehicle health, etc.:




The app is used to unlock the scooter. They said they don't give a key!
Q: What if the mobile phone battery is dead?
A: The scooter has a charging port.
Sounds like more of a problem than a solution...


You can also lock/unlock the handle, unlock the seat and activate the anti-theft mode which locks the rear wheel if the scooter is being rolled along:


Incoming call alert:


Navigation on the MID is cool:

The regular Praise Pro without the app connectivity:


Spec sheet:


Turbo mode (push-button) just for overtaking:


E(conomy) and S(port) switchable modes. In E mode, claimed range is 110 km and a speed of 30-35 km/h while in S mode, 88 km range is claimed with speeds upto 50-60 km/h. Turbo mode takes the speed upto 65-70 km/h:








Notice the USB port to charge your phone:


2 storage spaces and a bag hook:

The Okinawa Lite:




Spec sheet of Lite:


Full painted panel is good-looking. Notice the 'Power the change' tagline on the chrome element:


Funky headlights and square indicators:


Vertically shaped dual tone mirrors:


The scooter doesn't require a driving license as it's restricted to a top speed of 25 km/h:


Keyless entry with a start-stop button. Note the USB port in the cubby hole too:




Battery is removable. The ELCB needs to be turned off, and the physical key is used to unlock the battery (there's a lock mechanism below it):


How to access the battery:




Remote key for using the bike and the physical key to access the battery:


All-digital meter unit:


Backlit start / stop button:


You can choose your paint scheme on their website...


...or opt for one of the standard shades:


Rear foot pegs are sleek when folded in:


Orange one is a new colour:

Ridge 30 was also showcased:


This one was finished in a pearlescent shade:


Another one in a regular colour:


All-digital speedo meter:


The range of the bike is claimed to be 90-100 km while the top speed is restricted to 25 km/h:

The company also unveiled the electric maxi scooter, Cruiser:


Okinawa Cruiser is expected to be launched in India by mid-2020:


It is claimed to reach a top speed of 100 km/h with an expected range of 75-80 km on a single charge:


It gets an LED headlight:


Front disk brake offered:

Okinawa also displayed a cool cutout model of the electric scooter:


How the different cables are routed:


Li-ion battery and its cross section:


Remove-able battery can be taken home and charged - a boon for apartment dwellers:


The Li-ion is the option for the higher variants. Some lower variants come with a lead-acid battery too, but Okinawa claims the Li-ion sells a lot more:








Demonstration of the waterproof motor:




Frame of the scooters with the welds highlighted:


Transparent body panels to see the insides:






Interesting arrangement of the disc brake:


The perimeter brakes have the hub-mounted brake caliper inside them!

I was generally thinking that Okinawa is not that good, mostly equivalent to no-named Chinese stuff.
However I saw a neighbors scooter and it seems quite well put together. Still may not be in league of Ather or Bajaj.

However, I am excited if the base models may suit the rental scooter market really well - like vogo, bounce etc. These scooters are used for shorter distances and usually in high traffic areas where speed limited to 25kmph may not be a problem at all.

Being in Autoexpo is helpful as it indicates the companies commitment to being there in the long run for support.

What was your impression of the quality?

There was nothing glaringly bad. Though some of the switchgear looked cheap, and on occasion the seat would take multiple attempts to close.

I think the bigger issue will be that these scooters *look* much better than they function... Example: braking performance is poor, despite having huge discs.

Do see this post and the following 2 posts as well. You'll get a better idea of what they are like and how they ride.

I had almost decided on taking a Praise pro but for two factors.

1. No information on the battery cost and service life.
2. Hub wheel design.

There was one showroom near to my house which abruptly closed. Their website shows a Kobe- Nishi pin code in japan but i always suspected it to be of Chinese origin. Only thing working to its favor was the detachable battery design.

I have been following Okinawa for quite some time. The problem in any new comer is not just the quality of the product but also the service ecosystem. Look at UM motorcycles. Product was average, but if it had decent service, it would still have been a good bike in it's segment. But due to the company's problems, these bikes have almost no support now. In such cases one would think that it's better to put a little more money and buy an established brand (like Bajaj). Ather on the other hand has managed to maintain quality - which is good.

So, a new brand in the market has to have something great going for it, apart from the price. May be quality, or looks or desirability..whatever it is. Solely banking on good price will never work in the long run.

Was going through the autocar coverage and they mentioned their offerings looking similar to a chinese maker - Luyuan

I was browsing through their page and heck, even the Logo seem to be same. I reserve my comments on Chinese products(different topic) but isn't it unfair to claim as 100% indian ?
https://www.luyuanvehicle.com/

See the post I've linked to in my previous post above. That will shed some light on things.

I read some of the user's reviewers from the owners and that isn't positive at all. I visited Okinawa stall at expo, which was very congested due to more than 12 scooters ( with thier respective models) displayed in very limited space. I must say all the scooters were eyecatching. However, the quality of the switches and other body material was not up to the marks.