GOING BEYOND CONVENTIONAL

Euler Motors entered the three-wheeler segment as a disruptor. Sumesh Soman looks at the unconventional introductions like the Euler HiLoad electric three-wheeler aimed at the last-mile.

- Sumesh Soman

At first glance, the Euler HiLoad looks like the big sibling of Small Commercial Vehicles (SCVs) out there. The commanding stance in a raised three-wheeler chassis and its capabilities compel the aspiring fleet operator to think twice before looking at a four-wheeler cargo solution as an alternative. it can be attributed to the 0.650-tonne load deck. With most four-wheeler options offering a rated payload capacity at par and going upto 1-1.5-tonne only recently, the Euler HiLoad as an EV option blurs the lines between what a three-wheeler and four-wheeler cargo solution can offer to the operator. This feat of matching the four-wheelers or at least the brevity of its atttempt is a feat in itself for Euler Motors. While the company looks at a facelift in the near term, the current generation of Euler HiLoad EV has a lot going for itself. At an estimated Rs.4,03,987 (Ex-showroom, Delhi) for the top variant, the Hiload Delivery Van (DV) measures 3400 mm long, 1460 mm in width, and 2100 mm in height. It has a 2200 mm wheelbase and offers a 300 mm ground clearance in an attractive, value-for-money packaging.

We took the Euler HiLoad to Surajkand, six kilometres from the main arterial road that connects Badarpur to Surajkund. Driven out of the Euler Motors Badarpur facility, the vehicle was received at an adjacent open space where we could test the vehicle both on tarmac and on lose soil to test its off-road capability. The HiLoad tips the scales at 1.4-tonne (1413 kg). A closer look at the front fascia confirms a tastefully built SCV with inclusions that add to its utilitarian streak and are in line with its objective to offer a low Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).

THE DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE