There’s been a lot of talk about VinFast’s electric two-wheelers that are on their way to our market. If the sheer number of eyeballs we’ve gotten on our story is any indication, then we can probably say that a lot of people are already looking forward to it.
It’s not surprising, seeing as the brand’s electric vehicles have been selling well in our market since this fuel crisis started. The difference, however, is that VinFast has yet to venture into the local motorcycle market prior to this. A market that’s heavily dominated by two big names: Honda and Yamaha.
Now, you might be wondering: What do two Japanese brands that mainly manufacture petrol-powered bikes have to do with a newcomer that’s looking to introduce its electric bikes? Well, it’s because VinFast upcoming e-scooters have the same target market as the typical 125cc motorcycles. Specifically, the Viper.
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Essentially, this will be the scooter that VinFast will pit against established nameplates like the Click 125 and Mio i125. The former has been the best-selling motorcycle model in the country for years, while the latter is one of the most popular and longest-standing nameplates in the market. VinFast has its work cut out for it, so what exactly does the Viper bring to the table?
For starters, the design isn’t half bad. It looks like a proper gasoline-powered motorcycle and not a typical electrified scooter. It also looks small, which means it should be an ideal daily rider in the city. It has a 780mm or 30.7-inch seat height—quite manageable even for inexperienced riders.
The VinFast Viper boasts a maximum range of 82km on a single charge with a single battery—plenty enough for city-dwellers—and can be spec’d with a second battery for an additional 74km of range. If the Vietnamese brand decides to push through with its EV charging network, then that means Filipinos could potentially get to enjoy the VinFast chargers.
This electric scooter can also reach a maximum speed of 70kph, and worth noting is that the top speed will entail registration for an e-scooter like this. The Viper also gets a smart key system and a TFT display.
Apart from the Viper, VinFast has also confirmed that it will also be bringing the Evo and Feliz II (see photos below) to the Philippines. None of these models, however, have initial pricing figures or even target launch dates as of this writing, so we’ll have to wait for further information on that.
