The Hero Leap hybrid scooter was first seen as a working concept during the Auto Expo 2012, and now is production-ready as unveiled to the press early this year. The wait was indeed long and one full of doubts as to how successfully Hero MotoCorp could turn this concept into a production reality.
The Hero Leap is a hybrid scooter that uses a lithium-ion battery and an 8 kW electric traction motor with an on-board generator battery to produce up to 10.73 bhp. It also possess an all-new 124 cc engine with fuel injection which make use of a high-tech toothed belt drive connected directly to the rear wheel. The belt holds the genes of reinforced super strength fibre which is guaranteed to live as long as the scooter itself, with nil maintenance and adjustments. The PMAC motor for the Hero Leap is claimed to produce a maximum torque of 60 Nm from the word go and can take the scooter to a top speed of 100 kmph when running on the range extender petrol engine. The fuel tank can hold up to 3 litres and guarantees to give a range of 340 kms when the electric and petrol modes are combined, and the ride is of course silent and smooth.
The Hero Leap hybrid scooters braking power comes from a 240 mm disc at the front and a 130 mm drum at the rear. The high-strength, low-weight Finite Element Analysis (FEA) optimized wheel, outlined with 110/70/13 tyre rests on a telescopic fork in the front while a 120/70/11 tyre sits at the back. The tyres are of premium quality as claimed by Hero, which ensures better grip and handling. The scooter has a 1347 mm wheelbase and a ground clearance of 40 mm. The 1884 mm long, 850 mm wide, 1162 mm high scooter marks its fat at 140 kgs.
The night visibility is provided by the projector LED headlamp along with a position lamp and a stop lamp. Other design highlights include the mirrors attached to the handles as well as a small clear visor. Hero Leap, India’s first hybrid scooter is expected to roll out of the factory with a price tag somewhere between 90,000 to 1,00,000 INR in the second half of this year.
