Lohia Humsafar IAQ

The Lohia Humsafar IAQ is a fully built, high-speed electric auto-rickshaw from Lohia Auto, engineered as an L5M passenger carrier for city and last-mile transport. It is priced from Rs 1.85 lakh (ex-showroom) and comes in a single 3-seater, 1945 mm wheelbase configuration that seats a driver and three passengers. It competes with the Piaggio Ape E City, Mahindra Treo and Kinetic Safar in the electric three-wheeler passenger segment, at a significantly lower entry price.

Range and charging

The Humsafar IAQ carries a 4 kWh lithium-ion battery pack at 48 V, which TrucksDekho rates for a range of up to 110 km on a full charge. Recharging from a standard AC socket takes roughly 4 to 5 hours, so the vehicle is suited to overnight charging or a top-up between shifts. There is no DC fast-charging option on the published specification, and running costs are low for an operator making repeated short passenger trips through a day.

Performance and payload

Power comes from a 10 hp AC induction motor, good for a top speed of 48 km/h and a 7 percent gradeability. TrucksDekho lists a gross vehicle weight of 990 kg against a 440 kg kerb weight, leaving around 550 kg for passengers and luggage. The body measures 2955 mm long, 1460 mm wide and 1810 mm high, with 190 mm of ground clearance and a 2580 mm turning radius. Drum brakes, MacPherson strut front suspension and hydraulic rear suspension handle braking and ride, and the automatic transmission makes it simple to drive in traffic.

Who should buy it

The Humsafar IAQ suits auto-rickshaw drivers and small passenger fleets running urban and short-haul routes where low purchase price and per-kilometre running cost matter more than top speed. The digital instrument display and standard passenger-cabin bodywork keep ownership simple, while the 110 km range comfortably covers a day of city trips on one charge.