Piaggio Ape E City FX Max

The Piaggio Ape E City FX Max is an electric passenger three-wheeler from Piaggio Vehicles, built for commercial passenger and last-mile transport in India. It is priced from Rs 3.25 lakh to Rs 3.30 lakh (ex-showroom) and seats a driver plus three passengers in an L5M passenger-carrier body.

Range and charging

An 8 kWh lithium-ion battery pack at 51.2 V delivers a published range of up to 150 km per charge under standard driving conditions, enough for a full day of urban auto-rickshaw duty. A full charge takes approximately 3 hours 45 minutes, so operators can top up overnight or during a mid-shift break. There is no DC fast-charging option; charging runs off a standard socket.

Performance and payload

A 5.44 kW electric motor produces 29 Nm of torque for a 50 km/h top speed, with 20% gradeability and a 200 mm ground clearance for uneven city roads. The FX Max carries a gross vehicle weight of 713 kg against a kerb weight of 413 kg, leaving around 300 kg of payload. It rides on a 1920 mm wheelbase with 120/80 R 12 tyres and a PT gear with differential transmission. A digital instrument cluster, tubeless tyres and a 5-year or 225,000 km warranty come as standard.

Who should buy it

The Ape E City FX Max suits auto-rickshaw operators and small fleet owners who want low running costs, a proven Piaggio service network and enough range for a city shift without the need for fast charging. Buyers who prioritise cargo space should consider the cargo-bodied Ape E-Xtra range instead.