Launch of Blueshark R1 and R1 Lite EV scooters in Malaysia – up to 110 km range according to NEDC; from RM7,190
Sharkgulf Technologies subsidiary Blueshark has officially launched the R1 and R1 Lite all-electric scooters for the Malaysian market, following the ‘scooter’ line Malaysian screening last October at the Malaysia International Green Technology and Ecological Products Exhibition & Conference (IGEM) 2022 in Kuala Lumpur.
The Blueshark R1 range of electric scooters is now available to buy direct from RM7,190 for R1 Lite up to RM9,390 for top-spec R1 and monthly corporate rental for RM487 for R1 Lite and RM547 for R1.
The maximum range on the Blueshark R1 electric scooter is 110 km according to NEDC’s testing protocol, and the rear hub-mounted motor produces 5 kW of power and 201 Nm of torque, allowing for acceleration times. 0-50 km/h in 4.9 seconds and top speed 80 km/h. According to a company representative, when fitted with a battery, Blueshark R1 has a maximum speed of 40 km / h.
Tires on the Blueshark R1 series measure 100/90-12 at the front and 120/70-12 at the rear, with front and rear linkage disc brakes without ABS.
Fully charging a single battery for the Blueshark R1 takes three hours and 35 minutes with the supplied charger connected to a domestic three-pin outlet, or about seven hours to fully charge two batteries, which can also be recharged when inserted into a scooter. In Malaysia, riders with a B2 license can ride the Blueshark R1 on public roads.
The Blueshark R1 and R1 Lite arrived in Malaysia initially as complete import units (CBUs) from China, however, production of locally assembled units (CKDs) is expected to begin in Glenmarie, Selangor in third quarter of 2023.
Blueshark R1 uses the company’s proprietary ArkRide operating system, which offers Bluetooth connectivity, GPS navigation, media playback, over-the-air updates, built-in video camera, etc. These are accessed by the rider accessed via the 10.4-inch full-color high-definition display.
Positioned at a lower price point, the Blueshark R1 Lite features a simplified monochrome LCD device display and no ArkRide operating system, and the R1’s higher-spec camera and video recorders, while Specifications on the electric powertrain and battery remain the same.
The Blueshark R1 or R1 Lite rental business will include two batteries, a Bluetooth key, and a sim card. The Blueshark R1 and R1 Lite’s separate purchases will include one charger and two charging docks, and it’s worth noting that the outright purchase of the electric scooter will not include the battery.
Batteries are available for use through BlueSwap battery swap packages; these are priced according to the number of battery swaps per month, with three monthly plans offered in addition to BlueSwap Flex, paying per swap at RM1.95 per battery swap. For under-seat storage, the Blueshark R1 can accommodate an open-face helmet without visor.
Monthly battery swap prices start with the BlueSwap Lite plan which costs RM59 a month allowing subscribers to swap 36 batteries in a month, while upgrading to the BlueSwap Standard plan at RM99 a month allows users 70 battery swaps a month. The top subscription tier at launch is BlueSwap Pro which costs RM139 a month, allowing users 120 battery swaps per month.
Since Blueshark R1 has capacity for two batteries, one battery counts as one swap, so using up both battery slots for two freshly charged batteries will count as two battery swaps.
For Blueshark R1 buyers looking to own batteries for their electric scooters, they can opt to purchase the batteries with an estimated price of RM3,000 each or around RM6,000 for both batteries. With the full addition of buying two batteries along with the scooter, this would bring the total price to around RM15k for the Blueshark R1.
In terms of maintenance, maintenance costs include changing the transmission oil for the engine’s gear set every 6,000 km, at a price of RM45. This will complement the regular check of tires, brake pads and overall road ability during this time period.
