Union Star GC EV

Motor and battery

The Union Star GC EV is an electric scooter with a 1,200 W (1.2 kW) motor, 7 Nm of listed torque and a listed top speed of 55 km/h. Its 72V 26Ah graphene battery stores about 1.87 kWh, which is more than the cheaper YH EV. The claimed range is 75 to 80 km per charge, and charging from a normal home socket takes about 6 hours. Riding is twist-and-go with an automatic drive and electric start, so it is easy for new riders and for anyone moving from a bicycle.

Size and practicality

This is the most compact scooter in the Union Star range: 1,750 mm long, 740 mm wide and 1,014 mm tall, with a 1,200 mm wheelbase and 120 mm ground clearance. It weighs about 88 kg dry and rides on 10-inch wheels with 3-10 tyres. Smaller wheels make it nimble in traffic, but in our view they will feel less settled than 12-inch wheels over potholes and broken roads. Practical touches listed for the GC EV include a cushioned seat with a backrest, footrests for the passenger, a pillion grab handle and under-seat storage for small personal items.

Equipment

The GC EV comes in one specification and three colours, black, grey and red, all at the same price. Listed equipment includes front and rear disc brakes, a rectangular LED headlight, an LED tail lamp, alloy wheels, rear-view mirrors and a digital display showing speed and battery status. Features such as an immobilizer, alarm, reverse mode or a removable battery are not confirmed in the listings, so ask the dealer before buying.

Warranty

Listings show a one-year warranty on the battery. We could not find published terms for the motor, controller or body, so get the full warranty in writing before purchase.

Which one to buy

There is only one GC EV variant. Our opinion: it is the sensible middle choice in the Union Star electric range. For Rs 30,000 more than the YH EV you get a larger battery, about 15 km more range on paper, alloy wheels and a published battery warranty. If you need a higher top speed or plan longer daily rides, the US V8 eco and Tiger 13 offer 2 kW motors and longer claimed range, but they cost considerably more. Riders who carry a pillion on rough roads every day may also prefer the bigger wheels of those models.