Union Star US V8 eco

Motor and battery

The Union Star US V8 eco is an electric scooter with a 2,000 W (2 kW) motor and 11 Nm of listed torque, the highest torque figure in the Union Star electric line-up. Its listed top speed is 70 km/h, also the highest in the range. The 72V graphene battery is listed at about 2.38 kWh, and the published range is about 100 to 120 km per charge, with 110 km given as the headline figure. Charging takes about 5 to 6 hours from a normal socket. It uses electric start and a twist-and-go automatic drive.

Size and practicality

The V8 eco is 1,897 mm long, 780 mm wide and 1,014 mm tall, with a 1,200 mm wheelbase and 130 mm ground clearance. It weighs about 95 kg dry. It rides on 12-inch tubeless tyres, 3-12 at the front and a wider 3.5-12 at the rear, with telescopic forks at the front and shock absorbers at the rear. In our view the bigger wheels and wider rear tyre should make it feel steadier on Pakistani roads than the 10-inch GC EV. With around 100 km of range, many city commuters could charge only two or three times a week.

Equipment

There is one version, offered in black, red and white at the same price. It has more convenience equipment than any other Union Star scooter: four riding modes, a remote key, cruise control, a reverse mode for backing out of tight parking spots, and dual-piston disc brakes front and rear. Lighting includes dual LED headlights with daytime running lights. The digital instrument cluster shows speed, battery level, the selected riding mode and hazard lights.

Warranty

We could not find a published warranty for the US V8 eco. Ask the dealer for written battery, motor and controller warranty terms before buying.

Which one to buy

With a single variant, the choice comes down to price against the rest of the range. Our opinion: the US V8 eco looks like the best value Union Star electric scooter. It costs Rs 60,000 less than the Tiger 13, yet it offers a higher listed top speed and extra features such as reverse, cruise control and riding modes, while giving up only a little range on paper. Choose the Tiger 13 only if its larger battery and longer claimed range matter more to you than these extras.