[TusharK]

Bangalore-based EV maker, Ather Energy, has commenced road trials of its upcoming electric scooter. The latest spy images suggest that the new model will have a more conventional design and could be aimed at the Bajaj Chetak and TVS iQube.



Unlike the Ather 450X, which has a sporty design, the new model looks more like a family scooter designed for practicality than outright performance. It has a wide and flat seat, as well as a flat floorboard.



Technical details of Ather’s new e-scooter are still unknown. However, it could use the same belt drive as the 450X. Note that it is concealed under a plastic shroud, which should improve durability.

In terms of features, Ather’s new e-scooter is expected to get LED lighting, alloy wheels with a front disc brake, a touchscreen instrument console with Bluetooth, Navigation and more.

Source: Autocar India

Link to Team-BHP News

Mod Note: Our Ather Rizta Review has been taken live at this link. Please continue the discussion over on the new thread. Thanks!

[amritpal2489]

Wow, Did they hydrodip this thing? Every inch is covered in wrap. Even the lights and the workmanship is amazing

[aim120]

In the Autocar link, they say that it was spotted weeks earlier but with an image from the front. Link to that
https://www.autocarindia.com/bike-ne...d-it-be-429748.

I am sorry, but it doesn't look like an Ather. It looks more like a TVS IQube, there was an article in July about TVS working on a lower cost IQube.

They concluded its an Ather because it has KA number plates.

[advstreak]

Originally Posted by amritpal2489

Wow, Did they hydrodip this thing? Every inch is covered in wrap. Even the lights and the workmanship is amazing

Originally Posted by aim120

I am sorry but it doesn't look like a Ather.

It is an Ather as confimed by Tarun (Ather CEO) in this tweet appreciating the teams effort in the camouflage also: https://twitter.com/tarunsmehta/stat...14749346832391

As pointed in the Autocar article the camouflage is an Easter egg for this model being a "family" scooter.

[Gautham_v6]

The side and rear portion reminds me of Hero Pleasure+ or Destini 125 , two scooters which cater to family/Neutral users. By any chance , is this co-developed by hero?

[aargee]

Is this the reason for such massive discount?


PS - Ofcourse the exchange rate is subject to valuation by any used two-wheeler dealer

[TusharK]

Ather Energy confirms a “family scooter” for 2024

Tarun Mehta, CEO of Ather Energy, has confirmed that the company is developing a new electric scooter. Described as a “family scooter”, the new model is all set to roll out in 2024.



According to Mehta, the new family-oriented scooter will offer comfort and ample size while being affordable at the same time.

“So many folks love @atherenergy as a brand but want a bigger, family-oriented scooter from us,” Mehta said in his post on X. “That's why we're gearing up to launch a family scooter in 2024. It's designed with your entire family in mind, offering comfort, ample size, and a whole lot more—all wrapped up in one fantastic package,” he added.

Ather’s upcoming family e-scooter has already been spotted testing. It has a more conventional design with a wide and flat seat and a flat footboard. It is likely to be equipped with LED lights, a touchscreen instrument console, alloy wheels and a front disc brake.

Technical details of the new model are still unknown. However, it could use the same belt drive as the 450X.

Link to Team-BHP News

[sapien]

This has the potential to shake up the market in 2 wheeler EV space. Ather has all the expertise in this space, and can make a fundamentally strong product. All other options like iQube, Chetak seem to be doing just average. Ola is doing relatively well.

With 450 series they had a good run but many families stayed away either due to edgy looks, stiff ride or high price. They seem to address all these in this newer scoot. Hoping that there’ll be an option to charge the battery at home. With consumer mindset also maturing towards EVs, this one can pull good share of ICE buyers too!

Honda needs to bring in Activa EV quickly else there is a high chance that Ather will get away with significant market share.

[sri_tesla]

Originally Posted by sapien

This has the potential to shake up the market in 2 wheeler EV space. Ather has all the expertise in this space, and can make a fundamentally strong product. All other options like iQube, Chetak seem to be doing just average. Ola is doing relatively well.

iQube and Chetak have been selling much better than Ather for many months. In fact, iQube sales have been 2-3x of Ather for many months now. Even Chetak has been outselling Ather for the last few months and the gap is growing bigger each month. Ather had a huge headstart in the EV market but their sales have been declining while the others are growing.

Honda needs to bring in Activa EV quickly else there is a high chance that Ather will get away with significant market share.

Forget about taking market share from the petrol scooters, first they need to worry about losing EV market share to rivals like Ola, TVS, Bajaj, and Hero. Ola and TVS have already overtaken Ather's lifetime sales by a huge margin while Chetak and Hero Vida sales are also growing at a faster pace and in much better position to take market share from the petrol scooters.

Despite a huge headstart and multiple iterations of the product, Ather has not resolved some of the major issues like uncomfortable seating, idle battery drain, very irritating motor noise, etc... They also tend to ignore the earlier customers while making these features exclusive to newer models.

[therider]

Ather 450 Apex it is, the evolution of the OG 450 as per their latest IG post. Seems like just a top speed bump with increase in battery capacity per few folks who attended their Whee camp event.

Was looking forward for some change in body dimension increasing foot/boot space, hope they have addressed the issues related to exposed belt. Let’s see..

[TusharK]

Ather Energy’s family e-scooter could be called Diesel

According to a media report, Ather Energy’s upcoming family scooter is likely to be called Diesel. It will be launched by mid-2024.



Earlier, the Bangalore-based EV maker had confirmed that the company was working on a new electric scooter. CEO Tarun Mehta describes it as a “family scooter”.

Uno Minda is one of the suppliers of Ather Energy. Xabier Eskibel, Head Marketing of 2W Segment at Uno Minda said, “We at Uno Minda Ltd. are proud to be a part of Ather’s ‘Diesel’. The seat is definitely a differentiator with respect to other offerings in the market and ensures that the entire family can enjoy it together.” “It’s been challenging to build it, but the result speaks for itself. Also, the development of stylish lamps will enhance the overall appeal of the scooter. We foresee a strong demand for the family scooter and are gradually ramping up to meet the expected market needs," Eskibel said.

Spy images suggest that the Ather Diesel will feature a sleek design with a wide and flat seat and a flat footboard. It is likely to be equipped with LED lights, a touchscreen instrument console, alloy wheels and a front disc brake.

Source: Business Standard

Link to Team-BHP news

[sri_tesla]

Originally Posted by TusharK

Ather Energy’s family e-scooter could be called Diesel

According to a media report, Ather Energy’s upcoming family scooter is likely to be called Diesel. It will be launched by mid-2024.

It's most likely a funny internal code name. I wonder if the original Ather 450 has "petrol" as a codename.

Irrespective of what they call it, I hope Ather addresses annoying issues that are still present in the 450 series even after multiple iterations of the product.

• Idle battery drain should be minimal. My TVS iQube idle drain is negligible even after weeks. Ather users are still reporting 4 to 5% drain overnight.

• No motor noise. 450 has such a high motor noise that it is more annoying than even petrol scooters. No, it's not fun as Ather tries to market as, its just irritating.

• Comfortable seating.

• Pricing should be the same as 450S (Rs 1.1 lakhs + 10K for pro pack) after the recent price cut.

TVS Iqube does all the above things very well and it should be a benchmark for Ather family scooter. Ather has been losing sales to the competition like TVS, Ola and Bajaj for many months. Pricing is the major factor to revive sales.

[Thilak29]

[a] Bought a new Scooter?

[b] Yes!!

[a] Petrol?

[b] No, Diesel!

[a] Diesel?

[b] Yeah Diesel, and it's Electric.

[a] !!!!

[ritesh_44]

Originally Posted by sri_tesla

It's most likely a funny internal code name. I wonder if the original Ather 450 has "petrol" as a codename.

Irrespective of what they call it, I hope Ather addresses annoying issues that are still present in the 450 series even after multiple iterations of the product.

Most probably its internal codename and fast and furious reference to "family" scooter.

They need to fix the idle drain, I lose ~20-25% charge as idle drain in a week. Agree it has more connected features than Iqube, even then the amount of charge being used seems very high.

[WD-42]

Originally Posted by TusharK

Ather Energy’s family e-scooter could be called Diesel

There's no way they named it that!!!



Well done Ather! Top class meme!