The Ola S1 Air will be offered at an introductory price of Rs 1,09,999.

Ola Electric is all set to roll out its most affordable electric scooter in India. The company has now announced that the purchase window for the S1 Air will open on July 28.

The Ola S1 Air will be offered at an introductory price of Rs 1,09,999 to existing Ola customers and those who have reserved early from July 28 to July 30. Others can book the e-scooter from July 31, at a revised price of Rs 1,19,999 (ex-showroom, Bangalore).

Being the most affordable variant, the S1 Air comes with a smaller 3 kWh battery pack that has a range of 125 km. It powers a 6 BHP electric motor that enables the e-scooter to reach a top speed of 85 km/h.

Ola has also made other modifications to the S1. The e-scooter features a conventional telescopic fork up front and twin rear shock absorbers. It also gets a flat floorboard and a 7-inch touchscreen instrument console with smartphone connectivity. It gets three ride modes: Eco, Normal and Sport.

Bookings for the Ather 450S are expected to commence later this month.

Ather Energy has teased the upcoming 450S electric scooter ahead of its official launch. It will be the most affordable model in the brand's line-up, with a starting price of Rs 1.30 lakh.

Ather has made a few changes to the e-scooter to reduce costs. The touchscreen instrument cluster looks more basic, while the rearview mirrors also appear to be smaller in size than that of the 450X.

The Ather 450S is powered by a 3 kWh battery pack that has a claimed range of 115 km on a single charge (Indian Driving Conditions). The full technical details of the scooter are yet to be revealed but according to Ather, the 450S will have a top speed of 90 km/h.

Bookings for the Ather 450S are expected to commence later this month.

The new electric scooter will be sold alongside the iQube.

TVS has teased the launch of what seems to be an all-new electric scooter.

While the two-wheeler brand has been tight-lipped about the upcoming model, the teaser does reveal that the launch will take place on August 23 in Dubai.

While no details of the upcoming model have been revealed, the teaser showcases three square vertically-stacked lights reminiscent of that on the Creon concept unveiled by TVS during the 2018 Auto Expo.

The new electric scooter will be the brand's second EV offering and will be sold alongside the iQube. If the Creon concept is anything to go by, the new electric scooter could get a sporty design, which will make it a more competitive rival to the likes of the Ola S1 and Ather 450X.

Source: Car&Bike

It is more spacious than the Ather - Two adults and a small kid can travel in relative comfort.

BHPian mail2sekh recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

3 months, 900kms and stronger biceps later:

Things which I anticipated and is also useful in day to day life:

• The increased range of 100km. Lasts a week without recharging for the office, school drops, groceries, gym etc - all within 5 kms.
• Alternate charging of each battery while the other one does its job in the scooter. After I add the fully charged one back - the juice starts getting consumed from that one until the % reaches the existing one's level and then they start draining equally.
• The battery charging routine. 11Kgs and (22kgs at times when I charge both on a weekend) up to the 9th floor in my apartment and down. The biceps reference . I wish the battery extraction process had been more sophisticated.
• Smooth ride over bumpy roads with that soft suspension.

Stuff which I didn't know/or thought I didn't need but actually turning out to be useful ::

• The remote key. Stays mostly in my bag nowadays. Works well at a close enough proximity to the scooter. Turning on the scooter with a key had become muscle memory - now unlearning..
• Cruise - first time experience in a two wheeler. On regular routes for short distances(yes, even in bangalore traffic) I turn it on and gives a few seconds of relief to the wrist.Activates only above 30kmph - should have been 20 considering it is a 2-wheeler. The good thing is the cruise 'mode' stays on even between restarts.
• Locking the scooter with the handlebar in the opposite direction. Incredibly useful while parking in tight spaces.
• More spacious than the Ather - Two adults + small kid can travel in relative comfort.
• The typical 20L water can fits in the gap infront of the seat.

The bad:

• Undoubtedly the rear brakes which is practically non-existent. You can even move the vehicle with the rear brakes engaged. Yes, even after servicing. They gave some gyan about rear hub motor cannot have disk brakes etc. Net result being , you end up pulling both brakes with all your might if you are above 60 and hope for the best.
• The first service experience at 500kms. More of a formality - they just washed and returned it I feel. One good thing which came out of that was that the basic issue of the exasperating wait to turn on the motor which I mentioned earlier is sorted now. The boot and ignition being next to each other causes the boot to open >50% of the time when we start the motor.
• Only turn by turn directions in the 'map' on the screen. It's a hassle to start the app , then start map in the app and then transfer to the scooter etc. It has rarely worked properly as well due to connectivity issues. So never bothered to use.
• The scooter is heavy. So have to be careful while parking, taking U turns etc. The parking mode is useful though for reversing.
• The seat closing process is still a ceremony as I mentioned in my initial review.

Other notes and observations:

• Got an email towards the end of May saying a 20K refund will be processed for the overall charger/FAME subsidy issue going around. No further updates since.
• Have not figured out how the regen works. The app has a custom mode setting for regen levels, speed limits etc. The reverse throttle is supposed to send charge back in but atleast there is no discernible braking 'feel' to it like the Ather.
• There are two trip meters but both have to be manually reset every time. Should have started at 0 for every ride to measure the distance travelled.
• Tried the DC fast charger once and the under seat charging point as well at a friend's place. Both these methods charge both batteries simultaneously.
• The second small boot is also useful to hold stuff during that quick dart to the grocery store while the larger one holds the full face helmet + other stuff.
• Never used the USB charging port. Should have had a mobile holder pocket atleast up front. I believe that is sold as an external accessory.

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Ather Energy registered a 35-40% drop in sales compared with the previous month.

The government recently slashed the FAME 2 subsidy on electric vehicles, resulting in a steep hike in the prices of electric 2-wheelers. This has also been reflected in sales as Vahan data shows e-scooter registrations hit a 16-month low in June 2023.

Higher prices have kept customers away from e-scooter showrooms. As per the Vahan vehicle registration portal, 35,461 units were sold till June 27. Electric 2-wheeler sales fell to 1,363 units per day from 3,391 units/day in May.

Adjusted for the remaining four days, the June sales volume is estimated to be around 40,000 to 40,500 units. That's a month-on-month decline of 61%.

Despite the recent trends, the industry seems optimistic about the future. Ather Energy registered a 35-40% drop in sales compared with the previous month. However, chief business officer, Ravneet Phokela expects sales to pick up next month.

Source: ET Auto

Yamaha is already working on a sporty electric 2-wheeler for the Indian market.

Last year, Yamaha India chairman Eishin Chihana announced that its first e-scooter for the Indian market would be the 'Neo'. However, as per the latest reports, that plan has been scrapped. Instead, the bike maker will focus on developing a sporty electric 2-wheeler for India.

Yamaha had initially planned to tweak the Neo e-scooter to suit Indian conditions. However, over the past 6 months, the e-scooter space has seen several changes with respect to regulations and subsidy structure.

According to Yamaha, Indian EV buyers are different from those in Europe. In India, people buy EVs mainly for their low running costs. But people buy a Yamaha for its performance and aspirational value. Therefore, the bike maker has decided that its EV should be "something exciting, outstanding and sporty".

The company has also confirmed that such a product is already under development. It should be ready for launch in the next 2-3 years.

Source: Autocar India

I sensed something fishy & immediately sent an email seeking either delivery of my electric scooter or a full refund.

BHPian Comrade recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Took delivery of a grey TVS iQube (base variant) on 27 May. My dad was looking for an electric scooter to run his local errands. Currently, his driver has to take out the Innova Crysta for even menial jobs like groceries etc. The base model of the iQube fits our requirements better compared to Ather 450X (without pro pack) & Ola S1 (not air). So I booked the iQube on the TVS website by paying Rs. 5000 on 18th April. The dealer called the next day and informed us that he has no inventory, & the waiting is upto 90 days. I said I am ok to wait.

Delivery Experience (Ordeal)

On 19th May (Friday), the dealer called and informed me that some inventory is on the way, and if I make the full payment, he will deliver the vehicle within a week. Initially, I thought I would wait for the inventory to arrive at his yard and then make the final payment only after inspection.

On 19th May itself, I casually dropped by the dealership to find out if the next batch was really coming, and if so when! To my surprise, the manager there showed me the receipts of a few full payments made within the last 2 days. He said that the demand is very high and only full payment would ensure that a vehicle is allotted. I decided to make the full payment but I did not want to directly pay the dealer.

Without consulting the dealer, I just completed the full payment online on the TVS website using a credit card. Used CC to keep the option of raising a dispute or chargeback etc in case the dealer fails to keep his promise of delivering the vehicle within a week. The dealer seemed disappointed that I made the payment online but anyways proceeded to collect the necessary documentation for starting paperwork etc. He said he will receive the inventory on 22nd May (Monday) and will deliver the vehicle on 24th May (Wednesday).

On 22nd May, I casually pinged him to find the status, and to my dismay, he arrogantly started saying that the FAME-II subsidy was changing and old prices are no longer applicable. I gave him an earful saying that the FAME-II subsidy was changing from 1st June, and if he delivers a vehicle within 31st May, old pricing will still be applicable. He then changed his tone but kept up with his lies. He came up with a new reason that even if he delivered the vehicle, the permanent registration is so difficult these days, and no slots are available with the RTO.

Everyone in Telangana knows that permanent registration is none of the dealer's concerns, and the responsibility lies with the buyer/owner. And it's a fairly simple process, as even I previously got my car registered in a couple of hours. I sensed that this guy either does not have inventory or is trying to allot the vehicle to some other buyer.

I immediately shot an email to TVS customer care detailing what had transpired, and how I am seeking either a delivery or a full refund. I also warned them that no response would lead me to file a chargeback dispute with my bank. I forwarded that same email to the dealer but he chose to keep mum and started ignoring my messages and calls. At the same time, I was not in town and could not drop by the dealership personally to confront him.

On 24th May, iQube's Territory Manager for Telangana called me to follow up on my email complaint. I explained the entire situation and told him that he can either deliver me a vehicle a few days before 31 May (with a day or two buffer for PR) or give me a full refund. He immediately agreed to sort it out either with this dealer or get me a delivery from some other dealer in the city. I gave him some flexibility and told him that I was open to any color. For the intended usage (errand runs by a driver), color seemed insignificant over a 28k price increase.

To his promise, TVS employee delivered me an iQube on 27th May through the original dealership but not in my preferred color (got grey while I wanted white). All this while, the dealership has chosen to ignore all my messages and calls, and I had to communicate directly with the TVS employee. Even delivery was facilitated directly by the TVS employee being physically present at the dealership. I wonder what these dealerships are worth anymore!

Anyways, going to the RTO office tomorrow (29th May) to finish the permanent registration process. Some pics from the dealership premises before delivery.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The teaser shows a mystery variant that appears to be equipped with a small windscreen.

Ola Electric CEO, Bhavish Aggarwal, has shared a teaser image that hints at a new variant of the S1 electric scooter.

The teaser image showcases the S1 Pro, S1 Air and a mystery variant that appears to be equipped with a small windscreen. More details on the new e-scooter are expected to be revealed in July.

Ola Electric recently introduced a more affordable version of the S1 Pro, called the S1 Air. Deliveries of this variant will commence in July 2023.

The S1 Air is available with a 3 kWh battery pack offering a maximum range of 125 km. The scooter is powered by a 4.5 kWh electric motor, which allows it to reach a top speed of 85 km/h.

Simple Energy claims that the upcoming variants will meet the highest safety standards.

Bangalore-based EV start-up, Simple Energy, recently launched its first electric scooter, the Simple One, in the Indian market. The company has now announced that it plans to introduce two new affordable e-scooters in the coming quarter.

Simple Energy is said to have been working on bringing production-ready variants to the market faster. The company claims that the upcoming variants will meet the safety standards set by the government.

While the company hasn't shared technical details of its affordable range of e-scooters, we can expect the products to get smaller battery packs offering a slightly lower overall range.

At present, the Simple One comes with a removable and fixed battery. The 5 kWh unit is said to deliver a maximum range of 212 km. It powers a 4.5 kW electric motor, which enables the e-scooter to sprint from 0-40 km/h in 2.77 seconds, and it can reach a top speed of 105 km/h.

4,032 petrol 2-wheelers have already been registered since April 1, 2023, compared to just 257 electric 2-wheelers.

The Chandigarh administration is set to stop registering petrol bikes from July and petrol-powered cars from December 2023.

Last year, the union territory of Chandigarh rolled out its EV policy, which planned to gradually stop registering non-electric vehicles. The government hopes that this would dissuade people from buying vehicles.

The administration has put a cap on the number of petrol 2-wheelers and 4-wheelers that can be registered in the current fiscal. As per the EV policy, 6,202 petrol-powered 2-wheelers can be registered in FY2023. Once this limit is reached, only electric 2-wheelers will be registered.

The government data suggests, 4,032 petrol 2-wheelers have already been registered since April 1, 2023, compared to just 257 electric 2-wheelers. It means only 2,170 more vehicles can be registered this fiscal. 

The Chandigarh administration will only register 22,626 new non-electric 4-wheelers this fiscal. This limit is expected to be reached by December.

Source: HT