The move is designed to take on the base models of the Bajaj Chetak Urbane, TVS iQube and Ola S1 Air.
10 Jan 2024 | 4085 Views | By Dinshaw Magol, Autocar India
In a move designed to take on base models of key rivals like the Bajaj Chetak Urbane (Rs 115,000), TVS iQube (Rs 134,000) and Ola S1 Air (Rs 120,000), Bengaluru-based Ather Energy has revised its prices downward for its most affordable electric scooter. The starting price for the Ather 450S ...
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In a move designed to take on base models of key rivals like the Bajaj Chetak Urbane (Rs 115,000), TVS iQube (Rs 134,000) and Ola S1 Air (Rs 120,000), Bengaluru-based Ather Energy has revised its prices downward for its most affordable electric scooter. The starting price for the Ather 450S is now Rs 109,999 (all prices, ex-showroom Bengaluru) without the Pro Pack. Speccing the 450S with the Pro Pack will add Rs 10,000 to the price and unlock a whole host of connected and smart features.
The 450S is powered by a 2.9kWh battery with an IDC-claimed range of 115km in its lowest SmartEco mode, while claimed real-world range is 90 kilometres. Home charging is quite slow with 0-80 percent taking 6 hours and 36 minutes, but the 450S can be topped up at any Ather Grid fast-charging station at the rate of 1.5km/minute.
With 5.4kW and 22Nm of torque on offer, the 450S is still a zippy EV on two wheels, and has a claimed top speed of 90kph. With the Pro Pack, users get access to features such as coasting regeneration, vehicle fall safe, and tow and theft alerts, in addition to access to all the ride modes and Bluetooth connectivity.
on January 6, 2024, Ather launched the new 450 Apex at Rs 189,000 (ex-showroom), the latest product on its current platform
Ather ups the ante and also protects its turf
In CY2022, Ather Energy, which is India’s No. 3 e-two-wheeler OEM after Ola Electric and TVS Motor Co, registered sales of 104,443 units, up 101.60% (CY2022: 51,806 units), which gives it a 12% market share of the fast-growing Indian two-wheeler market.
While Ather's rapid growth has been in tandem with the Indian electric two-wheeler market, with an aggressive Bajaj Auto hard on its heels, it is getting ready to protect its turf. The move to slash the base Ather 450S’ price could be one such move.
Meanwhile, on January 6, 2024, Ather launched the new 450 Apex at Rs 189,000 (ex-showroom), the latest product on its current platform. The 450 Apex uses the same 3.7kWh battery pack as the 450X but claimed IDC range has risen to 157km, due to the new regenerative braking system. The motor on the 450 Apex is rated for 7kW of peak power and this e-scooter is the only one in Ather’s lineup to get the Warp+ mode. In Warp+, the company claims a 0-40kph time of just 2.9 seconds and quicker 40-80kph times compared to the 450X. Moreover, the 450 Apex is the only Ather EV that can hit a claimed 100kph in this quickest mode.
Ather is also developing a new platform, which will spawn two brand-new EVs. On November 22, Ather co-founder Tarun Mehta officially confirmed via a social media post about the upcoming launch of two new electric scooters – a family-oriented EV and an evolution of the existing 450X – in 2024. The new Ather could be tuned to deliver greater range and gentler performance and also likely be priced below the existing Ather 450 range to make it accessible to a wider audience. “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. We're ensuring it's affordable, making the Ather family experience accessible to more people,” said Mehta.
(Additional reporting by Ajit Dalvi)