Ola S1 And S1 Pro Electric Scooters Launched In India

Latest Update: Ola Electric has announced that the online sales for the Ola S1 and S1 Pro electric scooters have been postponed to September 15. Click here for details. 

Ola's maiden electric scooter, which has been making headlines for a long time, has finally been launched in the Indian market at an extremely competitive price tag. Dubbed as 'S1', it will be available in two variants: standard S1 and S1 Pro. Here's a look at its state-wise pricing after FAME-2 and state subsidies: – 

While its bookings are already underway, the brand will commence its deliveries in over 1,000 cities from October 2021. The brand has also tied up with several finance companies and is providing EMI schemes from as low as Rs 2,999 per month.

Ola S1, S1 Pro – Battery Specifications, Charging Time & Range 

Powering the Ola electric scooter is a 5.5kW mid-drive Internal Permanent Magnet (IPM) motor to which the brand calls 'Hyperdrive Motor'. It produces a maximum power output of 8.5kW and a peak torque of 58Nm. While the power figures are identical for both the variants, their battery packs and performance figures and different from each other. That said, the top-spec S1 Pro gets a 3.97kWh battery with an ARAI tested claimed range of 181 kilometers. On the other hand, the entry-level S1 trim gets a 2.98kWh battery that is claimed to cover 121km in a single charge. 

Now, let's take a quick look at their range, charging time, and performance figures: – 

For those who aren't aware, Ola has previously announced to set up the world's largest electric 2-wheelers charging network called 'Ola Hypercharger Network', which is aimed to have 1 lakh charging stations across 400 cities of the country. However, the initial phase will include around 5,000 charging points/stations across 100 cities within the first year.

Ola S1, S1 Pro – Underpinnings

The Ola Electric S1 and S1 Pro underpin the same tubular frame which is hung onto a single-sided fork up front and a monoshock at the rear. Rolling on 12-inch aluminium alloy wheels with 110/70-section MRF tires, the scooter gets a 220mm and 180mm disc setup, assisted by a Combined Braking System (CBS). 

Both variants have a convenient seat height of 792mm and a high ground clearance of 165mm. It also boasts a gigantic underseat storage of 35 liters, thanks to the banana-shaped fixed battery packs placed in the floorboard. However, at 121kg for the S1 and 125kg for the S1 Pro, the weight of the Ola e-scooter is on the heavier side. 

Ola S1, S1 Pro – Features

The Ola Scooter is a well-packed machine. It gets an all-LED lighting system with Take Me Home light function and a big 7-inch TFT display that offers onboard navigation, smartphone connectivity, smart key with keyless ignition, and proximity lock/unlock as well as remote lock/unlock. Besides, it also has three riding modes – Normal, Sports, and Hyper (exclusive for S1 Pro), along with a reverse mode and a limp home mode.

In addition to the above-mentioned features, the S1 Pro also gets the voice assistant and segment's first cruise control and hill hold control. 

Ola S1, S1 Pro – Color Options

The base-spec Ola S1 is available in 5 color options, while the S1 Pro has 10 shades to choose from in satin, matte and glossy finishes. Interestingly, these scooters do not get any graphics except for the variant and brand badging.

Rivals

The Ola Electric Scooter will compete with Bajaj Chetak, Ather 450X, TVS iQube Electric, and the all-new Simple One. 

Author's Take

We believe the Ola e-scooter will definitely take the EV sales to new dimensions thanks to its aggressive pricing and laudable packaging. However, the manufacturer must ensure seamless deliveries of the product to its customers and build the promised charging infrastructure at the earliest.