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| Ola Electric Scooter |
Ola that has been widely known as an app-based cab booking service just like Uber. It has now forayed into the Electric Vehicle segment with the launch of its two variants namely – Ola S1 and Ola S1 Pro on 15th August 2021.
EV is the future and the 2-wheeler companies have realized its importance so now they all are trying to capitalize into this opportunity. Other known brands too have launched their own variants of electric scooters in the market before this launch by Ola.
Let’s learn all the things about the New Ola Electric Scooter.
Ola Electric Scooter Price for both the variants:
Price for Ola S1 = Rs 99,999
Price for Ola S1 Pro = Rs 1,29,999
The above price includes Fame 2 subsidy and below is the price table for various states/cities across India.
How to Book and Buy the Ola Electric scooter?
Go to the official Ola website and register your EV for just Rs 499 and you will get your scooter within a month or two of booking and you will be notified accordingly.
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| Response to the user after booking the scooter |
Check out the following Tweet by the CEO of Ola Electric and Ola Cabs - Bhavish Aggarwal
A revolutionary scooter, a revolutionary price & record breaking attendance! India, you made our launch event break all records with more than 500,000 of you tuning in live! Here's a recap for the few who missed it! Reserve now on https://t.co/lzUzbWbFl7 #JoinTheRevolution pic.twitter.com/TJviwdbF47
— Bhavish Aggarwal (@bhash) August 18, 2021
Charging system of the Ola Electric scooter.
First things first – The battery is non removable, that means you cannot charge it if you live on 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th...…. or top floor unless you have a charging option in your parking area or you have a charging station in your city.
This compromise was probably needed for the performance and functionality maybe.
Ola Electric Scooter has a charging port in the rear section, and comes with a 750W portable charger with 5Amp plug that you can use at your home to charge your scooter overnight.
Below is the time taken by both the variants to fully charge their batteries
S1 = 4Hr and 48 min and
S1 Pro = 6Hr and 30 min
Also,
75Kms in 18 minutes as claimed by the company.
Also,
Ola Hypercharger Network
In short – The charging stations to fast charge your scooter in your city or when you are on the go. It is claimed to charge 50% in 18 minutes.
Ola is planning to build a vast network of charging stations across the country. In cities with multilevel charging and parking systems just like malls and complexes and also, across popular locations, IT Parks etc. Very beneficial for people who are on the go or in case of emergency or for those too who can't charge at home.
The usage charges of using the Ola Hypercharger Network are unknown as of now, we’ll update as soon as we’ll get to know about it.
Read about the Electric Bikes by Uber - Uber Jump
Ola Electric scooter Specifications
Battery Capacity
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| Banana Shaped Battery placed around the feet area |
S1 - 2.98kwh, range = 121km and
S1 Pro - 3.97kwh, range = 181km
Speed/Accelerations
S1 -
0 to 40kmph in 3.6 secs and
0 to 60kmph in 7 secs
S1 Pro -
0 to 40kmph in 3 secs and
0 to 60kmph in 5 secs
Top speed, S1 = 90kmph and S1 pro = 115kmph
Motor is same in both the variants = 5.5kw IPM;
peak power 8.5kw and 58NM Torque
Suspensions:
Front = single sided fork,
Rear = Mono shock;
Tyres:
110/70-12(front),
110/70-12(rear); MRF Tyres
Braking system:
Disk brakes at both ends (CBS* standard);
Front = 220mm disc and
Rear = 180mm disc;
[*Combined Braking System]
Riding modes:
S1 = normal and sports and
S1 Pro= Normal, sports and hyper mode
S1 Pro limited features = Voice assistant, Hill hold control* and cruise control**.
[*Hill Hold Control = Just like a car stands firm at a hilly slope]
[** Cruise control = Setting a defined speed to accelerate the scooter say 30 or 40 or 45 km/h]
Under seat storage space is 36 liters, two full size helmets can be placed inside as claimed by the company.
Other technical and connectivity features:
Screen = 7inch display with proximity sensor.
(It has a 7-inch touch screen with all digital features to guide you and help you while riding the scooter. From making and receiving calls, to sending SMSs, to open and use the maps and send your location to your folks, to playing your favorite music while on the go just like a car, to locking and unlocking the scooter via your smartphone, anti-theft alert etc.)
Using Maps
Navigation system using LTE on your Ola Electric Scooter,
You can also send your location to others,
The Map on the display will also show the charge station suggestions nearby your location.
Phone connectivity
Connect your phone with the scooter and get updates regarding charge status, location tracking and remotely controlling scooter.
Also, you can make calls, send messages and share your location to your family and friends.
Safety features
side stand alert when you start riding without putting the scooter stand back in place,
Theft alert – If there’s a theft attempt or tampering attempt by someone it makes a loud noise along with informing you on your phone immediately,
SoS alert - SoS is a code that signals that a person is in danger and needs immediate help.
Warranty Details
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| Response to a user by Ola Support team about the Warranty |
Servicing your Ola Electric Scooter
Book a service on the app and the service will be done at your doorstep. Also, it is claimed that the AI based scooter app will automatically send the scooter health report so that you don’t have to worry about it.
Now let’s talk about some other things,
Facts/a little history behind Ola Electric Scooter:
This scooter was originally designed by a European startup - “Etergo” and was known originally as the “Etergo Appscooter”. The country is Netherlands.
It got investors through crowdfunding but the company couldn’t get to the manufacturing as it got short of funds and also the pandemic hit everybody so hard. They had to then sell the startup, So Ola picked up the company at a bargain price and launched the variants before making some new modifications and other changes.
Ola has improved almost every aspect of the Etergo Appscooter. Here’s how:
Etergo had battery – 3.465 kWh
Ola Electric Scooter has battery – 3.97 kWh for Ola S1 Pro,
And 2.98 kwh for Ola S1.
Etergo had a 6 KW powered motor
Ola Electric scooter has a Motor with 8.5 KW peak power.
Apart from these most of the smart features were not available in Etergo concept.
Ola has announced that they will launch multiple new models in future including an electric car as well maybe in 2022. [They have also hired some high-profile designers (former Jaguar designer Wayne Burgess) and marketing executives (Kia India marketing executive).]
Marketing of Ola Electric Scooter
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| Source: The Morning Context |
Business Partners
- FIEM Industries Ltd - The exclusive supplier of Lighting, Mirrors etc. to Ola Electric Scooter.
- Gabriel Ltd - The exclusive supplier of Shock Absorbers to Ola Electric Scooter.
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| Source: Trading View |
What about the charging situation?
Many people are saying that Ola Electric Scooter having the non-removable battery is a negative point for those who live in apartments/flats above the ground floor.
They may face the charging problem for their scooter unless they have the facility of a power point in their parking area or they can take their EV through elevator in their apartment/flat provided they have enough space to do that which is most unlikely.
But as the demand for the EVs will increase in future there will definitely be solutions for charging the vehicles just like malls, cafes, Railway stations now provide free Wi-Fi services in future they may also provide charging point outlets too. The housing societies may also start installing or make arrangements for this in future. The demand increases the facilities arrive.
Ola has also promised to build the infrastructure of the charging booths across the country named Ola Hypercharger Network. So those who can’t charge it at their home can use this place to fast charge it.
They claimed to charge 50% battery in 18 minutes so that means you must spend approx. 30 minutes there to fully charge your vehicle if there’s no other option to charge at your residing place and locality.
So before buying your scooter research well about the upcoming power booths in your city or some other “Jugaad” you can get to charge your scooter if you live above the ground floor.
Because in future there will be electric cars as well, so they can be owned by anyone living on ground floor or above it. That means there will be solutions to charge them or they have to make charging stations beforehand.
The future of Electric Vehicles in India
India is the largest Importer of Oil after China so the price of Oil is very high along with Taxes. The two as well as 4-wheeler EVs makes more sense because demand is high and this scale can be achieved.
Two-wheelers consumed 61.42 per cent of the India's total petrol sales.
As per Niti Aayog ‘s 2018 report, two-wheelers alone consume around 3,400 crore liters (188.69 million barrels) of petrol every year. This is roughly 0.5% of the total oil demand. And it is very much possible that Ola and other EVs would be able to destroy this demand by 2025-30.
The Electric dependency is good for the globe - less heat, less or no air pollution, less noises and saving the huge amount of money spent on Petrol every year.
Here is the image showing comparison between various Two-Wheeler Electric Scooters available in the market:
Comparison with other Electric Vehicles in the market
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| Source: MotorBeam |
With Simple Energy - One
Final words:
The starting price of Rs 1 Lac seems too high for many buyers currently but the prices are approximately the same for other EV brands in the market. What distinguishes them with Ola Electric Scooter is the N number of features that come along with the scooter in terms of smart technology, sensors, motor, battery, connectivity, AI and safety alert features.
This is the starting phase maybe in future when the EVs will become a norm they will get cheaper or at least affordable.
The Petrol variants almost cost the same now a days (approx. 1Lac) with no smart and advanced AI based features that this hybrid is providing. Those who can afford must try the EVs and notice the difference of the electricity consumption by the scooter and the money spent in buying the fuel throughout the year.
