Ola Electric scooter for India snapped testing

Ola Electric, the electric mobility division of cab aggregator Ola Cabs, has begun testing its upcoming electric scooter, as seen in these first spy photographs of the eco-friendly scooter.  

Expected to be based on the Dutch-made Etergo electric scooter, the made-in-India Ola scooter will roll out of a brand-new 2-million-units-per-annum manufacturing plant to be set up in Tamil Nadu. According to Ola, the manufacturing facility will cater to customers not only in India but also to global markets including Europe, Asia and Latin America. 

In May 2020, Ola Electric Mobility acquired Etergo BV, an innovative electric scooter OEM founded in 2014 and based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, thereby announcing its entry into the premium electric two-wheeler market, both globally and nationally.    

First revealed in 2018, the AppScooter uses swappable high energy density batteries to deliver a range up to 240km and class-leading acceleration of 0-45kph in 3.9 seconds. It also comes with TFT instrumentation .

What the spy images reveal
From the two spy images, the Ola scooter looks very similar to the Etergo AppScooter and it even gets the same unusual single telescopic front suspension. It is likely that India will get an updated version of this Etergo scooter, with changes made for this market’s riding environment and also to keep costs low.

Innovative banana battery is inserted through under-seat storage compartment, where it slides into slots in the floor of the scooter. (Twitter: Etergo)

Sources suggest that the Ola scooter can reach speeds in excess of 100kph and also cover over 100km on a single charge. The scooter is likely to have a similar banana-shaped removable lithium-ion battery pack as seen in the Etergo scooter, but what the final capacity will be remains to be confirmed. 

Aggressive introductory pricing likely
With Etergo's AppScooter priced at 3,399 euros (around Rs 282,000), it would be way above the premium electric scooter segment in India. Therefore, expect to see a more cost-efficient product that will use design and technology from Etergo, but come with a price-tag that rivals the likes of Ather’s 450X, Bajaj Auto’s Chetak and TVS Motor Co's iQube.  

Also, given Ola Electric's massive 2-million-units capacity plant in Tamil Nadu, the company is most likely to come up with an aggressive, disruptive pricing strategy designed to draw maximum bookings and orders at launch possibly in the second half of 2021.  The Ola Electric scooter launch in India is likely to happen in the second half of 2021. 

ETERGO APPSCOOTER TECH SPECS


Dimensions
Width: 700mm
Height: 1155mm
Seat height: 800 mm
Kerb weight: 74 kg
Wheelbase: 1345mm
Underseat storage: 50 litres
Battery weight: 8.5kg per module
Wheels: 12-inch aluminium alloy
Tyres: 110/70-12

Warning and Alert
Detailed Diagnostics via Built-in App
Cockpit display: 7-inch full-colour touch-screen

Chassis
Front suspension: Telescopic single shock Headstock
Rear suspension: Horizontally mounted shock absorber with progressive geometry
Brake system: Hydraulic disc brake (Front 200mm/ Rear 180mm)

Battery
Capacity: 1155Wh per module
Max discharge power: 3kW per module
Max regenerative power: 1250 W per module
Pack safety: Advanced Battery Management
Max charge power: 600 W per module
Range: 80km per module at 20kph*

Drivetrain
Transmission type: Single-stage belt
Motor: AC brushless\
Acceleration: 0 to 45kph in 3.9 sec (based on simulations)
Maximum motor power: 6 kW
Nominal motor power: 3 kW
System voltage: 48V nominal
Maximum motor torque: 50 Nm
Belt ratio: 2.7
Max wheel torque: 135 Nm

Software & Connectivity
Operating System: Android
Companion App Functionality (available soon): Remote lock/unlock, Find My Scooter, Charging Control
Internet connectivity: 4G (LTE), 3G, GPRS, WiFi
Device communication: Bluetooth, WiFi
Built-in software functions: Navigation, Music, Phone Control, Advanced Diagnostics
Smartphone compatibility for pairing: iOs & Android
Updates: Over-the-air
Positioning: GPS/GLONASS/Galileo
Speakers: 2 x 10W full range audio

*Based on simulations and subject to change, depends on number of modules.