Ola Electric prepones Gen 3 platform launches to January 2025

Ola Electric will begin delivery of its Gen 3 platform-based electric scooters by January 2025 instead of by mid-March to April 2025, the previously expected time frame.

With electric two-wheeler adoption increasing to 21.4% in September 2024 from 16.1% in June 2024, particularly for Rs 1 lakh mass market scooters in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Maharashtra, Ola is speeding up the introduction of new models to cater to both mass and premium category customers.

In a regulatory filing following the Q2FY25 results investor call, Ola Electric said that it will begin delivering S1 Gen 3 products ahead of schedule in January next year.

Ola had previously said that as part of its Gen 3 architecture, it will introduce five additional scooters, expanding its range beyond the existing S1 series with the introduction of two new sub-brands, S2 and S3.

The S2 brand will introduce three models: a City model for urban commuting, a Tourer for longer distances, and a sports model for performance enthusiasts. The S3 sub-brand plans to target the premium segment with two maxi-scooters, the Grand Adventure and Grand Tourer, which will prioritise luxury and high performance. 

The Gen 3 model would include an integrated battery, magnetless motor, and electronics within the chassis, Ola also said. When compared to previous models, this novel design is expected to improve performance by 26% and reduce costs by more than 20%.

Magnetless motors use magnetised electrical coils instead of permanent magnets, resulting in greater torque. According to a senior company official, the Gen 3 platform, which is part of Ola's vertical integration strategy, is expected to be scalable and will use 4680 lithium-ion cells manufactured in its Gigafactory in Tamil Nadu by the first quarter of FY26.

Ola Electric has a share of around 30% in the electric two-wheeler market, and plans to expand its distribution network to 2,000 stores by March 2025, up from 782 currently.

The company further plans to expand its product offering with the Roadster series of electric motorcycles, with deliveries beginning in Q4FY2025.

The company also intends to introduce 20 new products, with at least one new product being introduced quarterly, it said in a regulatory filing. Ola’s electric scooters currently start at a price Rs 75,000.

The company also admitted to having capacity issues at its service centres due to a lag between service capacity growth. It added that it has cleared the majority of the backlog, with approximately 80% of service requests now handled “within a single day.”

To improve service delivery, the company launched the 'Network Partner Programme' in September, which now has over 1,000 partners. By the end of 2025, Ola Electric intends to expand its network to 10,000 sales and service partners.

“The Network Partner Programme will enhance the benefits of our direct-to-consumer (D2C) network, thereby increasing EV penetration in India. It requires low capital investment from partners and can be rapidly scaled,” an official from the company noted.