Ampere Primus First Ride Review: Likes And Dislikes

How well does Ampere’s flagship stand out from the crowd?

Thus far, Ampere’s electric scooter offerings – the Zeal EX and the Magnus EX – offered only the bare minimum features and convenience, and despite being classified as "high-speed", topped out at 45kmph. But now, its flagship electric scooter, the Primus, boasts a wide features set and a claimed top speed of 77kmph. So does that make it a true all-rounder? Here’s our opinion after riding the Primus at Ampere’s facility in Ranipet, Tamil Nadu. 

Likes

Easy performance 

The Primus has a mid-mounted motor (a first at this price point) rated at 3.4kW nominal and 4kW peak. It offers three riding modes: Eco, City and Power, with a claimed top speed of 40kmph, 60kmph and 77kmph, respectively. However, what catches your attention is the ease with which it picks up speed. The throttle response, too, is proportional from the get-go, with no jerky reaction even when switching between modes, so you won’t need to constantly rely on the brakes in stop-and-go city traffic. 

Competent handling

The Primus’ low-mounted battery and 12-inch alloys front and rear give it surprising stability both in long, sweeping turns, as well as sudden changes in direction. This, coupled with the relatively wide handlebar and mildly stepped seat translates to an engaging ride experience. And as mentioned, the ability to effortlessly hold on to speed means you’ll not only be able to weave in and out of traffic during the office commute, but will also be able to keep up with your friends’ motorcycles on weekend joyrides.

Price 

At Rs 1,09,900, ex-showroom Delhi including Fame II, the Primus isn’t "cheap". That said, it significantly undercuts the Ather 450X and Ola S1 Pro, while offering comparable performance. Furthermore, this turn of speed, along with the decently wide set of features (smartphone connectivity with turn-by-turn navigation, side stand cut-off) and convenience (adequately large underseat storage, apron-mounted cubbyhole, large floorboard with luggage hook) makes it notably better than the ‘high-speed’ electric scooters out there.

Dislikes

Throttle calibration

Ampere has no doubt worked on the Primus’ performance delivery, or as Ampere calls it “Less torque ripple for smooth operation.” But there's an issue, which your correspondent has earlier seen on the Zeal: "trailing throttle", or the split-second gap between closing the accelerator and the reduction of speed. Now, this may seem minor at city speeds. But a combination of speeds over 70kmph (which the Primus is capable of) and our erratic city traffic means that even a half second of extra “go” can be troublesome, if not dangerous. This is quite possibly an issue with the specific unit I was riding, as the other media riders didn’t report this problem. In any case, this inconsistency of throttle calibration is also a problem in itself.

Lacklustre brakes

The Primus’ braking setup, which comprises ONLY 130mm drum brakes front and rear, adds fuel to the inconsistent throttle fire. First of all, considering the price point, the Primus’ 130kg kerb weight, and that the Primus is a flagship offering, the lack of a disc brake is a massive missed opportunity. These drum brakes require a lot of force at the lever to actuate, making fine brake inputs difficult and after a few times of hard braking, the levers quickly go limp and will need cable adjustment at the drum end.

Inconsistent ergonomics

The Primus’ seat isn’t too expansive, but offers adequate space for both the rider and the pillion. Its floorboard, too, can easily accommodate your feet with full-size riding boots, along with a medium size backpack. However, its low handlebar fouls with the knees even when you’re not making lock-to-lock turns. Besides, the switchgear, especially the mode selection knob, is positioned a bit too much on the inside, needing you to take your hand off the handlebar when toggling through the modes.

Inadequate fit-finish and equipment levels

Now credit where it’s due, the Primus seems solidly built, with no squeaks and rattles throughout the time we spent on it. However, the overall package has quite a few shortcomings. 

As mentioned, the switchgear is positioned awkwardly. But more than that, the many exposed bolts take away from the ‘flagship’ experience. The mirror stalks are positioned too far ahead, needing you to loosen their bolts and rotate them inboard, but that narrows your field of vision. And finally, the monochrome LCD instrument cluster is positioned flat and too far ahead, which makes it almost useless when not in the shade. 

Verdict

On the one hand, the Ampere Primus offers better performance, features and convenience than the usual (45kmph) urban electric scooter. On the other hand, its Rs 1,09,990 price tag is significantly lower than the "premium" electric scooter offerings. So, that’s a win-win right? Well, not as far as the TVS iQube S, and its Rs 1,04,123 (on-road, Delhi) price tag is concerned. 

Granted, the Primus’ claimed 107km range figure may be better, but the iQube takes the cake with its TFT instrument console, front disc brake and better overall quality.  

Ultimately, though, the Primus is a good buy for those looking for a do-it-all electric scooter, and want something different from the usual brand names, without compromising on brand name or dealer network.