Ola Electric AppScooter: All You Need To Know

What will Ola’s electric scooter be packing?

Ola surprised us by announcing that it would be expanding its operations from ride-hailing services to the electric two-wheeler space. Its subsidiary, Ola Electric, has acquired Etergo, a Dutch electric two-wheeler startup. Etergo has built an electric scooter, the AppScooter, but hasn’t come around to manufacture it as yet. Ola is expected to help the Dutch firm in this regard and then sell this scooter in foreign and Indian markets by 2021. Here’s what you need to know about the electric scooter:

Looks like a distant cousin of the Vespa

It is no secret where Etergo took inspiration from to style the AppScooter -- there are clear indications of it borrowing some classic Vespa elements. The swooping lines, flared body, single-sided front and rear suspension, and elegantly styled alloy rims all scream Vespa. But Etergo hasn’t blatantly copied the Vespa, like a certain Chinese company. The front fascia has hints of Italian flair but it is fairly slim and petite. 

Feature-rich and convenient

The designers at Etergo have devised a solution to make sure you stay connected with your smartphone and still have a safe ride. The large 7-inch touchscreen is an Android-based system. To use navigation and answer calls/listen to music on the go (provided you have worn a helmet communication system), there are dedicated buttons.

It is seriously quick

The AppScooter has a 3kW brushless AC motor driving the rear wheel by a belt drive system. Motor outputs are pretty impressive, rated at 6kW and 50Nm (135Nm at the wheel), which is certainly more than any other electric scooter present in India. Etergo claims it takes just 3.9 seconds to go from naught to 45kmph. It is fractionally quicker than what the Ather 450 (the regular one, not the 450X) managed in our test runs.

It also boasts of a ridiculous range figure

Yes, Etergo claims the AppScooter will go 240km on a single charge. The secret here being that it gets three modular banana-shaped removable battery packs. Each one weighs around 8.5kg and has a charge capacity of 1,155Wh that is good for 80km. Range anxiety much now?

Packs solid mechanicals

Much like a Vespa, the AppScooter also has a single-sided front suspension but it is a telescopic unit, not a trailing link one. The 12-inch alloy wheels are quite stylish. It gets disc brakes at both ends which is pretty remarkable for a scooter with a single-sided swingarm. We have seen scooters with a rear disc brake, but one in this style is unheard of.

Will have a premium pricing

Ola Electric will pitch the AppScooter as a premium electric scooter and why shouldn’t it! It has all the bells and whistles to command a premium price as well as intelligent solutions to the range anxiety problem. Expect the AppScooter to be priced at Rs 1.50 lakh (ex-showroom) or even slightly higher.