Ola Electric Scooter Makes Its First Ride, India Launch Soon

The brand’s Chairman and CEO Bhavish Aggarwal took the electric scooter out for a spin across some of Bengaluru’s iconic locations

(UPDATE: The Ola S1 has been launched in India with a starting price of Rs 99,999. Head here to read the launch story)

Ola Electric’s Chairman and group CEO Bhavish Aggarwal took the Ola Electric Scooter out for a spin around Bengaluru, giving us a glimpse of the upcoming offering. The company also says that a launch is imminent, so you can expect the electric scooter to hit the showrooms real soon. It could be priced at around Rs 1 lakh, and will compete with the TVS iQube Electric, Simple Energy Mark 2 and Bajaj Chetak.

If the teaser is anything to go by, the India-spec Ola Electric Scooter looks pretty much like the Etergo AppScooter. However, instead of the ‘Banana’ battery packs, it will likely get a fixed battery pack, considering Ola Electric is investing heavily in establishing a nation-wide charging infrastructure. You can read more about it along with the claimed range and charging times here.

Aggarwal said, “It was such a pleasure taking the Ola Scooter out for a spin and putting it through its paces. Its speed, range, maneuverability, ride & handling, and of course its design, and the incredible technology we’ve packed into this - all make it a game changing vehicle and a beauty to drive. I look forward to bringing this to our customers soon.”

A closer look at the video reveals the India-spec e-scooter rolls on different tyres compared to the Dunlops in the AppScooter. It also gets chunkier rear grab rails, and there seems to be a lid in the middle, presumably for the charging port. Like its foreign sibling, the upcoming electric scooter also features multiple back-lit buttons on the switchgear and a tablet-style TFT console. Also, the scooter gets a massive underseat storage big enough to swallow two half-face helmets! 

The scale Ola Electric is looking at seems promising enough to reinforce the electric revolution in the country after the recent jump-start it got, thanks to the revised FAME II subsidies. What do you think? Let us know in the comments.