Ola S1 Pro MoveOS 3 OTA Update Ride & Features Review

The new update promises a bunch of new features and upgrades, but does it deliver?

Ola Electric rolled out its MoveOS 3 OTA update towards the end of last year and introduced features that were promised during the electric scooter’s launch in 2021. But, have these updates made an impact on the riding experience of the S1 Pro? We spent a few days with the updated e-scooter and here’s a lowdown on the update:

Proximity Unlock And Profiles

Thanks to the new update, you don’t need to punch in the password or use the app to unlock the S1 Pro. With the Proximity Lock/Unlock feature, the scooter detects your smartphone and locks or unlocks itself. Though it is very convenient and safe, the unlock part didn’t work most of the time, so we ended up using the password anyway. But considering this feature is in the Beta stage, subsequent updates should fix it.

Ola Electric also finally gave the option to add multiple user profiles to the EV’s onboard computer. So, once you sign in with the registered number, you can add profiles of your family and friends to the system so that they can access the e-scooter seamlessly. So, now you don’t have to take OTPs every time. And to top that off, the e-scooter remembers all the settings of a particular profile. 

Moods

The MoveOS 3 finally brings the ‘Moods’ UI themes – Vintage, Bolt and Eclipse (standard) – to the S1 Pro. Each theme comes with its unique design and also gets its own ‘exhaust notes’. While Vintage makes the scooter sound like a two-stroke scooter, the Bolt and Eclipse have a sound that replicates a sports bike and a UFO, respectively. 

Though the UI designs are cool, we are not a fan of the sounds, which end up irritating you, especially if you spend long hours on the saddle at a stretch. Thankfully, you can turn off the sounds.

Hill Hold

This feature too has been rolled out as a Beta test, but works as it is supposed to. However, activating it requires you to hold both the brakes every time you wish to engage. Currently, the Hill Hold feature works for one minute before disengaging itself, and since it uses motor power to prevent it from rolling back on slopes, it takes up battery too. We expect Ola to fix it in future updates, and make it more reliable and efficient.

Party Mode, Bluetooth Calling and Safety Lights

This update has also enhanced the connected features available on the scooter. So, with the Party Mode, you can not only play music on your Ola but the lights sync with the music, while the scooter is at a standstill. The S1 Pro also finally gets call notification alerts with a provision to reject calls with an automated message.

Active Regenerative Braking

With the MoveOS 3 update, Ola now gives you the option to switch between default, low and high levels of regen. The difference between each level can be felt while riding the EV. However, even at the highest setting, regen is not as strong as that of the TVS iQube or the Bajaj Chetak.

Performance Upgrades

Active regeneration is complemented by subtle performance upgrades too. With the update, the Eco Mode gets slightly better acceleration, which makes it a bit more manageable than before in the city. However, it still requires a bit more initial grunt and overtaking remains a tricky affair as the top speed in the mode is a mere 37kmph (VBox tested). In the Normal and Sport modes, acceleration has improved by over a second in the nought to 60kmph sprints. Hyper Mode too sees marginal improvement in acceleration. 

This change in performance is complemented by a slightly recalibrated throttle response. The throttle is now functional even when you use brakes. So, you can modulate the brakes while making your way through traffic or when taking U-turns. That said, there still is a slight delay in the throttle response, when accelerating and decelerating. 

In terms of performance, the competition doesn’t come close to the Ola S1 Pro, and with the MoveOS  3, it gets even better.  And interestingly, the improved performance is backed by a bump in the range.

More Range

With the MoveOS  2, we achieved a range of 141km, and with the latest update, it has improved to 147.68km. This makes the S1 Pro the EV with the highest range we have tested so far. It could’ve performed even better had the Eco mode been more usable as the last 15 per cent of battery charge was just spent limping back home to charge.

Verdict

The MoveOS 3 brings a lot of new updates to the already feature-packed S1 Pro. After our first ride experience in 2021, we saw noticeable improvement when we pitted it against the Ather 450X, and now, even though there are no changes in the handling or braking departments, the overall riding experience has improved.

And it is not just the e-scooter but how the company too has been working towards improving the ownership experience. Along with the updates to the scooter, the company has been actively setting up the Hypercharger network, and now has set up showrooms and even service centres. So, is the Ola S1 Pro worth its Rs 1.29 lakh (ex-showroom inclusive of FAME-II subsidy)?

Even though the company has improved a lot, the paint quality and the overall fit and finish levels are still questionable, which deter us from recommending the scooter wholeheartedly. That said, given how the company has been working on providing a better experience, we hope the quality of its product and services offered too gets better. And while we are at it, perhaps an improved throttle calibration and a usable Eco mode are something on the radar for MoveOS 3.1 OTA update.