Ola S1 vs Etergo Appscooter: How Different Are They?

The desi descendant of Etergo Appscooter has quite a few changes to ensure it works well on Indian conditions, and here’s an in-depth look

Ola Electric launched its first electric scooter, the Ola S1 range back on August 15. We all know that it is based on the Etergo Appscooter. While the desi e-scooter looks similar to the Appscooter externally, Ola Electric has made several changes under the skin to make sure the scooter performs well in the Indian environment. Here’s what they’re all about:

Battery Pack:

One of the most crucial differences between the two electric scooters lies in the battery pack. The Etergo Appscooter gets a versatile removable battery pack system shaped like a banana. It weighs 8.5kg each, and three modules can be slotted into the electric scooter, offering a total of 3kWh capacity and a 240km claimed range (80km each). But such a high range is achieved only at a 20kmph cruising speed.

On the other hand, the Ola S1 range comes with a fixed battery pack mounted inside the floorboard to keep the centre of gravity low and keep costs in check. Designing the chassis of a scooter with a fixed battery pack is much more cost-effective than making one that accommodates removable batteries. The S1 gets a 2.98kWh battery, whereas the S1 Pro gets a larger 3.97kWh lithium-ion unit. While the former offers a claimed range of 121km, the latter is good for 181km. 

The Ola S1 takes 4 hours 48 minutes for a full charge, whereas the S1 Pro takes 6.5 hours. Using Ola's Hypercharger network will top it up to 50 percent in just 18 minutes.  In comparison, the Etergo Appscooter takes 5.5 hours to charge completely using conventional charging and 2.3 hours via fast charging. 

Electric Motor:

Fortunately, the Ola S1 gets a more powerful 8.5kW motor compared to Etergo's 6kW unit. The former's heart is designed in-house and generates 58Nm, 8Nm more than the Appscooter. Also, the Appscooter's top speed is limited to 45kmph (due to European regulations), the Ola S1 and S1 Pro get claimed top speeds of 90kmph and 115kmph, respectively. Both variants are powered by the same motor, though. The vehicle control unit is also different, and the one in the S1 has been designed specifically for Indian conditions. 

Chassis:

As mentioned before, the Ola S1 range gets a different chassis to accommodate the fixed battery pack. It’s a longer tubular frame structure compared to the Appscooter’s monocoque chassis. This, coupled with the different motor and battery, results in a significant difference in weight compared to the Appscooter. That said, the front and rear suspension, disc brakes, and tyre sizes are the same in both electric scooters. 

Pricing:

The Etergo Appscooter retails at a hefty EUR 3,399 (about Rs 2.88 lakh), whereas the Ola S1 and S1 Pro cost Rs 99,999 and Rs 1,29,999, respectively (both ex-showroom including FAME II subsidies). The state subsidies will further bring down the final price of the scooter.