Ather Energy will start with test drives of the S340 full-electric scooter for potential customers by October or November 2015 and will launch their first product in 2016. The S340 will be priced below the Rs. 1 lakh mark.
Bangalore based startup, Ather Energy will soon make its first all-electric scooter ready for test drives by October or November, followed by a launch in 2016. The S340 scooter has received enquiries ranging in thousands as a result of which test drives for potential customers will be available first in Bangalore, followed by Chennai and Delhi. The scooter is expected to be priced below the Rs. 1 lakh mark, with the price expected to be revealed in three months. The company has high hopes from the S340 because all-electric scooters available at the moment either lack speed or either run on lead-acid batteries.
Ather’s scooter will most likely reach a top speed of 75 km/hr, doing 0-60 km/hr in 11 seconds. Its driving range is estimated to be between 50-100 kms and the battery can be recharged to 90 percent in an hour. The S340 will be powered by a lithium-ion battery that will have a 50,000 kms life cycle, with a life span ranging between 5 to 6 years. According to the company, the battery is not left to charge to 100 percent as it will get damaged for an extra 2-3 kms. Ather has used a digital battery system that helps in giving more feedback and control, while also enabling remote firmware upgrades. The battery pack is built out of the 18650 cell format, which is also used on the Tesla Model S electric car.
The company has worked hard with the battery management system to cut down costs, weight and overall thermal performance. Cooling the battery required a lot of work, which has been made possible through a structural battery pack. Ather will not be trying to match the pricing of existing scooters in the market because it’s not possible. Their main aim is to price the S340 below the Rs. 1 lakh mark, including the price of the battery. The scooter’s battery can be managed through a smartphone and also has a long lasting Vacation mode. The Android based dashboard will have navigation and theft protection systems as well.
