Ampere recently launched its flagship electric scooter, the Nexus. It is being offered in two variants – EX and ST. Now, in the said space, the Ampere already has an existing rival in the form of the Ather Rizta, which is also offered in two trims – S and Z.
So, we have compared the top-spec variants of both the electric scooters and here are the results.
Design
The Ampere Nexus sports practical and family-oriented bodywork. It doesn’t appear too flamboyant or sporty but the design doesn’t seem extraordinary either. Meanwhile, the Ather Rizta’s design is also on the conservative front with its boxy design. That said, the Nexus’ headlight reminds us of the Hero Xoom’s apron-mounted unit, which is not a con per se. Overall, the visuals of both, the Nexus and Rizta, are much on the neutral side and that’s a good thing.
Features
Ampere has equipped the Nexus ST with all LED illumination, five ride modes – Eco, City, Power, Reverse, and Limp – a seven-inch TFT with smartphone connectivity for navigation, music controls, and OTA updates. These are offered as standard on the Nexus ST.
Meanwhile, the Ather Rizta Z features Smart Eco and Zip, traction control, mobile charging, auto hold and reverse mode. Then, it also gets a fully digital instrument console packed with smartphone connectivity for Google Maps, displays live traffic data and allows auto reply to calls and WhatsApp preview. The Rizta Z also uses a Magic Twist feature to slow down the scooter without engaging the brakes using regenerative braking. However, a lot of these electronic aids can only be availed using the Pro Pack which will cost Rs. 20,000 over the standard asking price.
Motor and Battery
Powering the Ampere Nexus ST is a 3kWh battery linked to a 4kW motor and the setup offers 136km of claimed range and 93kmph of top speed. The charging time for the Ampere Nexus ST is 3 hours and 30 minutes. On the other hand, the Ather Rizta Z houses a 4.3kW motor and a 3.7kWh battery. It offers a 160km range and an 80kmph top speed.
The Ampere Nexus ST has lower peak power but offers a higher top speed. But the Ather Rizta benefits from its larger battery as it offers notably more range than the Nexus.
Hardware
Both electric scooters get telescopic front forks but the Ampere Nexus ST gets dual rear springs whereas the Rizta gets a monoshock. This could alter the ride quality in terms of the payload capacity and the response from the springs. That said, even the front disc and rear drum brake layout with 12-inch wheels is common among the two electric scooters.
Price
The asking price of the Ampere Nexus ST is set at Rs. 1,19,900 whereas the Ather Rizta Z retails at Rs. 1,44,999 (both ex-showroom, Delhi) and then you pay Rs. 20,000 more for the Pro Pack. The Ather Rizta Z is a notably more expensive offering. But a fair idea of which one is better will only stem from a real-world comparison.
