- Can be charged up to 80 per cent in one hour
- Gets a touchscreen display with navigation
- Features cloud-based data and diagnostic services
Ather Energy, a Bangalore-based manufacturer, has launched two products, the 340 and the 450, in India at Rs 1.09 lakhs and Rs 1.24 lakhs respectively (on-road). The electric scooters will initially be available only in Bangalore, although other cities will be added to the list by the end of this year.
The 340 and the 450 are being pegged as a smart scooters and boast of a bunch of interesting features. By downloading an app, the users can connect to their scooter and remotely access data like battery and charging status and run diagnostics. The instrument console is made up of a seven-inch touchscreen display, which allows the user to customise the layout according to his preference. It even integrates a navigation system.
Propelling the 340 is a 5kW electric motor rated at 20Nm of torque. The 340 is also capable of hitting a top speed of 70kmph. The 450 on the other hand gets a more powerful engine, rated at 20.5Nm of torque. While the 340 can accelerate to 40kmph in 5.1 seconds, the 450 does it in 3.9 seconds. The 450 can also hit a top speed of 80kmph, making it one of the fastest electric scooters in the Indian market.
Both the 340 and 450 are powered by a lithium-ion battery with fast charging. The battery can be charged up to 80 per cent capacity in just one hour at specific charging stations. At full charge, the 340 can cover 60 kilometres, while the 450 can cover 75 kilometres. The battery has a life of up to 50,000 kilometres, which should make it easy on the pocket too.
The 340 and 450 ride on telescopic front forks and a rear monoshock. The brake setup consists of disc brakes at the front and the rear. They even get a reverse mode to help you manoeuvre it in tight parking spaces.
The Ather 340 and 450 compete against the Okinawa Praise and Hero Photon. Ather has started accepting bookings for the 340 and 450 through their website, and deliveries will commence in August. Ather is also in the process of setting up a network of charging points for electric vehicles, called as the AtherGrid.
