Ather Energy’s most expensive scooter, the 450 Apex is finally on sale. It packs a host of new bits and also costs notably more than its siblings. We have compared it to the top-spec Ola scooter, the S1 Pro. Here is how the two EVs fare against each other.
Design
Although the 450 Apex has carried over the same design as the standard bike’s, it comes draped in a fancier paint scheme of blue with orange on the chassis. Moreover, the Ather 450 Apex gets transparent side panels, which make the internal frame visible.
On the other hand, the Ola S1 Pro is now in its second generation and looks quite similar to its predecessor. It features a futuristic-looking fascia comprising twin LED projector lights with an LED DRL on the periphery. The side panels are curvy and reminiscent of a slightly retro design. That said, the Ather 450 Apex gets a 22-litre underseat storage, while the Ola S1 Pro comes with 34 litres of space.
The 450 Apex has its bragging rights here because it is not only a special edition model but also gets transparent side panels, which may be enticing for younger buyers.
Features
Both the electric scooters are loaded with features and rider aids. The 450 Apex gets LED illumination, six ride modes – Smart Eco, Eco, Ride, Sport, Warp, and Warp Plus – seven-inch touchscreen TFT with smartphone connectivity, dashboard auto-brightness, park assist, hill hold, auto indicator cut-off, coasting regenerative braking, and Magic Twist. On the other hand, the Ola S1 Pro gets four ride modes (Eco, Normal, Sport, and Hyper), smartphone connectivity, ride moods, music, call and SMS notifications, WiFi connectivity, remote boot access, remote lock/unlock, proximity control, hill hold, three levels of regenerative braking, and more.
The scooters are quite an even match on the features front.
Motor and Battery
Powering the new Ather 450 Apex is a 7kW motor with a 3.7kWh battery. It gives the scooter 100kmph of top speed and 157km of certified range. On the other hand, the S1 Pro gets an 11kW (peak power) motor and a 4kWh battery. It’s offered 120kmph of top speed and 180km of maximum range. The Ola S1 Pro scores extra points here with its higher top speed and riding range.
Hardware
Both scooters ride on telescopic front forks and a monoshock, while the brakes include a single disc on both ends. These electric scooters ride on alloy wheels wrapped in road-biased tyres. Price
The asking price of the two electric scooters is the major differentiating factor. The Ather 450 Apex costs Rs. 1,89,999 (ex-showroom, Bengaluru), while the Ola S1 Pro retails at Rs. 1,47,499 (ex-showroom, Bengaluru). Here, the Ola scooter not only costs less but is also eligible for the subsidy, while the Ather 450 Apex isn’t.
The price gap between the two electric scooters is massive. So, it boils down to whether you want a swanky-looking limited edition scooter or a retro-looking model with a higher range.
