The Vida V1 Plus was recently reintroduced by Hero MotoCorp and is priced at Rs 1.15 lakh. It sits below the top-spec V1 Pro that is priced at Rs 1.45 lakh and is hence significantly cheaper. The V1 Plus, however, isn’t lagging far behind the V1 Pro when it comes to performance and range. Its goes up against the Ather 450S that’s priced at Rs 1.10 lakh. This is how they stack up against each other on paper.
Design
The Vida V1 Plus looks quite unique. Whether it is the styling of the front apron with the integrated headlight, the swooping side fenders or the narrow tail section. Part of the reason why the scooter looks the way it does is also because of the need to accommodate its removable batteries while maximising boot space.
The Ather 450S looks like the 450X, save for the smaller, blacked out cover over the handlebar cowl. There is no denying that the Ather looks good, despite having been around for a few years. It is the sportier looking scooter of the two and is certainly aimed at the younger set of buyers in the electric scooter market.
Features
The Vida V1 Plus is loaded with features in comparison to the Ather. You’ve got all-LED lights, a touchscreen TFT display, cruise control, emergency SOS switch, Bluetooth connectivity and keyless start.
The Ather 450S is decently equipped but it doesn’t have as long a features list as the Vida V1 Plus. The Ather gets all-LED lights but the instrument console is a relatively simple LCD display. It does get Bluetooth connectivity and turn-by-turn navigation as well as five ride modes but to access these features one needs to opt for the “Pro” pack by paying an additional Rs 12,999.
Motor performance
The V1 Plus has a PMSM motor that has a peak power of 6kW and a continuous power of 3.9kW. The motor produces 25Nm and the company claims that the scooter can sprint from 0-40kmph in 3.4 seconds and hit a top speed of 80kmph only.
The Ather 450S’ electric motor can propel the scooter from 0-40kmph in 3.9 seconds and onwards to a top speed of 90kmph.
Battery
One of the biggest USPs of the Vida V1 Plus is its removable batteries. They offer the convenience of being taken out of the scooter, hauled up to your home or office and charged. This relieves one of the hassles of setting up a charging point in their parking lot. The Vida V1 has a 3.44kwh battery capacity with a claimed real world range of 100km. The company says that it takes 5 hours and 15 minutes to charge from 0-80 percent.
The Ather 450S, on the other hand, has a smaller, 2.9kWh battery that offers a true range of 90km. As for charging time, Ather claims that it takes 6 hours and 36 minutes to charge the battery from 0-80 percent.
Hardware
The Ather 450S has an aluminium frame that’s suspended by a telescopic fork and a monoshock. The scooter rides on 12-inch wheels and features a disc brake at either end.
The Vida V1 Plus has a telescopic fork and a off-set monoshock setup. It rides on 12-inch wheels but only gets a disc brake at the front whereas there’s a drum brake at the rear.
Price
The Vida V1 Plus will set you back by Rs 1.15 lakh, ex-showroom. This includes the cost of the charger as well. However, if you live in Delhi or states where there’s additional subsidy over FAME II, the price drops further. In Delhi, the V1 Plus is priced at Rs 97,800.
The Ather 450S, meanwhile, is priced at Rs 1.10 lakh, ex-showroom in Bengaluru. This includes the cost of the charger and FAME II subsidy. In Delhi, however, the price falls to Rs 97,547. Those willing to opt for the benefits of the Pro package need to shell out an additional Rs 12,999 which makes it a little pricier than the Vida V1 Plus.
