Ampere Primus

Ampere, from Greaves Electric Mobility, is known for its affordable electric scooters. But now, with their new best model called the Primus, can the EV maker match the performance and range of some of the best high-end electric scooters in India? Let’s take a look:

Ampere's other electric scooters, like the Magnus and Zeal, look pretty ordinary and could be mistaken for scooters from many small electric vehicle makers in India. The Primus doesn't really stand out either. While it doesn't look bad, it could easily be mistaken for a TVS Scooty copy, and you might not notice it much. The fact that it has a modern LED headlight is nice, but its turn signals and tail light look quite standard. On the bright side, some of the colours, like Royal Orange and Havelock Blue, are attractive.

The overall build quality of the Primus seems decent. While there are some gaps between panels that could be smaller, the electric scooter doesn't give the impression that parts might fall off when riding on bumpy roads, which is not the case for many other electric vehicles in India. However, a few things, like the plastic front fender, seem a bit flimsy. The black plastics around the instrument cluster and on the front part feel a bit cheap and the power mode switch, in particular, feels like it might come apart if handled roughly. On the positive side, some parts, like the cast aluminium grab rail (which can also hold a tail box), feel sturdy and well-made.

There's not much to talk about in this department. The Primus has an LCD console with Bluetooth connectivity, but the basic-looking blue-backlit monochrome display doesn't offer anything fancy. It shows important information, but features like the odometer, trip metre, and battery consumption cycle automatically at the bottom without an option to switch between them. Plus, the trip metre resets when you restart the scooter. The console is hardly visible in direct sunlight, making it challenging to read while riding at noon.

Regarding Bluetooth connectivity, the Ampere smartphone app displays details like DTE, Riding mode, battery and motor parameters, trip statistics, and fault/error parameters.

The Primus provides 22 litres of underseat storage with a flat floor, suitable for most people and accommodating most Indian full-face helmets. On the apron, there's a deep cubby hole with a USB charger. However, the USB port's placement is awkward and challenging to access, even though the cubbyhole keeps your phone secure on bumpy roads.

Our initial ride was on smooth roads in the Ranipet industrial area, so we can't definitively speak about the Primus' ride quality. However, we did take it off-road to test the suspension, and it felt a bit bouncy and wobbly. It's not as rigid as the Ather and not as comfortable as the iQube, but the overall balance seems acceptable. 

The Primus has a low seat, making it comfortable for riders of any height to touch the ground easily. The seat is big and roomy, and with the large footboard, it should suit even larger riders. However, there's a problem with the handlebar being low, and it can touch your knees when making sharp U-turns, even if you're not very tall.

The Primus gets a 3.4kW mid-mounted motor with a belt drive. It is not very very common in Indian electric scooters. This motor can reach a peak output of 4kW and, according to Ampere, can take the Primus from 0 to 40kmph in 4.2 seconds. When riding in Power mode, the most powerful riding mode, the acceleration feels quick and smooth, though it didn't exactly feel like 4.2 seconds. Ampere claims a top speed of 77kmph in Power mode, and during our initial ride, we observed 87 - 88kmph on the speedometer.

In the other two modes, City and Eco, the top speeds are limited to 60kmph and 40kmph, respectively. The good thing is that all three modes provide different performance levels, and even the least powerful Eco mode feels usable.

Under the seat, the Primus houses a fixed 3.0kWh Lithium Ferro Phosphate battery. According to Ampere, it produces an ARAI-certified range of 107km on a full charge, which should translate to about 80 - 85km in real-world riding. This puts it in line with models like the base TVS iQube and the Bajaj Chetak. The full charging time on a 15-amp home charger is claimed to be 4.5 - 5 hours.

The Primus is on the heavier side among electric scooters, weighing 130kg. However, because it rides on 12-inch wheels at both ends, and its weight is distributed low on the scooter with the mid-mounted motor and low-set battery pack, you don't really notice its weight while riding. When you ride it, the Primus responds well to steering and provides confident handling. It's not as agile as the Ather 450X, but it feels comparable to other premium e-scooters like the iQube or the Chetak, partly due to its wide handlebar.

The Primus disappointed in the brake department. Ampere provides drum brakes at both ends, and you really need to pull the levers hard to stop the 130kg scooter. After a few attempts, the brakes start to fade, making you pull the levers even harder. Considering the price and competition, it would have been better to at least have an option for a front disc brake.

The Primus has a few drawbacks compared to other high-end electric scooters and with a price tag of Rs 1,46,355 (ex-showroom Delhi), it faces tough competition from base versions of premium e-scooters like the iQube and the Ola S1 Air. For a more affordable price tag, these scooters offer similar or better performance, more features, and a more luxurious feel while riding. The main issue with the Primus is that it doesn't stand out in any particular aspect. Despite doing some things well, it tends to be forgettable among electric scooters in its price range.