Ather Konarc

Ather has long been recognised for its high-quality engineering in the electric scooter space, but its premium pricing has kept its products out of reach for many. The new Ather Konarc aims to change this. With a disruptive starting price of just Rs 1 lakh, it marks Ather’s entry into the mass-market segment, directly targeting buyers of conventional petrol scooters.

The Konarc is designed from the ground up as a practical, simple, and comfortable family vehicle. The key question is whether its blend of affordability and Ather's engineering can provide a compelling reason for buyers to finally switch from trusted names like the Activa and Jupiter to an electric alternative. The scooter is available in multiple variants with prices well exceeding Rs 1.5 lakh. For now, we ride the S 165km variant which is priced at Rs 1,45,000, offering a longer range and more features.

Ather Konarc Launch And Prices

The Konarc adopts a safe and universally appealing design, moving away from the sharp, aggressive lines of Ather’s earlier models. The styling is simple and clean, with no dramatic cuts or creases, ensuring it will be liked by all members of a family. Its side is noticeably long and low, which makes it look very accessible and easy to handle for riders of all heights.

In terms of details, the front features a bright LED headlamp with a central LED DRL. The rear also gets a sleek LED tail lamp. The scooter rides on a 14-inch alloy wheel at the front and a 12-inch one at the rear, a combination that aids stability. 

Ather has chosen a palette of sober and simple colour options to match its family-friendly persona. Color Options include Quartz White + Blue, Majestic Grey + Black, Celestial Gold + Blue and Lumen Copper + Black.  Check out our colours explainer story to take a closer look at these colour options.

In a nod to Indian consumer preferences for durability, the Konarc features metal side panels. However, to manage weight, the front and rear body panels are still constructed from fibre. Overall, the design is functional and inoffensive, prioritising practicality over flair.

While the Ather Konarc was showcased with a host of premium features, it's important to note that many of them are reserved for the top-of-the-line Z variant. This variant will not go on sale this year. These upcoming features include a full-colour TFT touchscreen display, a hydraulically-assisted boot that opens automatically, a rear boot release button, and a smart key. 

The currently available S variant, however, is equipped with a practical set of features. It uses a simple, traditional key for ignition and to open the boot. The instrument cluster is a 7-inch LCD screen, not a TFT. While not a touchscreen, its display is bright and clear, showing speed, range, and battery percentage prominently, making it easily readable in both bright sunlight and at night. Navigation through trip meters and ride modes is handled via the handlebar switchgear.

This variant also includes the "Air Walk" feature, a clever function that assists in parking and moving the scooter. We will talk about it in detail a bit later.

Ather has paid close attention to the practical needs of a family. The front apron contains a deep and spacious storage compartment, large enough for a smartphone, wallet, and gloves. An optional 18W Type-C USB charger can be fitted here for on-the-go device charging. 

A convenient hook is provided for hanging bags. The floorboard is generously sized and completely flat, allowing users to easily carry anything from a vegetable bag to a small suitcase without compromising foot space.

The under-seat storage is practical, though not the largest in its class. The Ather Rizta offers more space. Still, the Konarc’s boot is sufficient for daily needs. It can comfortably accommodate a small laptop bag or a gym duffel bag. For grocery runs, it can hold about a week's worth of shopping. Most importantly, it is designed to fit a full-face helmet, a critical feature for many riders. However, it cannot hold two helmets.

The seat height is kept very low, allowing riders of average height to place both feet flat on the ground with their knees bent, which inspires confidence. The spacious floorboard also allows for ample legroom, accommodating riders with larger feet who might want to position them further forward.

The seat itself is long and well-padded, comfortably seating two large adults, even if they are wearing backpacks. This ensures that neither the rider nor the pillion feels cramped. The S variant comes with a fixed pillion backrest which, while not adjustable like the one on the upcoming Z variant, is supportive and adds to pillion comfort on longer rides. You can get the adjustable backrest as an accessory.

The riding ergonomics are upright and relaxed, with a high and wide handlebar that is easy to reach. The clean dashboard layout and large, clear side mirrors provide excellent visibility, making the scooter very easy and comfortable to manage in city traffic.

For easier manoeuvrability, the scooter includes a reverse mode. It also has the unique "Air Walk" feature, which uses the motor to assist when pushing the scooter, making it feel lightweight and effortless to move in tight parking spots.

The Ather Konarc addresses one of the biggest concerns for EV buyers — range anxiety. It offers multiple battery and range options. The entry-level variant, priced at Rs 1 lakh, delivers a real-world range of 80 km on a full charge. The mid-spec variant increases this to 100 km. The top-spec S variant, which costs Rs 1,45,000, provides a substantial 130 km of real-world range in Eco mode. Switching to Sport mode will naturally reduce this figure to around 90-100 km.

Charging is another area where the Konarc excels in convenience. All variants come with an inbuilt 450W charger, cleverly integrated into the scooter's body. This eliminates the need to carry a bulky charging brick, freeing up valuable under-seat storage. Owners only need to carry a simple cable. Using this cable with a standard home socket, the scooter can be fully charged in approximately 6 hours. For faster charging, a dedicated fast charger can bring the battery from empty to full in about 3 hours.

The Konarc gets a 450 W onboard charger, which can be increased up to 900 W by an additional 450 W portable charger, which makes the charging much faster.

The Ather Konarc is built for a comfortable and controlled ride experience, not thrilling performance. Its power delivery is comparable to a 110cc petrol scooter like an Activa or Jupiter. When the throttle is opened, the scooter moves forward with a smooth, controlled acceleration. It never feels dull or underpowered, but it’s also calibrated to never feel overwhelming or intimidating. This makes it a very safe and reassuring scooter for riders of all experience levels. The top speed of the S variant is also capped to 70kmph. That of the Z variants will be 80kmph.

Overtaking power is adequate, but even at full throttle, the acceleration remains linear and predictable. A standout characteristic is its ability to handle inclines. Even in Eco or Smart Eco mode and with a heavy pillion, the scooter climbs steep gradients steadily without any sign of strain. 

Another notable aspect is its near-silent operation. The typical electric motor whine has been significantly muted, resulting in a very quiet riding experience that may appeal to family buyers seeking a peaceful commute.

When it comes to ride comfort, the Konarc performs well under most conditions but has its limitations. On well-paved roads and over gentle speed breakers, the suspension provides a comfortable and stable ride. This is especially true when riding with a pillion, as the added weight helps the scooter feel very planted. 

However, the ride quality becomes less impressive on rough or broken roads. When encountering sharp-edged bumps or large potholes, jolts are transmitted to the rider, with significant feedback coming from the rear suspension. The ride can feel a bit harsh in these situations, suggesting that the suspension setup could have been plusher. 

Compared to some of its rivals, both electric and petrol, the Konarc is not the most comfortable scooter on bad roads. Riders will find themselves needing to slow down to maintain comfort over rough patches.

The Ather Konarc is a thoughtfully designed electric scooter aimed squarely at the Indian family. It successfully packages Ather’s reputable engineering and quality into an accessible and practical vehicle. The scooter’s true strength lies in its base variants—the 80 km and 100 km range models. Priced competitively against petrol scooters like the Honda Activa and TVS Jupiter, they present a compelling value proposition for buyers with daily commutes of up to 70 km. These variants offer a genuine reason to switch from ICE to EV without a significant price premium. 

However, as you move up to the higher-spec models like the Rs 1.45 lakh S 165km variant or the upcoming Z variant, the competition gets tougher. At this price point, buyers have access to a wide range of electric scooters that may offer better performance, more features, or greater practicality, including Ather’s own Rizta. Therefore, the Konarc makes the most sense in its lower-priced avatars.