Ola S1 Air vs Honda Activa 6G: Running Cost Analysis

Is Ola Electric’s new e-scooter the perfect threat to the ICE champion? Let’s find out

Ola Electric recently launched its most affordable offering yet, the S1 Air, at Rs 84,999 (ex-showroom, inclusive of FAME-II subsidy). That’s cheaper than the on-road price of the Honda Activa 6G which retails for Rs 88,491 in Pune. So, if you are planning to buy a scooter, will the S1 Air be more affordable than the Activa? Let’s find out:

For this, let’s first understand the pricing of the Ola S1 Air. At the time of writing this article, the S1 Air’s price breakup is not available on the website. However, your purchase cost will include the cost of the home charger as well as the insurance. Here’s how the price breakup of the other two variants is:

With these pricing, let’s assume Ola Electric will ask for Rs 5,000 for its home charger for the S1 Air. And adding Rs 8,500 (assumed) for insurance, your purchase cost now stands at Rs 98,499. Now that’s steep, right? But let’s see how much would it cost you to run the vehicle for three years.

To fully charge the Ola S1 Air: 2.5 units

Per unit cost: 2.5 x Rs 4.67 (Pune)

Usage: 6 days x 52 weeks

Approximate Price Of Electricity Consumed: Rs 3,632.6

Now, that makes the Ola S1 quite affordable. In fact, its yearly energy expense is equivalent to a petrol-powered two-wheeler’s monthly fuel expense. However, do note that Ola Electric doesn’t have a full-fledged public charging network at the moment. So, you are restricted to charging the scooter at your home or work space.

Now, let us consider the cost of owning and running the Activa 6G for a year. Assuming that this is your primary mode of transportation, used for a total commute distance of 40km for six days a week. So, with these figures, here’s the cost of petrol you would incur in one year.

Distance travelled in a year: 40km a day x 6 days a week x 52 weeks: 12,480km

Mileage in the city: 59.5kmpl

Total fuel consumed in a year: 12,480 / 59.5 = 209.7 litres

Approximate cost of petrol per litre in Pune: Rs 105

Approximate fuel expenditure in a year: Rs 22,022.7

But that’s not all. Along with the fuel expenses, you’ll have to bear the maintenance cost of the scooter too. Honda charges approximately Rs 400 per free service. This includes consumables like engine oil, but the labour is free. At the end of the fourth service, the company mandates replacing the spark plug and the air filter, which cost approximately Rs 450. Here’s how your maintenance cost for a year would like:

Approximate cost of free service: Rs 400

Annual cost of service: Rs 400 x 4 = Rs 1600

Cost of mandatory air filter and spark plug change: Rs 450

Buffer: Rs 1,000

Service cost after one year: Rs 750 per service

Total service cost at the end of second year: Rs 750 x 4 = Rs 3000

Now, post the free services, the cost per service increases, and would also include the cost of replacing other parts.

So, in the first year, the Honda Activa 6G will cost Rs 88,491 + Rs 22,022.7 + Rs 2050, which comes up to Rs 1,12,563. On the other hand, the Ola S1 Air will cost you Rs 98,499 + 3632.6 which equals to Rs 1,02,131.6. 

At the moment, the Hypercharger network is limited but the company intends on introducing it nationwide soon, and it would come with a subscription after keeping it free-for-all for a limited time. If and when you opt to pay for the fast charging network, that would add to your ownership cost, however, it still would be cheaper than the Activa.

The Ola S1 Air certainly comes as an interesting proposition on paper, but can it deliver on all fronts in the real-world too? We’ll reserve our judgement till we get one for a thorough road test.