The Most Affordable Ather E-scooter, the 450S, Launched

The Ather 450S, the EV maker’s most affordable e-scooter, has been launched at a price tag of  Rs 1,29,949 (ex-showroom Delhi). Also, Ather has revamped its lineup by offering a new 2.9kWh variant for the 450X, complementing the existing (but updated) 3.7kWh battery pack option.

(All prices ex-showroom Delhi, including FAME 2 and state subsidies)

The 450S, positioned as Ather's most economical electric scooter, comes equipped with a 2.9kWh battery that boasts an estimated range of 115km under Indian Driving Conditions (IDC). The electric motor delivers a peak power of 5.4kW and 22Nm of torque, enabling it to accelerate from 0 to 40kmph in just 3.9 seconds, with a top speed of 90kmph. Notable features of the 450S include an LCD console, as opposed to the touchscreen TFT display on the 450X, and turn-by-turn navigation via the Ather App, utilizing MapMyIndia's services. The scooter is outfitted with a fresh switchgear system for navigating the LCD console, a dedicated reverse mode switch, and three riding modes: Smart Eco, Ride, and Sport. These upgrades are also available on both variants of the 450X.

Furthermore, the 450S incorporates a coasting regen feature, which applies regenerative braking at cruising speeds to recharge the battery. The regenerative braking intensity is tailored to slower speeds and higher speeds, enhancing efficiency. Ather has designed the 450S to be compatible with Ather Grid's fast chargers, delivering charging speeds of up to 1.5km/min.

The scooter introduces a FallSafe feature that automatically deactivates the motor and activates the indicators in the event of a fall. Additionally, an 'Emergency Stop Signal' triggers the brake lights to flash when the rider suddenly applies the brakes at speeds exceeding 50kmph.

The 450X now offers two battery options: 2.9kWh and 3.7kWh. Both variants come with a 7-inch TFT touchscreen display, familiar from previous models, with built-in navigation via Google Maps. An extra Warp riding mode has been introduced, similar to the standard version. The 2.9kWh variant of the 450X touts an IDC-claimed range of 111km, while the 3.7kWh variant extends that range to 150km.

The delivery schedule includes deliveries of the 450X's 2.9kWh variant commencing in the third week of August 2023, followed by the 450S a week later. The updated 3.7kWh variant of the 450X is set to begin deliveries in October. A Pro pack, providing enhanced connectivity and riding assistance features, can be added at an additional cost of Rs 14,000 for the 450S, Rs 16,000 for the 2.9kWh variant of the 450X, and Rs 23,000 for the 3.7kWh variant.

In terms of competition, the Ather 450S faces off against rivals such as the Ola S1 Air, TVS iQube S, Bajaj Chetak, and Vida V1 Pro. Meanwhile, the 450X competes with the Ola S1 Pro, the upcoming TVS iQube ST, and Simple One.