Upcoming Simple Energy Mark 2 Promises To Be More Indigenous Than Ather 450X

The Mark 2 will have up to 90 per cent of its components localised with zero parts sourced from China

• The Mark II is pegged to take on Ather’s 450X.
• Offers a claimed range of 260km in Eco and a top speed of 100kmph.
• Comes with three different charging options.
• Expected to be launched in the first half of 2021.

The electric two-wheeler segment may still be in its nascent stage here in India with only a couple of mainstream manufacturers stepping into the fray. Bajaj and TVS have set benchmarks in terms of quality but it’s homegrown start-ups like Simple Energy and Ather that are actually breaking new grounds. We already know what the Ather 450X has to offer, but the Mark 2 from Simple Energy may just set new benchmarks if it lives up to its expectations. Moreover, the brand will resort to some serious localisation with up to 90 per cent of its components made in India and the rest imported from Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.

The Mark 2 is expected to be launched between February and March of 2021 with test rides likely to follow soon after. According to Suhas Rajkumar, the founder of Simple Energy, the scooter will be priced around the Rs 1.1 lakh (ex-showroom) mark and undercut pretty much all of its rivals including the 450X. The brand intends to reach a production capacity of 50,000 units by the end of 2021. It's expansion plans include setting up experience centres in every major city, reeling in dealer partners and tapping into online e-commerce platforms like Amazon and Flipkart.

What really took us by surprise though is the Mark 2’s performance figures. It's capable of topping out at around 100kmph with a staggering range of up to 260km (both claimed figures) on a single charge. In ideal conditions, of course, and while running in Eco. Nonetheless, if Simple Energy comes through, it'll be a game changer. The Mark 2’s IP67-rated lithium ion battery pack can be charged up to 80 per cent in 40 minutes via a conventional household charger and up to 50 per cent in under 20 minutes through a fast charger. Oh, and these batteries are removable, adding to the scooter’s ease of use. You can check out how the Mark 2 stacks up against the Ather 450X here. 

In terms of features, the scooter comes with an IP67-rated full-colour touchscreen display with smartphone connectivity. Expect features like navigation, call & message alerts, music controls and OTA updates. Other than this, it gets LED lights all around, a telescopic fork, a monoshock and chunky tyres.