Ola S1 Pro

The Ola S1 Pro Gen 2 is the flashship offering from Ola Electric. The scooter is built on a new platform and comes with a different fork, better range, and improved performance along with many new and updated features. But does the scooter have what it takes to hold its own in the highly competitive EV segment? We will be answering that question here.

The Ola S1 Pro comes with an interesting design, one that combines elements of modernity with a slight retro touch, which is visible in profile. The electric scooter looks stylish and stands out from the rest, though it is quite compact.

When it comes to performance, the Ola S1 Pro doesn’t disappoint. It is equipped with a Interior Permanent Magnet (IPM) motor, delivering a peak power output of 11kW and continuous power output of 5kW, giving the scooter a claimed top speed of 120kmph and 0-40kmph acceleration time of just 2.6 seconds. The power delivery and performance as a whole is quite good and the motor feels quite smooth making city commutes a pleasant experience.

The battery pack is a 4kWh unit which takes 6.5 hours to charge from 0-100, which is a bit longer than what other scooters take but it isn’t surprising considering the battery capacity. The larger battery gives the scooter a range of 180km in Eco Mode and 143km in normal mode.

The S1 Pro Gen 2 has come with a few updates in terms of underpinnings. The old single-arm fork has been replaced with a  conventional telescopic unit. This change has made the scooter feel a bit more planted and capable in absorbing bumps and potholes. The monoshock in the rear is also quite potent and is able to handle most bumps and undulations on the road without much issue.

The ride quality is quite good and the new suspension setup is much better now. The handling has improved and the scooter inspires confidence when manoeuvring through traffic or hitting corners. The kerb weight of 116kg is not really felt as the scooter feels light, and easy to manoeuvre at slow speeds or in the parking lot.

The electric scooter is able to provide an upright riding posture, thanks to its high-set handlebar. The well-padded seat is able to ensure comfortable commuting but it is a bit wide and the 805mm seat height means that shorter riders will have to sit a bit forward to securely plant both feet on the ground. Other than that there’s no issue and the long seat is quite good for family use.

Ola has removed weird design elements like the floorboard spine which creates a hassle when stowing luggage, and the flat floorboard, a welcome change, makes it a lot more convenient. The 36-litre underseat storage is able to mitigate this issue to a great extent. The storage space is quite large and allows riders to store groceries even when the portable charger is kept inside.

There’s no beating the Ola S1 Pro in terms of features. The scooter comes with complete LED lighting, a 7-inch touch-enabled TFT display with smartphone connectivity through Bluetooth, and support for WiFi/4G and GPS.

The MoveOS 4.0 OTA (Over the Air) update has introduced many new functionalities. An important one is the energy saving vacation mode, useful for saving battery life during an extended period of non-use. Other enhancements such as regenerative braking (3 level), hill hold  along with safety features such as geo-fencing have also been added. The scooter also gets proximity unlock.

Lastly, there’s hypercharging, which is Ola’s version of fast-charging, which provides 50km range in just 15 minutes of charging. 

The Ola S1 Pro Gen 2 offers decent performance and good range along with a ton of features. If you are looking for a scooter that is an all-rounder, then the Ola S1 Pro will be a good choice. But if you want something that is much simpler to use and doesn’t come off as intimidating then there are many alternatives to choose from such as the Hero Vida V1 Pro, Ather 450X, Simple One and the upcoming TVS iQube ST.