Ola S1 Pro Gen 2

The Ola S1 Pro Gen 2 is a family oriented electric scooter which has an elegant design, a decent list of features and some exciting performance. But is it the best electric scooter which one can buy in India? I will help you in making this decision in this in depth review.

The Ola S1 Pro comes with an interesting design language, one that combines modern elements with a slight retro touch. I find the design very appealing and the element which catches my eye the most is the LED headlight. It has a very contemporary look and is sure to attract the masses. The rounded rear though, is polarizing and may not be to everyone’s taste. Though very stylish, the scooter is quite compact in size.

Safety

In terms of safety, the Ola S1 Pro Gen 2 gets regen braking, side stand indicator, and hill-hold assist which I found to be very helpful when stuck in the traffic on an incline. 

Convenience 

Other features which the Ola S1 Pro Gen 2 gets is all-LED Lighting, a touch-sensitive TFT display which supports smartphone connectivity via Ola Electric app and allows for Ola Maps navigation, call & SMS alerts and music control. It gets four riding modes: Eco, Normal, Sports and Hyper which alter the power out of the scooter. The scooter gets cruise control, geo fencing, keyless ignition, over-the-air updates (OTA), proximity lock and self-cancelling indicators. 

Rider Comfort

I found the Ola S1 Pro Gen 2 to be quite comfortable for my 6-foot frame. The tall handlebar provided me with an upright riding posture. It gets a single-piece seat which is quite wide but well padded and provided me with enough support for my daily commutes.  

Pillion Comfort

The large seat means that there is enough space for both the rider and pillion. With a well-padded seat and large footpegs, the pillion behind was comfortable for quite some time. 

Storage Options

The scooter has a flat floorboard and a large 36-litre underseat storage capacity which helped me carry all my groceries with ease without having to add any external storage options.

The Ola S1 Pro does not disappoint when it comes to performance. The scooter is equipped with a mid-mounted motor, which makes a peak power output of 11kW and continuous power output of 5kW. 

City Performance

The scooter has a lot of performance on offer which I particularly enjoyed while riding in the city. The power delivery is quite instant and there was no lag in the throttle which made overtaking a breeze. The power delivery is very linear and smooth and made my daily commutes in the city an overall joyful experience. 

Highway Performance 

The scooter has a claimed top-speed of 120kmph which I found more than enough on highways. With more than enough performance on tap, I was able to maintain around 100kmph effortlessly on highways. The perks of riding an electric scooter is the lack of mechanical clatter which made my highway commutes very pleasurable.  

Range

Ola claims the S1 Pro Gen 2 will deliver a claimed range of 180km in Eco mode and 143km in normal mode. It gets a 4kWh battery pack which takes 6 hours and 30 minutes to charge which is a bit longer than its rivals but isn’t surprising considering the large battery capacity. I found the claimed range to be sufficient for my daily commute of 70km and should be more than enough for most people.

The handling has improved and the scooter inspired confidence in myself to be able to maneuver swiftly through traffic and while hitting corners. The kerb weight of 116kg is not really felt as the scooter feels light, and easy to manoeuvre even at slow speeds or in the parking lot. The scooter has disc brakes at both ends which provided my decent amount of feedback under intense braking situations.

The Ola S1 Pro Gen 2 has a telescopic fork and a single rear shock absorber. The suspension does a great job in absorbing bumps and potholes while feeling a lot more planted than before. The monoshock in the rear is also quite pliant and is able to handle most bumps and undulations on the road without much issue.

The Ola S1 Pro Gen 2 is a very feature-rich product which has an ample amount of claimed range, an extensive list of features, and exciting performance. It is a great product but I would only recommend it to you if you are ready to face inconsistent after sales service. While it comes at a very enticing price point, you can get rivals which will deliver a much more consistent riding and after sales experience. 

Which variant of the Ola S1 Pro Gen 2 should you choose?

The Ola S1 Pro Gen 2 comes in single variant but with different colour options so choosing one would be a relatively easy affair. It’s just a matter of choice as to which colour you personally like. 

Ather 450X

Reasons to consider: Great ride quality and handling, Good after sales service and reliability

Reasons to ignore: Price relatively higher, Could offer more range for the price it comes at

TVS iQube

Reasons to consider: Looks very decent which will appeal to a wider audience, Good after-sales service

Reasons to ignore: Lacks the performance which rivals offer, Could do with a touchscreen display

Bajaj Chetak

Reasons to consider: Has a lovely retro design, Has a very comfortable ride quality

Reasons to ignore: Offers less performance than rivals, Has a less claimed range for the price tag it comes with