One of the most anticipated product from an Indian automotive start-up, the Ather electric scooter was launched back in June this year. Available in two trims – 340 and 450, prices are Rs 1.1 lakh and Rs 1.25 lakh respectively.
Today marks an important break-through for Ather and electric two wheelers for India in general, as Ather delivered the first batch of their electric scooters to owners in Bangalore. The scooters wear green number plate, which are seen for the first time on a two wheeler after govt ruling came in some days ago (electric vehicles will have green number plates in India).
The smart electric scooter was first displayed back in 2016 by the start-up which traces its roots to IIT Madras. The scooter was slated for a launch in 2017 however due to multiple delays, the market debut got postponed to 2018.
The Ather 340 and 450 derives its power from a battery pack which drives a brushless DC motor. Both scooters look same, has same features. The only difference lies in performance. The 340 is powered by a 4.4 kW motor wheras the 450 is powered by a 5.4 kW motor. What this means is, that the 450 is much more powerful than the 340.
In numbers, the 340 delivers 20 Nm, whereas the 450 delivers 20.5 Nm. 340 has a 0-40 kmph time of 5.1 seconds and a top speed of 70 kmph, whereas the 450 does the same in 3.9 seconds and goes to 80 kmph, respectively. 340 range in normal mode is 60 kms and in power mode is 50 kms. 450 has a riding range of 75 kms in normal mode and 60 kms in power mode. Both scooters get quickcharge via AtherGrid, where you can charge them upto 80% in just 50 minutes.
Ather scooters come at a premium, compared to its competitors which run on petrol. The additional price might be justified by a host of never seen before features which it promises to provide. Some of these include parking assist function, over-the-air updates, ‘push navigation’, charging station location tracking, custom user interface and diagnostic alerts.
