Ampere Primus e-scooter is the first high-speed EV from the brand. We went to Tamil Nadu to know how good & how not-so-good it is in real life. Read all of its details in our test ride review below.
- The launch price of Primus is Rs 1,09,900 ex-showroom pan India
- It is available in 4 colour options
- The certified riding range stands at 107 km per charge
PROS - What We Like!
- Brilliant build quality & plastic use
- Top-notch fit & finish throughout the scooter
- Matte colour options are easy to clean & maintain
- The riding range shown on MID is mostly accurate
- Ample storage spaces
- Big ICE-scooter feeling
- Plaint ride quality
CONS - What We Didn't Like!
- Moderate braking
- Absence of front disc brake
- Clumsy MID screen
- Design is not very exciting or intimidating on the road
- Performance in ECO mode is extremely lethargic
What Is The Ampere Primus?
- Takes inspiration from Magnus e-scooter
- First high-speed e-scooter from the brand
- Competes with premium e-scooters in India
Ampere is an EV brand that is owned by Greaved Cotton. Its parent company i.e. Greaves Cotton is one of the oldest manufacturers in India. The company was established back in 1859 and it is primarily known for making mechanical parts. Coming forward, the recent automotive revolution of EVs has led the company to step into the retail market. Hence, the Ampere brand was acquired and led through further innovations. The company already sells two of its low-speed e-scooters in India. One of these models is called Magnus and it is very popular in Tier-2 & Tier-3 cities.
The Ampere Prmius e-scooter on the other hand is the first high-speed EV from the company. It takes its inspiration from its younger sibling Magnus. However, the use of the LFP battery pack and enhanced performance makes it a considerable option among its rivals. Speaking of rivals, it directly competes with the Ola S1, Ather 450 Plus, & TVS iQube.
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Ampere Primus - Design & Features
The design of the Primus e-scooter is very neutral and moderate. It doesn't look very appealing from the go. However, take some time and it slowly grows into your mind with its minute details. The small design elements like the Arctic Stern design at the front, the LED DRLs, & the sturdy build quality makes an appeal itself. Meanwhile, the side profile looks more dominating as the wheelbase is enriched with hard plastic covers. Underneath these covers is the battery & electric motor. The rear-end design might remind you of ICE-scooter TVS Scooty Pep. However, it uses a completely different design from it. The overall dimensions at the back look far chunky when compared to its front.
What we loved about it was its overall build quality. The plastic used and the fit & finish is just superb. It is definitely among the best if we speak of quality and construction. Additionally, the footboard area and the seat are designed with utility thoughts. The seat is cushioning and it makes long rides less tiring. Similarly, riders get ample storage space. Underneath the handlebar, Ampere has provided a big deep pocket to place your valuables. Additionally, it also gets a USB phone charging slot. Moving to the rear, it has one of the biggest and most sorted under-seat storage. Its capacity is 22 liters and it can easily gulp a full-face helmet along with space left for some small items like your wallet. There is also a bright LED light that helps during the nighttime; in the storage space.
While it ticks all the boxes there are some features that have been left out. for example, the MID display is a basic unit. It shows all the necessary info like speed, power modes, distance to empty, battery level, battery regen, &, etc. However, the small screen does it all together, hence, making it difficult to read info. Also, the big clear lens plastic cover over it makes it more difficult to see the readings in direct sunlight. Meanwhile, you do get Bluetooth smartphone connectivity that shows you turn-by-turn navigation & SMS as well as call alerts.
Battery, Electric Motor, & Specifications
- Powered by a 3kWh LFP battery
- 4 kW PMS electric motor
- 0-40 kmph in just 4.2 seconds
Being one of the older manufacturers, Greaved Cotton ensured to fit the best of tech on the Ampere. Hence, it is powered via a 3kWh LFP battery pack. This battery has been tested under extreme working environments and weather conditions. As per the company, it has tested its battery and the electric motor in abusive and tortured conditions for prolonged hours. Hence the 4 kW PMS electric motor and the battery combo can withstand almost any type of weather across India.
Meanwhile, this battery pack supports normal home charging and takes up to 5 hours to get completely charged. But, if any customer wants to opt for fast charging, Ampere can provide it at an additional cost. However, this cost has not been unveiled to us till now. Other specs include 12-inch alloy wheels that use MRF Zapper tubeless tyres. But, to our surprise, it does not come with a front disc brake. Yes, both of the brakes on it are drums. Although Ampere has fitted a combi-braking system to prevent accidents we think this is not enough. Most of its direct rivals offer a front disc brake. In terms of suspension, it uses telescopic forks at the front and dual shockers at the rear.
The Riding Experience - Exciting Enough?
- Offers pliant ride quality
- Fast enough when required but not so thrilling
- Braking requires planning and consideration of the road a lot
Get on the Primus and you'll feel the immediate glow of its quality. The switchgear, for example, is superb to use. Every button and plastic touch, here & there, feels amazing. Even the ORVMs are built of great quality. On the right, you get a toggle switch that helps you switch between its power modes. Mind you, it is offered in three riding modes - Eco, City, & Power. Underneath the mode toggle switch, you get the ignition button that leads to the scooter rolling. On the left, is a small circular Reverse button that helps in reverse parking the scooter.
Once you begin, you'll immediately feel that the Eco mode is pretty useless. Why? It's extremely lethargic. Even with my weight, I was wringing the throttle just to keep it moving. If you have a pillion with you, forget about using the Eco mode from a standstill. The top speed in this mode is 45 kmph. Also, the battery regen is very strong, hence, leaving the throttle leads to extreme deacceleration. Although it offers a max riding range of 107 km/charge. However, the City mode comes in handy. The DTE falls to 90-95 km when in City mode but it becomes quick enough. The top speed is 60 kmph in this mode & it does work just fine. Overtaking slow-moving city traffic is easy and there is ample power every time. The Power mode is the quickest mode. It can do 0-40 kmph in 4.2 seconds in this mode; which is pretty quick. Also, it can do a top speed of 77 kmph in this mode but on our test we found it to be achieved up to 85 kmph on the display. However, it doesn't feel very thrilling in this mode. Its power is predictable and sensible enough. The range drops to 60 km when switched to this mode.
The suspension works great. It offers pliant ride quality most of the time. However, at slow speeds, sharp potholes can unsettle it. But, most of the time it works like a charm. Also, at high speeds, sharp bumps are very well settled via it. But, then comes its biggest drawback; it's braking. Ampere has fitted only drum brakes on it & we don't know why. The braking is not up to the mark. Up to the speeds of 40-50 kmph, one can still feel it in control. But, once you cross these speeds, braking requires a lot of planning. The tyres do lock up easily despite the combi brakes. The absence of a front disc brake is highly felt on the Primus and we feel that Ampere must work on this department of it.
Some other things that we noticed:
- The MID is very accurate for the estimated riding range it shows
- The Reverse button works well and can be used even with Eco, City, & Power modes switched on.
- The headlight throw is decent and lits the road well.
- The handlebar touches the rider's legs during tight U-turns and sharp traffic maneuvers.
- The scooter is very easy to flick inside the city traffic.
- The chassis of it is very well balanced and behaves neutral all the time.
Ampere Primus Video Review
In case you missed our detailed ride review video of the Primus, do watch it below. Also, please subscribe to our YouTube channel for more such detailed & unbiased reviews.
Verdict
The Ampere Primus e-scooter is a very sorted product. It offers everything that a family scooter buyer requires. It has good build quality, it is decent on features, & it offers a good riding range as well. Also, at Rs 1.10 lakh ex-showroom; the Primus is a good deal for buyers who are looking for an alternative to the usual rivals in the segment. However, its lack of braking and the moderate MID screen does let you down at times. But, the strong build quality & pliant ride makes up for these letdowns. Also, Ampere has established more than 400 showrooms and 750 plus checkpoints for its customers. Hence, the service support and network of the company are also strong to most of its rivals. So, will you buy the Primus in this price bracket? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
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