Ather Energy recently launched the new Ather 450X Electric Scooter in India. This new Ather electric scooter is an enhanced version of the Ather 450, and it gets a lot of updates over its predecessor. It boasts new features and technology and offers more performance, range, and acceleration than its antecedent. The Ather 450X has been launched at a starting price of Rs. 99,000 (Ex-showroom), and the deliveries will commence in July 2020. But, its price has a lot of 'catch' and we at 91Wheels will decode it today for you. Here, we have explained the Price and Variants of this new Ather 450X Electric Scooter.
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So, the Ather 450X has been launched at a starting price of Rs. 99,000 (Ex-showroom Bengaluru), but it isn't a one-time payment, and the buyers have to opt for monthly subscription plans. Ather also provides you with the upfront payment plan for those who want to pay just a single time, but it has its own set of pros & cons, which we will discuss later. The monthly subscription plan has been categorised into Plus, and Pro trims, and it works on the principle that the more you pay, the more you get. Here are further details about it:
Subscription Plan
| Specifications | Plus | Pro |
| Price | Rs. 1,699 per month | Rs. 1,999 per month |
| Battery Capacity | 2.4 kWh | 2.61 kWh |
| Peak Power | 5.4 kW (7.2 Bhp) | 6 kW (8 Bhp) |
| Peak Torque | 22 Nm | 26 Nm |
| Top Speed | 80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| 0-40 kph time | 3.9 seconds | 3.4 seconds |
| Range | 65 km (Ride) 75 km (Eco) | 70 km (Ride) 85 km (Eco) |
| Fast Charging Rate | 1 km/minute | 1.45 km/minute |
| Home Charging Time | 5 hours 45 minutes | 5 hours 45 minutes |
Ather 450X gets two different subscription plans: Plus and Pro, and as you can see in the table above, the Pro plan is superior in almost every department, and it is pricier. Now, if we talk about what the benefits of opting for the subscription plan are, so in a word, the answer is Multiple benefits. It all depends on how you choose it; for one month, you can choose the Plus plan, while in the other, you can opt for the more superior Pro plan. It is just like you are opting for the Hotstar VIP plan for one month, and in the other, you have switched to Hotstar Premium. Cool, isn't it?
The other benefits are that you can fast charge your electric scooter at the Ather Grid charging stations spread across the Bengaluru city. Moreover, the buyers who opt for the subscription plans are eligible for all future OTA updates through Ather Connect and get an unlimited warranty for the battery. So, this subscription plan is terrific as your electric scooter can get all the significant updates and enjoy connectivity services without any additional charges. Ather will also soon launch this electric scooter in Delhi, and there it will cost around Rs. 85,000 Ex-showroom (due to Govt. incentives) plus the monthly subscription plans to your taste.
Upfront Payment Plan
Some people don't want to pay repeatedly month after month, and for them, Ather has an upfront payment plan. Under this plan, one can buy the Ather 450X Plus at Rs. 1.49 lakhs and the Ather 450X at Rs. 1.59 lakhs, all prices Ex-showroom Bengaluru. However, if you buy the E-scooter via the upfront payment plan, you won't receive any future updates, and the battery warranty also comes down to the standard three year/50,000kms period. Moreover, you will also have to mandatorily pay for the Ather Connect plan, prices for which will be announced soon.
Our Opinion
The final question arises, How should you buy it then? By opting for the subscription plans or by choosing the upfront payment plan? If you want to keep your electric scooter for around two years, you should select the subscription plan as it offers so many features, and you can switch between them at your convenience. However, if you want to keep it for long-term usage, say for more than two years, the upfront payment plan makes sense as the subscription plan will rapidly eat up your bank balance.
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What's your take on it? Will you choose the subscription plan or buy by paying the entire amount at the time of purchase? Please share your opinion with us in the comments below.
