With the introduction of its first electric scooter, Ather Energy has significantly raised its profile in the Indian market for electric two-wheelers. The brand's scooters, the Ather 450X and 450 Plus, have attracted a lot of interest from EV buyers. A new Ather electric scooter has just been sighted being tested, and it appears that the company is working on a more affordable model.
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Ather Electric Scooter Spotted
Although the recently discovered test mule was heavily camouflaged, its body panel design is the same as other Ather scooters on the market. As opposed to its larger siblings, the new Ather scooter is anticipated to have a smaller battery pack with a shorter range. Additionally, the brand might offer features like touchscreen display, OTA updates, navigations and others.
Due to the advanced battery packs and features, Ather scooters currently have an initial cost of more than Rs 1 lakh. With the 450X and 450 Plus, the entry-level market acquisition is no longer feasible. Therefore, it's possible that the brand plans to launch a scooter with a sub-Rs 1 lakh price tag by the end of the year or at the start of 2023 to establish itself in the market for affordable EVs.
Ather would be able to compete with the recently launched Ola S1 electric scooter if it keeps the cost of the next scooter around Rs 1 lakh. To appeal to the masses, there must be competition in the market for inexpensive EVs. Many EV two-wheeler producers are primarily concentrating on the mass-market, low-cost sector of the market.
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Budget electric two-wheelers are essential for several reasons, including the termination of EV subsidies. State governments in some states, like Goa and Maharashtra, have declared they will end the EV subsidy soon. Even the central government's EV subsidies under FAME II is going to run out on March 31, 2024.
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