- Bookings had opened up on 15th August 2021
- No clarity from the company ever on genuine delivery dates
- Customers are now cancelling their bookings and opting for other e-scooters
One could have never imagined that a scooter in India would be the centre of attraction when it comes to waiting for a delivery. The electric mobility space has been on fire in the past few years and most of us want a piece of the action as well. Simple Energy's 'One' electric scooter promises a lot but is now facing the heat from those who booked the scooter in 2021. This includes me as well!
Background check
It all started on 15th August 2021 when Simple Energy opened up the bookings for the Simple One e-scooter. Thousands including myself went ahead and paid the deposit of Rs 1947 not knowing what was in store for us. There was no clear communication on the launch or delivery dates. In Jan 2022, we were told the scooters would be given to customers by June 2022. However that did not happen and in May 2022, a new time frame was given to us. We rode the scooter in July 2022 and were told by Mr Suhas himself that deliveries will start in end Sep or early October. The reasoning being that the latest guidelines need to be met. However, even this promise turned out to be false as last week we got a press release that the scooter would not be given to customers in 2023. Seriously? A scooter booked in Aug 2021 to be delivered in 2023?
Other options
Thankfully, the segment of high-end electric scooters has increased and there are good alternatives that you can purchase without having to wait for the Simple One.
Ola S1 Pro
With an on-going discount of Rs 10,000 and segment leading performance, the S1 Pro is a great purchase. Available at an effective price of Rs 1,29,999 (post the discount and FAME II subsidies), the S1 Pro is highly recommended due to its long range of 181km as per ARAI certification. It also comes packed with features including a reverse mode, cruise control, Bluetooth speakers etc
Ather 450X
The latest update has made the 450X even more desirable. It retails for an effective price of Rs 1.39 lakh (Delhi) post the state and FAME II subsidies and offers a range of 146km as per ARAI. Top speed is limited to a true 80km/h - pretty low as compared to 110+ for the S1 Pro. However, the 450X does enjoy fast charging via Ather's grid network.
TVS iQube ST
Bookings are now closed for the ST variant and launch should happen this month. It comes with a claimed range of 145km but top speed is just 78 km/h. However, it looks good, feels well built and offers a massive 32 litres of under-seat storage space along with a 17.78cm touch-screen that supports TVS' Smart X-Connect. Pricing should be competitive as well.
Verdict : It does not make logical sense to wait for a scooter for almost two years. More because the market now has ample good alternatives. Do see our first ride review of the Simple One below
