Ather has proven its ability to make a high-quality scooter, but it’s only now that the Bengaluru-based company has begun expanding its network and production capabilities. With its flagship 450X soon to be available in multiple cities nationwide, it seemed like a good time to put this new scooter through the full Autocar road test.
Ather has also updated the display on the 450X and it now uses an Android-based OS and gets Bluetooth connectivity, enabling call- and music- related information. Unlike the first-gen scooter, this responds to the touch even with riding gloves on. The scooter also features a 4G eSIM that enables the onboard Google Maps and automatic software updates. However, the display software isn’t perfect and we faced a few glitches – at times, it would fail to recognise the scooter was at standstill, due to which it wouldn’t allow us to access all the functions. A couple of times, the system also abruptly rebooted for no apparent reason.
The display also shows the remaining charge time on the screen if you give it a tap even when the key is out, which is quite useful. Speaking of the charge time, the 450X took around four hours to charge with the portable charger, and is said to take the same amount of time via the Dot charger. The Dot charger is a wall-mounted unit that can be opted for instead of the portable unit at the time of purchase. It’s a more permanent solution for a garage space. If you want the portable charger in addition to the Dot or vice-versa, it costs Rs 11,000!
Both these chargers don’t offer the fast charging function and that can only be done via the Ather Grid public charging network. Plugged in at almost zero, we got a fast charge time of around 1.5 hours. The Grid is free till March 31, 2021; the cost per charge after that is yet to be decided. If you are wondering why Ather won’t allow you to fast charge it at home, it’s because doing it frequently can adversely affect the battery.
Thanks to the state subsidy provided by Delhi, the Ather 450X costs the lowest there, at Rs 1.47 lakh (ex-showroom). The price in every other city, meanwhile, is around Rs 1.6 lakh, and that’s before registration and insurance charges, making it the most expensive scooter on sale in India. That said, when it comes to performance and technology, the 450X is not just the leader in the electric scooter space but the entire scooter segment in the country.
Each full charge on the Ather is estimated to cost around Rs 12-20 (3kWh). Compare that to the infinitely growing prices of fuel and you’ll end up saving a substantial amount of money in the long run. Regardless of the low running costs, there’s no escaping that the 450X is an expensive product, but you get the quality and capability that you’re paying for.
from Autocar India - Bikes https://ift.tt/3b8hTHH
via YouCabri
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