Ather has released its latest electric bike called Ather 450S, the brand’s most affordable electric scooter, or it will be sold as the entry-level variant of the 450 range.
Low-cost electric scooter
It is said to come with a reduced range of 115km in India.
This comes after the substantial reduction in applicable Fame II subsidy which has already kicked off in India.
This is something that Ather has long been rumoured to be working on a low-cost electric scooter based on its 450 platform.
With the reduction in the FAME-II subsidy coming into effect, its 450X electric scooter line-up has just become more expensive.
Top speed
Hence this is great timing since the 450Ss prices now start at Rs 1.3 lakh (ex-showroom).
What else we do know so far is that the bike will get the same 90kph top speed as the 450X.
However there is no info about acceleration timings, so it may or may not be as quick as the 450X.
Breaking new ground
Moreover, the company said that the new 450S will continue to offer the segment’s best technology and performance.
“Within the category, the 450S will break new grounds and will offer first-of-its-kind tech features in the performance scooter segment, raising the bar in terms of riding pleasure and safety while still delivering on performance,” Tarun Mehta, Co-Founder and CEO, Ather Energy, said in a statement.
Battery, range
This new variant of the electric scooter will use a 3kWh battery pack that is claimed to deliver an IDC (Indian Driving Conditions) range of 115km and a top speed of 90kmph
This variant is also likely to carry fewer features than the 450X range.
If Ather can manage similar levels of efficiency, then the ‘TrueRange’ of the 450S should be a little over 80km.
Due to the smaller battery pack, it is priced at Rs 1,29,999.
This makes it a little over Rs 15,000 more affordable than the 450X, which costs between Rs 1.45 and 1.49 lakh after FAME-II subsidy.
Design modifications
Not much is visible in the teaser image either.
The mirror stalks do seem to have a simpler design than the rather premium units on the 450X so the company might have cut costs here.
Design patents also show Ather to be working on passenger footpegs (the 450X doesn’t have conventional footpegs, just extruded platforms for the pillion to place their feet).
These folding footpegs could make its way to the 450S since it is missing from the 450X.
Price revisions
This variant of the Ather 450 will be sold alongside the 450X and 450X Pro Pack in India.
The company has revised the prices of these variants following the FAME-II subsidy revision, and the Ather 450X and 450X Pro Pack will now be available at Rs. 1,45,000 and Rs. 1,65,000 (ex-showroom Bangalore).
Bookings, pricing
Bookings for the 450S will commence from July onwards.
“Starting today, our best-selling scooter — 450X with Pro Pack will be available at Rs 1,65,000 (ex-showroom Bangalore), which is just marginally higher than prices in March 2023,” Ravneet S. Phokela – Chief Business Officer, Ather Energy, said in a statement.
Meanwhile, interested buyers can register for this product on Ather’s website.
