The top electric scooters have become a hotly contested topic, with Ather 450X and Ola Electric S1 Pro usually in such exchanges. If you’re in the market for an electric ride, you’re probably stuck in that same dilemma I once had: Enough to make you wonder whose is actually worth your money and which is overrated and overpriced.
I’ve done that: endlessly researching specs, balancing the pros and cons. I myself asked as much as you (being idle), like: “Which one should I go for?” Let’s break it all down, well. In this article, I’ll give you the lowdown on both, share my two cents, and hopefully help you figure out which one of these spaces would be better suited to your lifestyle. Spoiler alert: I’d just like to state there’s no clean winner yet, but by the end of this, you’ll have an idea of what’s appropriate for you.
Let’s get right to performance. After all, no one likes to come late for work and all of us want a scooter that can zip through traffic without breaking a sweat — it’s such a big deal.
It is akin to that friend who never runs late! It has a nice 3.3 kW motor to back it up. So acceleration feels smooth, and you’re looking at a top speed of 80 km/h. It’s extremely agile—crisp in rush hour traffic without losing character on open lanes. It’s a ride you can control without feeling like you’re wrestling the scooter.
Now though, the 450X has something called Warp Mode, it’s just fancy language for a quick power boost. It’s there when you need that extra oomph, but it’s not a rocket launch in terms of how it feels. It’s more like solid push, which is all you need when you want a little extra speed to get ahead of traffic.
The other hand, however, allows the Ola S1 Pro to flex its muscles with a 5.5 kW motor and can hit acceleration of up to 115 km/h. That top speed is going to be good if you’re the kind of person that likes a little bit more adventure. This scooter has been pushed pretty hard and while it doesn’t compete with a bike, it sure scratches the vroom itch.
While the Ola S1 Pro’s Hyper Mode is good enough for those quick bursts of speed, I wouldn’t say it’s something you would really require for common commuting. But if you like the sporty, zippy feel Ola has you covered. It might be overkill for the day to day rides.
Here’s where it gets interesting: If you are like me, living in the city and taking your Ather everywhere whilst keeping the whole thing light enough, then the Ather 450X is your ideal scooter. However, if long drives aren’t your thing and you’d rather live for speed, a little bit of the thrill on your rides makes the Ola S1 Pro the winner. Therefore, you can choose whether you definitely wish to embark on what you know would probably be critically constrained by compromise with practicality or if you would really rather challenge yourself and possibly make yourself vulnerable to the worst with just adrenaline.
Nobody likes being stuck with their battery dead halfway to work so let’s talk about range.
The 450X claims to offer a solid 105 km on a single charge. Most folks won’t need a lot more than that to get around town for a couple days. This range does hold up well in my experience and even more so if you’re riding in eco or ride mode. Without worrying about running out of charge, I’ve managed a few long runs across the city.
On paper, the Ola S1 Pro has a whopping 181 km range. Sounds great, right? In reality though, expect to be no closer than 135 – 140 km. Still, it’s impressive. While the Ola’s range probably isn’t a game changer for anyone who just shuttles back and forth to work and stores in the city, if you’re someone who likes to take weekend rides or longer trips, you could potentially go farther without worrying about recharging.
Ola is in front with regards to range. Unless you’re doing hours of long commutes every day or taking the road on weekend trips, the Ather 450X should comfortably get you through a day. I personally haven’t needed ‘more range’ in my day to day riding but we are all different, right?
There will be times when you’re waiting for your scooter to charge, and let’s be real, that takes forever, so I broke it down for you.
Full charge from a standard power socket takes approximately 5 and a half hours using the Ather. Ather’s not the fastest, but if you’re already in a rush, Ather has a fast charging option to help you out. I plunked in for a 30 minute top up and provided me enough juice to make it through most of the day. That’s a nice little bonus to be on the go.
However, the Ola S1 Pro takes a little longer—roughly 6:30. It now also has fast charging, but the caveat is that the Ola fast charging network doesn’t extent as was the case with Ather’s. Ather’s grid gives it the edge for someone like me, who hates to wait.
Ather’s fast charging network makes up for a lot of convenience. However, if you’re mainly charging overnight, both scooters will be full of juice in the morning, so ultimately it’s about how you intend on making use of it.
The fun part for me is when things get tech. I only care about cool gadgets and I saw both scooters had lots of them.
The 7-inch touchscreen on Ather 450 looks clean and minimalist. There’s also no navigation involved, and it’s super easy to navigate. With navigation, music and call alerts, it’s got them all without feeling over the top. I love that simplicity. And through Ather’s app, you can check the battery level, monitor rides and even book service appointments. This is everything you actually need, but without extra fluff.
While Ola is like a playground for tech enthusiasts. Loaded with features such as voice controls and mood-based lighting (yes, mood lights on a scooter!), the scooter’s 7 inch touchscreen gives you a full interface. It even has built in speakers. I have not personally needed the blasting music playing in the background type of a thing on a ride around, but hey, it’s there for those that want it.
With flashier features, Ola wins, but Ather’s system is more straightforward, more in line with what you’ll actually use for the day-to-day. So, are you looking for everything, bells and whistles, or do you just want something that works? That’s the big question.
Alright, time to talk money. This is where the decision gets real for most of us.
While the Ola S1 Pro is priced a bit cheaper, it’s not that much cheaper. Now the fact is that, for what they offer, both scooters are fairly priced. In case you are on a tight budget, that extra ₹10,000 can make the difference and make the Ola the cheaper option.
So, which side of the electric scooter showdown am I on? Both are fantastic options and it really comes down to what’s most important to you. If you like simplicity, comfortable rides, and supporting solid infrastructure, the Ather 450X is the ideal one for you. If you’re looking for speed, range, and some bells and whistles, however, the Ola S1 Pro is hollering out for you.
Now, what about you? In your next electric scooter, what matters the most — speed, range or features? I am asking you to tell me what you think because ultimately, at the end of the day, it is all about the right fit for you.
If you’d like more tweaks, or additional content, let me know.
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