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    Ola S1 Vs Bajaj Chetak Vs Ather Electric Scooter – Hill Climb Test

    While Ola S1 Pro got the best 0-40 kmph kick down acceleration, it failed to reach top of the hill even in Sport modeElectric Scooter Hill Climb TestThere has been a raging ongoing debate about performance of electric scooters which are key to future mobility solutions. Many electric scooters have faced scrutiny regarding their battery management system which often fail to respond in tough conditions.While it is very true that EVs are very quick off the block, many e-scooters fail to keep up the performance in challenging terrains. The latest video from Asardar Reviews on YouTube is a clear example of battery-powered scooters not being able to perform up to the mark in certain cases.Electric Scooter Hill Climb TestIn this particular video, the vlogger has cited three well-known examples in the form of Ather 450, Bajaj Chetak and Ola S1 Pro. Here, all three electric scooters are tested separately on hilly terrain and their performance is scrutinised. The vlogger reveals that this test has been conducted specifically for people living around hilly areas who are planning on buying an electric scooter.All electric scooters seen here have been tested with a pillion sitting behind the rider, at least initially, giving a real-world simulation. The test starts with Bajaj Chetak since it’s the oldest of all three models seen in this video. The vlogger slots Chetak in Eco mode initially. It started off well with some promising performance and managed to make some sharp turns relatively easily.[embedded content][embedded content]After a couple of tricky hairpins, Chetak automatically switched to Sport mode when it realised that the scooter might need more power while climbing up. Here the scooter has clocked a top speed of around 45 kmph on its upwards journey with fair ease. Next up is Ather 450 which has been a revolutionary model in the electric mobility space.Ather Performs BestLike Chetak, Ather 450 gets multiple ride modes, however, unlike the former, ride modes on this one have to be manually toggled. In this case, as well, the vlogger started out in Eco mode and after a couple of hairpins it was realised that it loses momentum, especially with 2 people sitting on it. When slotted in Warp mode, Ather 450 is able to reach the top of the hill fairly easily while attaining an impressive top speed of 60 kmph.Ola S1 Pro DisappointsOla S1 Pro was kept last since, it is the latest offering in the two-wheeler EV space and claims the best performance, at least on paper. When started in Eco mode, S1 Pro offers the quickest 0-40 kmph acceleration. However, when it comes across its first hairpin, speed of the scooter drastically reduces until it comes to a complete halt. The scooter refuses to respond to throttle twists.It remained the same, even after the pillion disembarked. The Ola e-scooter started climbing uphill once switched to Sport mode, however, it once again came to a sudden stop when the AI in the scooter notified that the battery has heated and needs to be cooled. Vlogger had to push the scooter before reaching the top. More

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    Ather Electric Scooter Sales March 2022 – Grows YoY And MoM

    Ather Energy reports sales growth for March 2022, and the quarter just concluded – Q1 2022Image – Ather EnergyWhile large sections of the auto industry have been grappling with sales decline, the electric two-wheeler industry appears to have fared better in recent months. The overall size of the industry has consistently improved manifold. Sales have risen from a few hundred units to a few thousand units for a leading number of electric vehicle manufacturers.While there are only a handful of affordable electric cars to choose from, the e2W industry is fast becoming a platform of choices. This is furthered largely by the electric scooter industry of which there are now many offerings. The electric motorcycle industry too is gaining momentum, but offerings are currently limited.With new age manufacturers riding high on funding, incubation of manufacturing is a much faster process today for e-scooters. In recent years, the number of players in the arena have continued to grow, and this trend is being further bolstered. Investments are key, and changes are taking place each day.Ather Electric Scooter Sales March 2022Ather Energy has gained where sales are concerned and continues to build a brand name that’s recognisable. In March 2022, sales were reported at 2591. Ather says this is a growth of over 120% YoY. Sales in March 2021 are likely to be about 1,177 units. Volume gain stood at about 1,414 units. MoM sales too improved. Up from 2,042 units. Sales growth stood at 26.89 percent at volume gain of 549 units.Ather Electric Scooter Sales March 2022. * are approximate numbers, based on % gain mentioned by Ather.With a great showing through the first 3 months of 2022, volume gain already stands at over 4.8k units. For the quarter just concluded, January sales were the highest at 2,825 units. Q1 2022 cumulative sales is reported at 7,458 units. For the corresponding quarter in 2021, sales were reported at 2,633 units. At volume gain of 4,825 units, growth has more than doubled.Highest ever monthly pre-ordersGrowth is key for Ather Energy. To realise this end, the manufacturer is keen on expansion in terms of production, as well as, company outreach. To achieve this, Ather plans quick dealership expansion to reach many more markets in the country. Only recently, retail outlets have been inaugurated in Guwahati, Vijayawada, Tirupati and Bangalore (third outlet in Bangalore).With this, Ather is now present in 28 cities with 34 Experience Centres. Bangalore is the second city after Delhi to get its third Experience Centre. As they meet growing demand, Ather announced the roll out of its 25000th 450X last month.Recently, Ravneet S. Phokela, Chief Business Officer, Ather Energy said, “At Ather Energy, we continue to witness strong consumer demand for our 450 series. We delivered 2591 scooters in March and have received the highest ever monthly pre-orders. While we were only able to deliver a fraction of the pre-orders due to components shortage, we continue to work actively to strengthen our supply chain and reduce the waiting period. Towards this, amongst other actions, we entered into a strategic partnership with Foxconn to fast track the scale up of our manufacturing ecosystem and meet the rising demand.” More

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    Ather 450X Electric Scooter Production Crosses 25k In 25 Months

    Ather 450X electric scooter production has surpassed the 25k units milestoneAther 450x Electric Scooter – 25,000th unit rolloutAther Energy finds itself celebrating yet another milestone. It’s been a little over 2 years (about 25 months) since the first Ather 450X rolled out. That was January 2020. Fast forward 2 years, and on March 4, 2022, the manufacturer rolled out its 25,000th unit.Reaching this number already may not have been what people expected considering sales was limited to a few hundred units a month. That number is fast changing and things are looking up for E2W manufacturers. Total industry size has ballooned, and 2022 is already looking better than ever before.YoY Ather sales growthAther saw YoY sales more than double. The market has been receptive to electric scooters in recent months, and expectations point to this number growing even further. The space continues to be interesting as the number of companies selling E2Ws, especially electric scooters, has grown by the month.The industry is being filled by companies that haven’t traditionally been present in the industry, and point to new age businesses that are drafting the future of electric mobility. With a large number of E2W companies setting shop as startups, a lot of what the future holds depends on funding these companies can attract.Ather 450X number ?25,000? just marked it’s attendance! From the 1st one on 28th January, 2020 to the 25,000th one on 4th March, 2022 — what an electrifying journey it has been! ?? pic.twitter.com/oJatLsaOUc— Ather Energy (@atherenergy) March 9, 2022On that front, Ather has fared well. With focus on growth and product development, Ather Energy has had several rounds of funding. With the electric two wheeler industry teething, it’s only a matter of time when volumes become manifold. The industry is taking baby steps in an industry of unknown territory.Of the companies that reported sales to the industry body, total electric two wheeler sales last month surpassed the 32k mark. This in itself may not look phenomenal but represents manifold growth. A year earlier, the E2W segment saw total sales closer to the 6k mark.Ather network expansionThe company is keen on increasing its presence and this will be possible when the company begins business in many more cities than it does today. As per plan, in the next 3 years, there will be 600 retail outlets.Being able to cater to that many touchpoints will only be possible when manufacturing increases. To ensure an ecosystem that supports its growth plans, Ather Energy is increasing its scooter production per annum.  With an increasing number of electric 2W manufacturers, the future fosters a truly competitive environment. Only recently, Ola electric has entered the space, and where sales is concerned, the company aims for runaway success.  More

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    Ather Electric Scooter Parts Production – Partners With Foxconn’s Bharat FIH

    Ather Electric ScooterAther Energy announces partnership with Bharat FIH (A Foxconn Technology Group Company)Ather Energy reports strong response for 450X and 450 Plus electric scooters. In a year’s time, MoM sales improved by 20 percent. The manufacturer expects this trend to continue in the months to come.To meet growing demand, Ather has partnered with Bharat FIH for parts manufacturing. The alliance caters to developing and manufacturing key components for Ather scooters. Enhancing the manufacturing ecosystem will help meet demand for Ather 450X and the 450 Plus.Ather Energy has made strategic investments to foster an EV ecosystem. This boosts mass adoption of EVs and helps cater to rising demand. In February 2022, Ather sales crossed the 2k mark, a decline from sales in January 2022.    Ather Electric Scooter Production expansionIn growing its business, Ather Energy has created a strong local supplier base. 99 percent of products are indigenously built and sourced for manufacturing. When it comes to supplying and manufacturing components for Ather scooters, the manufacturer is focused on finding the right vendor to ensure quality.Ather Electric Scooter Production PlantIn order to address growing demand over time, Ather Energy is scaling up production from 120,000 to 400,000 units per annum at its Hosur facility. More land has been acquired to do the same. In the next three years, Ather aims to increase annual production capacity to a million scooters.During this time, 5,000 fast chargers are to be setup. Other areas of focus are new product development, and network expansion to 600 stores. At present, Ather operates out of 30 experience centres (retail outlets) in India.  Raw material procurementBharat FIH offers a range of manufacturing services. This includes Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Assemblies for Battery Management Systems, Dashboard Assembly, Peripheral Controlling Units, and Drive Control Modules. To be manufactured on a ‘Turn-Key” model, supply chain logistics and raw material procurement for Ather Energy will also be managed. Production of parts for Ather scooters at the Bharat FIH facility have begun.Tarun Mehta, Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer, Ather Energy said “The EV industry continues to witness growth at an unprecedented rate with strong demand across segments. Ather Energy also finds itself in the midst of phenomenal growth as we continue to expand our retail footprint across the country. We are working towards strengthening our supply chain to cater to the rising demand for our scooters.Towards this, we are delighted to partner with Bharat FIH to provide us with the capacity, supply chain capability, and process expertise to achieve our volumes and projections. Bharat FIH has demonstrated incredible capability over the last few months by ramping up very quickly to meet our requirements. This partnership also reflects the opportunities that large auto component manufacturers today recognise in the EV industry.” More

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    Ather Electric Scooter Sales Feb 2022 – Grows YoY, Declines MoM

    Ather Electric ScooterAther Energy currently has the capacity to manufacture 5,000 electric scooters a month in addition to building its own lithium-ion battery packElectric two-wheelers, especially scooters have seen tremendous growth in the last few months, thanks to the push being given to electric mobility by the Government of India. Ather Energy has come out as one of the primary contributors in the electric mobility space in our country for the past couple of years.The Bengaluru-based EV startup is currently the third-largest manufacturer in the electric two-wheeler space in India after Hero Electric and Okinawa. The company currently retails two electric scooters under its folds including 450 Plus and 450X. Ather in recent times has accelerated its network expansion across the country.Ather Electric Scooter Sales Feb 2022Where petrol scooter sales are on a decline, Ather has recorded a YoY growth of 140 percent in comparison to February 2021. The EV manufacturer has clocked a cumulative sales volume of 2,042 scooters in February 2022. Ather sold about 850 electric scooters in Feb 2021 – translating in a YoY growth of more than 140%. In Jan 2022, Ather had sold 2,825 scooters – translating into a decline of 27% MoM.The low numbers despite growing demand are a result of the global semiconductor chip shortage reeling the automotive industry for more than a year. The ongoing crisis has led to the disruption in the supply chain management which is why the company is unable to keep pace with the rising demand. Ather claims only a fraction of the pre-pending orders were cleared in February.Ather Electric Scooter Sales Feb 2022. Feb 2021 number is an estimate, basis of 140% growth.Setting Up New Charging GridsThe company is hopeful of improvement of the market situation in the next 2-3 months where supplier partners are able to reduce the demand-supply gap. On the other hand, Ather signed an MoU with Govt. of Karnataka to install 1000 charging grids across the state to help make EVs go mainstream. This development was confirmed by the CEO of Ather Energy, Tarun Mehta, on his official Twitter account.Ather has also laid out its growth plan for the next few years. Over the next three years, the EV manufacturer plans to increase its annual production capacity to one million scooters from 400,000 by the end of 2022, install 5,000 fast chargers across India, develop new products and increase its network to 600 stores.Other developmentsAther currently has 29 retail stores spread across 24 cities. More than 300 fast-charging Ather Grid Points are available across these cities. The EV firm has plans to expand its footprint to 100 cities across the country by March 2023. Around 150 experience centres will be set up.On a slightly different topic, Ather Energy was recently announced as the principal sponsor of Gujarat Titans for a period of two years. The Ahmedabad-based franchise is one of two new additions to the Indian Premier League (IPL). More

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    Ather Electric Scooter Sales Jan 2022 – 2,825 Units Sold, 366 Percent Growth

    Ather Electric Scooters Jan 2022 SalesAther sales could have been higher, but production was impacted due to supply chain challengesIn terms of sale volumes, Ather Energy is currently ranked third in the list of electric two-wheeler manufacturers. While Ather is ahead of Ampere, TVS, Revolt, and Bajaj, it trails behind Hero Electric and Okinawa. This could change in future, as the company has accelerated its network expansion across the country.Ather Electric Scooter Sales Jan 2022Ather sold a total of 2,825 units in January 2022. This is YoY growth of 366%, as compared to sales numbers in January 2021. According to Ravneet S. Phokela, CBO at Ather Energy, the company has been witnessing increased demand for its scooters. However, shortage of auto components such as semiconductor chips continues to pose challenges. As and when the supply chain situation improves, Ather should be able to boost production to meet demand.As of now, the company has a strong order book. In January, new experience centres were opened in Nagpur, Lucknow, Chennai and Trivandrum. Several more cities are expected to be covered in coming months. Ather is also expanding its network of fast charging stations known as Ather Grid Points. These are crucial in terms of ensuring greater acceptability for electric two-wheelers.Ather currently has 29 retail stores spread across 24 cities. More than 300 fast-charging Ather Grid Points are available across these cities. By March 2023, Ather has plans to expand its footprint to 100 cities. Around 150 experience centres will be set up.Ather plans Feb 2022Ather second factoryAs demand for its scooters is expected to increase significantly in the future, Ather is working proactively to boost production. A prominent move is the setting up of a new manufacturing facility in Hosur. This will be in addition to the first facility in the same city. When the second plant is fully functional, production capacity will increase from the current 1.20 lakh units to 4 lakh units per annum.In addition to scooters, the new facility will also focus on battery manufacturing. It is to note that Ather has around 90% localization for its 450X and 450 Plus scooters. It includes the lithium-ion battery pack.The company currently has 13 patents related to design and manufacturing of its battery packs. Manufacturing battery packs in-house not only reduces cost, but also allows more freedom in terms of developing the powertrain and other components.Ather and Hero MotoCorpAther is among the well-funded EV startups in the country. Regular inflow of funds has helped the company to focus on R&D and come up with world-class products. Ather recently received Rs 420 crore from Hero MotoCorp that has been one of the first investors in the startup.It will be interesting to see how this partnership shapes up in the future. There could be a possibility that Ather could merge entirely with Hero MotoCorp all while retaining its unique brand identity. Even before this investment, Hero MotoCorp had 34.8 percent shareholding in Ather Energy. A significant percentage of fresh funds are likely to be utilized for expanding retail and fast-charging networks. More

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    Ather Electric Scooter Makers Get Rs 420 Cr From Hero MotoCorp

    Ather Electric ScooterHero MotoCorp has revealed that Sustainability and Emerging Mobility is priority area for the company
    Hero MotoCorp is leaving no stone unturned in creating a wider presence for itself in the electric vehicle (EV) segment in India. The world’s largest two-wheeler producer is looking for broader stakes in the electric mobility space of the country. In line with its vision of “Be the Future of Mobility”, the company has announced fresh investments in Ather Energy.
    The board of Hero MotoCorp has approved a new investment of up to Rs. 420 crore in the Bengaluru-based EV startup in one or more tranches. Prior to the proposed investment, Hero MotoCorp’s shareholding in Ather Energy stood 34.8 percent. Ather Energy are the makers of one of the best selling electric scooter in India.
    Hero MotoCorp Investments in Ather Energy
    Post this fresh investment, shareholding will increase and exact shareholding will be determined upon completion of the capital raise round by Ather. This is the fifth time Hero MotoCorp is investing in Ather. Hero MotoCorp first invested in Ather back in 2016 when it became a strategic partner.
    Earlier in July 2020, Hero MotoCorp invested Rs 84 crore to raise its stake in the EV startup. The company has also invested $12 million (Rs 89 crore) as a part of the Series D round in Ather Energy.
    Ather Energy is backed by Hero MotoCorp
    Hero was one of the early investors in Ather Energy and has continued to expand its association over the years. The company is also exploring collaborations with Ather in various other spheres such as technology, charging infrastructure and sourcing.
    Upcoming E-scooter from Hero MotoCorp
    Although Hero hasn’t officially set into the EV space by itself, it has formed strategic alliances with external EV manufacturers like Ather Energy and Gogoro. The company is gearing up to unveil its first electric vehicle in March this year. The vehicle is being developed at its R&D set-up – the Center of Innovation and Technology (CIT) in Jaipur and the Tech Center Germany (TGG) near Munich in Germany.
    The upcoming electric scooter from Hero MotoCorp will be produced at the company’s manufacturing facility at Chittoor in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Hero MotoCorp is currently engaged in a legal battle with Hero Electric over the use of its brand name ‘Hero’ for electric two-wheelers.
    In October 2021, Hero MotoCorp became the first company to adopt Ather Energy’s fast-charging technology for its own upcoming electric scooter slated to be launched in a few months. Coming to Ather Energy, the startup was established in 2013 and it is in the business of designing, manufacturing, producing, selling, servicing, software development, and software management, in relation to electric automobiles and charging infrastructure. More

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    Ather Electric Scooter Prices Jan 2022 – Increased By Rs 5.5k

    Ather Electric Scooter 450xAther electric scooters have become costlier by around Rs 5,500; prices may vary based on state subsidy
    Ather Energy was among the first EV startups to commence operations in the country. Ather currently has two products on offer, 450X and 450 Plus. Both scooters share the same platform, but differ in terms of range, acceleration, and available features. 450X is the top-spec variant, offering a comprehensive range of advanced features.
    Ather 450X and 450 Plus new price January 2022
    Instead of directly increasing prices of its scooters, the company has decided to charge Rs 5,475 for Ather Dot charger. Earlier, the charger was offered at a discounted price of just Re 1.
    Starting price of Ather 450X and 450 Plus will vary based on the amount of subsidy provided by respective state government. Ex-showroom price (excluding subsidies) of Ather 450X and 450 Plus is around Rs 1.70 lakh across most states. Ather 450X comes with additional features that costs Rs 19,010 extra.
    FAME II subsidy provided by central government is fixed at Rs 43,500 across India. State subsidies vary and are updated every quarter based on available budget. State subsidy is directly transferred to the customer and can be obtained by submitting relevant documents. It is to note that not all states offer subsidies for EVs.
    Ather Electric Scooters
    As of now, Maharashtra is among the states offering sizable subsidy for electric two-wheelers. In case of Ather 450X and 450 Plus, the applicable subsidy in cities like Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur and Nashik is Rs 24,500. In these cities, effective price of 450 Plus and 450X is Rs 1,09,311 and Rs 1,28,321, respectively.
    Another state offering attractive subsidies on EVs is Gujarat. In cities like Ahmedabad and Surat, state subsidy for Ather 450 Plus and 450X is Rs 20,000. Effective price is Rs 1,13,496 and Rs 1,32,506, respectively.
    In Delhi, state subsidy available for Ather scooters is Rs 14,500. Effective price is Rs 1,18,996 and Rs 1,38,006, respectively. Some states like Karnataka currently do not offer any subsidy for electric two-wheelers. For customers in Bengaluru, effective price of Ather 450 Plus and 450X is Rs 1,31,647 and Rs 1,50,657, respectively.
    Other states like Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Goa, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh also do not have subsidy for electric two-wheelers. Prices of Ather 450 Plus and 450X in these states are close to that of Bengaluru.
    No updates
    There are no updates for Ather electric scooters with this latest round of price hike. Both scooters are equipped with a 2.9 kWh lithium-ion, IP67 battery pack. However, usable capacity is 2.6 kWh with 450X and 2.23 kWh with 450 Plus. While continuous power output is 3.3 kW for both scooters, peak power output is 6 kW for 450X and 5.4 kW for 450 Plus. Torque is 26 Nm and 22 Nm, respectively.
    Both Ather scooters have top speed of 80 kmph. In terms of acceleration, 450X is faster. It achieves 0-40 kmph in 3.3 seconds whereas 450 Plus takes 3.9 seconds. 450X is better in terms of gradeability, as it can handle 20° inclines, as compared to 18° of 450 Plus.
    Another benefit is that 450X gets Warp ride mode. This is in addition to Eco, Ride and Sport modes available with both scooters. Ather 450X offers higher range of 116 km, as compared to 100 km of 450 Plus. In Eco mode, true range works out at 85 km for 450X and 70 km for 450 Plus. More