More stories

  • in

    Ola Electric Scooter Prices To Increase – New User Experiences With MoveOS 2.0

    In just a few months of starting deliveries, Ola Electric has entered the top 5 list of electric two-wheeler manufacturersOla Electric Scooter S1 PROWith plans to become the largest EV manufacturer in the country, Ola Electric has stepped up the gas in terms of boosting production, deliveries and new bookings. The company is now producing close to 1,000 scooters per day. By end of March, Ola is expected to rank No: 1 in terms of monthly sale volumes.Ola Electric Scooter Price Hike and MoveOS 2.0Ola electric scooter prices will be increased from tomorrow. Today is the last day when buyers can get the S1 PRO scooter for Rs 1.3 lakh. This was revealed by their CEO on social media. It is not clear as to what the new price is. But going by industry standards, expect a hike in the range of 3-5%.Aiming to enhance overall ride experience for users, Ola Electric will soon launch MoveOS 2.0. This will be available to users via an OTA update. MoveOS 2.0 will start rolling out to users from April end. Some of the new features include turn-by-turn navigation, location sharing with the scooter and locating a charging station nearby.Other updates will include a companion app, new Bluetooth-based functions and cruise control. The update will also cater to bug fixes and performance improvements. Hopefully, a number of issues reported by users will be resolved with this update.Ola Electric Scooter Price Increase SoonIn its current form, Ola electric scooters offer a range of advanced features. It includes digital key, ride modes, an interactive 7-inch touchscreen for instrument display and connectivity, reverse mode and regenerative braking. The scooter also has special software systems that actively monitor things like performance, range, temperature, etc. Users are notified whenever necessary.In terms of safety, Ola electric scooters have features such as geo fencing, time fence, side stand alert, tamper alert, speed limit and mode restriction. Users can remotely connect to their scooter via app and access a range of features. They can pair their smartphones to make calls, send messages and share location.Ola indigenous battery manufacturingMost manufacturers including Ola Electric currently rely on imported Li-ion battery cells for their EVs. This increases production cost and creates dependencies on overseas suppliers. As seen during Covid and even today, such dependencies create production delays.Ola Electric Scooter MoveOS 2.0To avoid such issues, Ola Electric is working to develop and manufacture its own Li-ion battery cells. This initiative is part of government’s production linked incentive scheme. Funds worth $2.4 billion have been allocated for this purpose.Ola Electric is among the bidders in PLI scheme. It will be targeting to create up to 50 gigawatt of storage capacity. Several other companies have applied to create battery storage capacity of around 130 gigawatts.  Other bidders for local battery manufacturing include Hyundai Global, Reliance Industries and Rajesh Exports.To make it work, Ola Electric has on-boarded Dr. Prabhakar Patil as a board member. Patil had earlier headed LG Chem Power and has progressive experience in developing batteries. LG Chem Power has been associated with some of the leading names in global EV space.Patil’s expertise will be crucial in helping Ola Electric to develop its own battery manufacturing hub in the country. Indigenously produced Li-ion battery cells will be used to power Ola’s upcoming two-wheelers as well as electric cars.  More

  • in

    Ola Electric Scooter Gerua Colour Holi Edition Launched – Bookings Open 17th Mar

    Ola Electric sales ensures everyone’s taking a note as a purchase window opens up for March 2022Ola Electric Scooter New Colour LaunchOla Electric has big plans. For starters, the manufacturer is intent on sweeping the electric mobility space with more sales than the segment has imagined. Its projections are far more than current segment performance, and the company is already growing rapidly towards that goal.In February 2022, Ola Electric scooter sales surpassed most names that have been in the electric two wheeler space for much longer. These include Ather Energy, Bajay, Revolt, and TVS. In March 2022, they aim to double their deliveries to 15k units.Being a tech rich company, the auto manufacturer relies on plenty of that to accelerate its journey to the top. That, and a little help from good old marketing. And that opportunity presents itself at holi this year. With Ola scooter bookings being at the top of its game, the company is opening bookings this month.OLa S1 Pro Holi Edition – New ColourPurchase window for Ola S1 Pro on Holi is open for Reservers to get priority access on March 17th. This means customers with reservations are eligible for the exclusive early access window. Purchase opens for all other consumers on March 18th. So, it’s now, or until next time.In between deliveries, the @olaelectric marketing team figured out our Holi plan after all!Launching the S1 Pro in a beautiful new colour – ????? ?!!Purchase window opens for reservers on 17th and for EVERYONE ELSE on 18th only on the Ola app! Holi hai!?? pic.twitter.com/TfbEB8SQD3— Bhavish Aggarwal (@bhash) March 14, 2022In addition, Ola has announced the launch of a new colour for their scooter, called Gerua. This new colour is limited edition, and is only available for booking on 17th and 18th March. After that you will not be able to buy this colour, says Ola. If you get past the colour limitation, you need to understand their purchase is limited to the pricier S1 Pro, and not the Pro.Ola relies on an end to end digital payment process through the Ola app. Dispatch of these Ola S1 Pro new orders will start April 2022 onwards. This will have people take note keeping in mind slight delays that were noticed in previous delivery schedules. This was attributed to chip shortage related. As always, its delivery to the doorstep. Ola scooter productionWith S1 Pro, Ola plans to deliver to far-reaching corners of the country. There’s nothing to stop Ola Electric because the company isn’t limiting its ability to do business in an area with dependency on a brick and mortar dealership. Manufacturing at Ola Futurefactory is being ramped up to meet growing demand of the Ola S1 Pro scooterAs the electric two wheeler continues to demonstrate growth over a year long period, the segment is fast becoming an interesting space to watch. In making it more exciting, the number of new companies in this space is by itself an encouraging phenomenon. Add to this, Ola Electric’s big dreams, and we could be watching a big change in the future of electric mobility unfolding right before our eyes.  More

  • in

    Ola Electric Scooter Likely To Become No 1 In March – Aims 15k Deliveries

    Ola Electric appears to have overcome its teething troubles that were marked by things like delay in deliveries, product issues, etcHaving invested Rs 2,400 crore in building the largest EV manufacturing facility in the country, Ola Electric had set big targets in terms of production volumes and sales. The response has been phenomenal, with Ola claiming bookings worth around Rs 1,100 crore in just two days. This was last year in September, when the company had opened bookings for the first time.Ola Electric ScooterHowever, things were not going as smoothly as desired when it came to deliveries. Likely due to shortage of components, Ola Electric had to reschedule delivery timelines for its S1 and S1 Pro electric scooters. Customers were naturally not happy, as they had high expectations from the company. Moreover, several customers had reported issues with their Ola scooters.Production streamlinedSince the start of 2022, Ola Electric has worked to boost production and expedite deliveries. In January, Ola Electric CEO Bhavish Aggarwal had said that production has been increased to almost 1,000 scooters per day. Evidence to that can be seen in February electric two-wheeler numbers, where Ola has posted sales of 3,905 units.With that, Ola has entered the top five list of best selling electric two-wheelers in the country. It is placed at 4th place, ahead of Ather Energy, TVS Motor and Bajaj Auto. MoM growth is 254%, as compared to 1102 units sold in January 2022.Ola Electric Scooter Deliveries – Target March 2022Providing more details about February sales, Bhavish has stated that Ola has actually delivered around 7,000 units in the month. He said that the mismatch in Vahan data is likely due to their direct-to-consumer (D2C) business model. The company does a lot of temp registrations, which are currently not counted on Vahan. This may change in future, as systems are updated to accommodate sales through the D2C model.15k deliveries expected in MarchAccording to Bhavish, Ola electric scooter deliveries are expected to touch 15k this month. If that turns out to be true, Ola Electric will emerge as the No 1 electric two-wheeler company in India in terms of sales. It will be a significant achievement, especially considering the fact that only around five months have passed since bookings opened.Companies that are currently ahead of Ola are Hero Electric, Okinawa and Ampere. Hero Electric leads the pack, commanding market share of around 30%. In February, Hero Electric had registered sales of 7,357 units. The company has partnered with Mahindra to boost production of its electric scooters.Electric two-wheelers are expected to witness increased demand in coming months. One key reason is fuel prices, which are likely to increase substantially. Crude oil prices have touched 14-year high and may rise further. Petrol prices may increase by as much as Rs 15 in coming days. This may prompt many users to switch to electric. More

  • in

    Ola Electric Scooter In Remote Locations – First In Kashmir, Barak Valley

    Ola Electric Scooter Delivered In KashmirAfter initial teething troubles, Ola appears to have ramped up deliveries of its electric scooters across the countryJust a few months back, several Ola Electric customers were found to be complaining about delayed deliveries and other issues. Things appear to be getting better now, as the company has increased production to around 1k units per day. Deliveries and after sales services are also being streamlined.Ola reaches Kashmir, Barak ValleyIn a significant milestone for Ola Electric, the first scooter has been delivered in Kashmir. This comes at a time when the region is witnessing heavy snowfall. Kashmir already has challenging terrain and things become even more difficult during winters. Several of the routes are cut-off during periods of heavy snowfall. First Ola electric scooter owner in Kashmir, Bilal Bhat, has shared their experience on Twitter.In another post, Ola electric scooter owner Ekbal has thanked the company for the delivery in Assam. According to the owner, his scooter was the 4th Ola scooter in Assam and the 1st in Barak valley. Located close to the Bangladesh border, Barak valley is among the remotest parts of India.Images reveal that delivery of Ola electric scooters in remote locations is being made by third-party logistics service providers. This is because Ola has ditched the traditional dealership model for sales and service. Instead, the sales and registration process has been made completely online. And the scooters are being delivered directly to buyers at their address.Ola Electric Scooter Deliveries Continue Across Several Remote LocationsThis radical approach to remove the middleman appears to be working fine as of now. It eliminates quite a few complexities related to managing hundreds of dealerships like other manufacturers currently have in the auto industry. Speaking about sales, as per retail data released by FADA, Ola delivered over 1,100 electric scooters in Jan 2022.Ola Electric scooter first unit in KashmirFor maintenance and repairs, a technician can be called for a home visit. In case of repairs that may take time, the scooter is carried to the workshop in an Ola service van. From the customer’s perspective, everything gets done online or via phone calls.Ola electric carEven as Ola has still a long way to go in the electric two-wheeler segment, it appears that the company has already started making plans for an electric car. After CEO Bhavish Aggarwal shared an image of a new car, it is being speculated that the company could unveil its electric car soon. However, Ola has not made a formal statement on such possibilities.If Ola can launch an electric car by the end of this year or in 2023, it will get an early mover advantage. As of now, bulk of electric car sales comprise Tata Nexon EV and MG ZS EV. Not much details are available, but it is likely that Ola’s electric car will rival Nexon EV. It could be offered in the same price band of Rs 14-17 lakh. Or Ola could spring up a surprise by offering an electric car at more affordable rates. More

  • in

    Ola Electric Scooter Service At Home, Pickup – Quite Straightforward

    Ola Electric Scooter ServiceOla Electric is following an entirely new approach for its after-sales services, which seems more convenient for customersOla Electric has quite a few firsts associated with its name. It includes the construction of largest scooter manufacturing facility in the country. Moreover, Ola electric scooters S1 and S1 Pro offer a range of best-in-class features.Another differentiating factor is that Ola does not follow the conventional dealership model. Everything from bookings to payment and documentation is managed entirely online. Once everything is in place, the scooter is delivered directly to the address provided by the customer. After-sales services are also provided at customer’s doorstep.This experience is quite unique for most users, who have been accustomed to getting their vehicles to the service centre for repairs and maintenance. To get a better idea of how Ola’s home service works, a video has been posted on the same.Ola Electric Scooter Service At HomeWhen any customer faces any issue with their Ola electric scooter, the first step is to call Ola Electric’s helpline number. Based on the type and urgency of the complaint, appropriate action will be taken by customer support staff. In most cases, a technician will first visit the location and carry out an initial assessment.Ola Service VanIf there is something that can be repaired on the spot, it will be done by the technician. For other issues, the scooter will need to be towed to the service centre. For this, Ola Electric has deployed specialized service vans. These vans are equipped with basic tools and charging port. They have dedicated space to load the scooter and fasten it firmly using ratchet straps.In most cases, the company will try to deliver the repaired scooter on the same day. However, it could take longer if some major repairs are required. Also, it is not necessary that the service van will be available on the same day. For repairs that are not urgent in nature, customers may have to wait a few days for the service van.Large service areaTo be cost-efficient, Ola Electric service vans cover a large area. They are willing to travel long distances whenever needed. Evidence to this was shared by another user a few weeks back. He had said that Ola service van came from Coimbatore to Ooty and rectified the problem. The distance between these two locations is around 86km. The owner was satisfied with the services provided.[embedded content][embedded content]Home-based repair and maintenance services can work in case of electric scooters, as these have relatively fewer moving parts. There’s no complex combustion engine, carburettors, filters and oil changes that can be quite messy to handle. Recently launched Tork Motors have also announced home service for their electric motorcycle Kratos.However, it remains to be seen if Ola Electric’s new approach to sales and service will turn out to be more efficient and cost-effective in practical terms. Real test will come when Ola Electric’s customer base reaches substantial numbers like 100k, million, and beyond. More

  • in

    Ola Electric Design, Engineering Center To Be Setup In The UK

    Ola Electric Scooters At FutureFactoryOla Futurefoundry will be based out of Coventry in United Kingdom which is home to many facilities including those of Jaguar and Aston MartinOla plans to make giant leaps in the field of future electric mobility in coming years and hence adding necessary infrastructure to its armoury. Ola Electric, the EV manufacturing arm of the ride-hailing major, has now laid the foundation of another important facility for the brand.The firm has now announced that it will be setting up its global centre for advanced engineering and vehicle design christened ‘Ola Futurefoundry’. This centre will be based in Coventry, United Kingdom, which is considered a global hub for the best automotive design and engineering talent in the world.Ola Futurefoundry – Hub for future EVs under OlaOla Futurefoundry will work in sync with the design and engineering teams based at Ola Campus in Bengaluru. The facility will house global talent across multiple disciplines of two-wheeler and four-wheeler vehicle designs, digital and physical modelling, advanced high-performance automotive engineering and much more.The centre will also be home to talents that will focus on vehicle R&D around new energy systems including cell technologies. It will also team up with world-class education and research institutions in the UK to collaborate on technology research and development.Is this the upcoming Ola Electric Car?Ola has revealed that it will invest over US$100 million (around INR 750 crore) over the next 5 years into the state-of-art centre. Over 200 designers and automotive engineers will be working in this facility.Speaking on this occasion, Bhavish Aggarwal, founder and CEO, Ola, said that the Ola Futurefoundry will enable the company to tap into fantastic automotive designs and engineering talent in the UK to create the next generation of electric vehicles. Working in close collaboration with Ola headquarters in Bangalore, India, Futurefoundry will help Ola build the future of mobility with an aim to make EVs affordable across the world.Development of electric carsAggarwal recently kicked up a storm on social media when he shared an image of a car, therefore, hinting at the possibility of Ola Electric venturing into the space of producing electric cars. The tweet makes more sense now with the announcement of a new convention centre which will cater to development of both battery-powered two-wheelers and three-wheelers.Wayne Burgess, vice president – Vehicle Design, Ola Electric said, “Ola Futurefoundry is an important step in building a multi-disciplinary team that is agile, flexible and responsive to the various needs of our consumers around the world.” He further added that Futurefoundry will supplement and collaborate with the core team in Bengaluru to deliver exciting new EVs across two-wheeler, four-wheeler and other segments.Ola Electric has already built a state-of-art facility in Tamil Nadu’s Krishnagiri district, which is considered to be the largest two-wheeler manufacturing plant in the world. Named Futurefactory, the Bengaluru-based EV startup has committed an investment of Rs 2,400 crore towards this project. More

  • in

    Ola Electric Car Launch Plan – CEO Shares Teaser (Tata Nexon Rival)?

    Is this the upcoming Ola Electric Car?The prospective electric car from Ola is likely to be available in two derivatives- one for private buyers and the other for the fleet segment
    After the successful launch of Ola electric scooter, the company is getting ready to launch an electric car. Rumors of an Ola electric car launch have been doing the rounds for quite some time. But now, Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal has shared a photo of what could be the new Ola Electric Car.
    It is believed that the ride-hailing firm is looking to gain an early mover’s advantage in the current nascent EV space in India. There are no official statements from Ola yet.
    Ola Electric Car Future Ready
    The new electric car from the Bengaluru-based startup is likely to be built on a born-electric skateboard platform. The car is expected to be wearing a futuristic look and will primarily be designed as an urban commuter with a limited range, though it is likely to be priced quite competitively.
    The Indian mobility sharing firm plans to develop its electric car indigenously and is currently planning to set up a Global Design Centre in Bengaluru for its electric car division. This facility will boast all the requisite facilities including a CMF (colour, materials and finish) lab as well as a clay modelling centre.
    Ola Electric Car Teaser?
    It is not the first time that Ola has had eyes on this space. Before entering into the manufacturing segment, it has been associated with a number of EV brands in the past. The company had also planned to induct a limited number of units of the Jayem Neo which was essentially a battery-powered Tata Nano.
    The car was developed by Coimbatore-based Jayem Automotives, however, the plans failed to see the end of the light after Nano electric being outcasted. Ola has reportedly hired a few design experts for its electric car project who previously worked with Tata Motors.
    Ola’s Hypercharger Network
    Currently, the biggest challenge for all EV manufacturers in India is the lack of charging infrastructure across the country. Ola will be looking to provide a comprehensive solution with a wide charging network spread across the country along with home charging equipment to address this issue. The ride-hailing major is currently setting up a Hypercharger network across India.
    Ola Electric Car To Rival Tata Nexon?
    Under this initiative, Ola Electric will be installing over 1 lakh charging stations across 400 cities in India. Although Ola has publicly revealed that these facilities will be used for charging its electric two-wheelers, it is yet to be seen if these infrastructures could double as a car charging network.
    Manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu
    Ola has already marched towards its aim of providing fully-owned mobility solutions in the EV space by venturing into two-wheeler manufacturing. The company has built a state-of-art manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu which is slated to be the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturing site.
    It has an overall annual production capacity of two million / 20 lakhs. Total investment worth Rs 2,400 crore has been earmarked for the construction of this facility. It is likely that the Ola electric car will also be produced at the same factory as the scooter. Once launched, it could rival Tata Nexon, upcoming MG and Maruti electric cars. More

  • in

    Ola Stops Production Of S1 Electric Scooter – Customers Notified

    Ola Electric Only Making S1 Pro – S1 Production DelayedCustomers who have booked S1 have received communication that S1 variant will be manufactured only in late 2022
    Even as Ola Electric has commenced deliveries since December last year, not all customers seem to be happy. In the latest development, S1 buyers have been informed that S1 manufacturing has been shifted to late 2022. In its communication, Ola Electric has said that it will be prioritizing production of S1 Pro, as the vast majority of customers have opted for the top-spec variant.
    Options for S1 buyers
    With priority being given to S1 Pro, people who have booked base-spec S1 can choose the upgrade option. This can be done when the final payment window opens on Ola app on January 21 at 6 PM.
    Dispatches will continue throughout January and February. Customers may have to wait 10-20 days post-dispatch to get home delivery of their scooter. It will depend on customer’s location and RTO requirements in a particular city.
    For S1 customers who do not wish to upgrade, they have the option to wait till production resumes for that variant. It means waiting time of around 9-11 months. Customers will be notified as soon as production resumes for S1. They can then make the final payment. The third option for S1 buyers is that they can cancel the booking. This can be done on Ola app or by contacting their customer support team.
    Ola S1 Electric Scooter Discontinued Temporarily – Customers Notified
    S1 customer reactions
    Many S1 customers have shared their feedback on social channels. They are apparently miffed and are calling it a biased approach by the company. Things would have been different if production was delayed for all variants. But when priority is being given to a particular variant over other, it is naturally being opposed by buyers.
    Some customers are also saying that they are essentially being forced to upgrade to S1 Pro. This may not be possible for everyone, as it requires an additional payment of around Rs 30k.
    It remains to be seen how Ola Electric responds to such complaints. Many times in the past, businesses had to change their decisions based on consumer feedback.
    Ola S1 buyer reacts to the update
    S1 vs. S1 Pro
    While S1 can suffice for everyday needs, S1 Pro buyers get several additional benefits. For example, while S1 has ride modes of Normal and Sport, S1 Pro gets an additional Hyper ride mode. In Hyper mode, top speed of the scooter is 115 kmph. This may not be fully utilized in city conditions, but it can still come handy during overtaking. S1 top speed is 90 kmph.
    S1 Pro has faster acceleration as well, with 0-40 kmph achieved in 3 seconds. In comparison, S1 takes 3.6 seconds. Most useful benefit of S1 Pro is that it offers a higher range of 181 km. In comparison, S1 has range of 121 km. It is to note that true range can vary based on various factors. Higher range means more freedom to explore and fewer pit stops for charging, be it at home or outside. More