Ola Electric

Image – Prasad / Venus via @bhash
Ola Electric claims to have dispatched all e-scooters to its customers but most of them are yet to receive one
Ola Electric has been in the line of fire ever since the company failed to honour its first batch delivery schedule. After multiple delays, the Bengaluru-based EV manufacturer started dispatching its first batch of electric scooters from December 15 onwards.
However, recently it was reported that only 275 units of S1 and S1 Pro e-scooters have reached their respective customers till December 31, 2021. Later, Ola CEO, Bhavish Aggarwal came out with a response on Twitter saying that scooters have been dispatched to all customers.
Ola Electric Scooters Delivery Delay
The tweet further informed that while some of the units are in transit or awaiting RTO registration process, most of the electric scooters reached the nearest delivery centres. Aggarwal revealed that there was some delay in registrations, as Ola is following an entirely digital process.
The CEO of the ride-hailing app has posted another tweet in which he shares another important update. Ola is now manufacturing almost 1000 electric scooters each day. The Tweet was accompanied by an image of units of e-scooters parked inside the brand’s manufacturing facility called Ola Futurefactory.
Ola Electric Scooter Production Update
Aggarwal went on to reveal that the second window for purchase of Ola electric scooters for remaining customers will be opened soon. Like the first window, the second purchase window has faced several delays. It was initially supposed to go live on 1 November 2021 but was postponed due to an overwhelming demand from the first batch.
Challenges Faced by Ola
Ola Electric has adopted a completely new business model which doesn’t involve any dealerships or any intermediaries between consumers and the company. The firm is trying to maintain a direct chain of communication with buyers without having showrooms across various parts of the country which is new in itself.
Sales are entirely online and the scooters will be delivered to customers at their address. After-sales services will be similar to onsite services currently available for appliances, electronic items, etc. Ola will also have to take care of other processes including shipment and RTO process which is a huge challenge in a country like India with such wide demography and different legislations.
Ola Electric Scooter Boot Space
On August 15 last year, Ola Electric launched its first range of e-scooters- S1 and S1 Pro which are priced at Rs 1.00 lakh and Rs 1.30 lakh (both prices ex-show) respectively. Both variants offer the same 5.5kW electric motor but provide different battery packs. While S1 offers a 2.97kWh battery, S1 Pro offers a larger 3.97 kWh unit. More

Ola Electric Scooter Delivery Rate Slower Than PromisedOla Electric Numbers Continue To Create Doubts – Questions Raised About Bookings, Deliveries, Features And Range
Even though Ola Electric has commenced deliveries of its S1 and S1 Pro electric scooters, the company continues to face criticism on various fronts. Earlier, some customers who got their deliveries had shared the problems they faced.
Now questions are being raised about numbers related to deliveries and registrations. These don’t appear to match claims made by the company earlier. Bringing more transparency in consumer-related matters can help Ola Electric build that much needed trust and confidence.
In a tweet shared by Vinkesh Gulati (President, Federation of Automobile Dealers Association), questions have been raised about actual purchase numbers and total registrations. Actual registration numbers of Ola electric scooter till January 3, 2022 was less than 300. This is creating confusion, as to what is actually happening.
Ola’s update on deliveries
On December 31, Ola Electric CEO Bhavish Aggarwal had stated on Twitter that Ola electric scooters have been dispatched to all customers. While most have reached delivery centres, some are in transit or awaiting RTO registration process. There was some delay in registrations, as Ola is following an entirely digital process. This was something new for all stakeholders involved.
Ola Electric Scooter Delivery Update
It is possible that registration numbers may increase in January 2022. Ola Electric is following an entirely new system of sales, deliveries and after-sales services. The company isn’t operating the standard dealership network.
Instead, sales are entirely online and the scooters will be delivered to customers at their address. After-sales services will be similar to onsite services currently available for appliances, electronic items, etc.
Option to upgrade to S1 Pro
Ola recently announced that all S1 customers will be able to upgrade to S1 Pro. What Ola is essentially doing is that S1 scooters are being delivered with the same hardware as that of S1 Pro. It includes the larger battery pack. However, S1 users will be able to access the additional features and range only after they pay upgrade charges of Rs 30k. This makes the price the same as that of S1 Pro.

As @OlaElectric begins deliveries, it’s big promises are being put to test. The co says 4,000 scooters dispatched, but only 275 have been delivered to date. Customers also question its promise of 181km range vs the real world range of 135km under specific conditions@Parikshitl pic.twitter.com/hLGaPgTHvC
— CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18News) January 3, 2022

Users who choose the upgrade option will be getting the new features and longer range activated via an OTA update. S1 Pro offers premium features such as faster charging, higher top speed, faster acceleration, hill hold assist, cruise control and Hyper mode.
From consumer’s perspective, the upgrade option appears to be a bit flawed. Although they are getting a larger capacity battery pack, they will be able to use only part of it. Riding around with a heavier battery and not able to unlock its full power is likely to adversely impact things like range, acceleration and top speed.
Along with efforts to streamline deliveries, Ola Electric is also working to expand its charging infrastructure. During 2022, around 4k charging stations are expected to go live. Most of these are being set-up at Bharat Petroleum fuel stations and residential complexes. As a bonus, Ola is offering free charging for S1 and S1 Pro users till June 2022. More

Ola Electric Scooters. Image – @bhashOla Electric has announced that its charging network will be free for use for its customers till the end of June 2022
After numerous delays, Ola Electric finally started dispatching its recently launched electric scooters S1 and S1 Pro to customers all across the country. In a peculiar move, the EV manufacturing startup has decided to upgrade all its customers of S1 to the top-spec S1 Pro variant. However, this looks like a free upgrade, but it comes with a catch.
Ola Electric Scooter S1 Buyers – Free Upgrade?
Customers who have booked the base S1 variant of the electric scooter will receive a scooter that will be equipped with all hardware of S1 Pro. This also includes the larger battery pack but the extra features will be kept out of reach from the owners. In order to avail the full potential of hardware and extra features, customers have to shell out an additional Rs 30,000.
This will effectively make it the same monetary outlay as S1 Pro with its initial price at Rs 1.30 lakh which is a premium of Rs 30,000 over the base S1 variant. Premium features such as cruise control, Hyper mode, hill-hold assist in addition to higher range, higher top speed, higher charging rate will be unlocked only after the software upgrade.
It seems that S1 buyers will be delivered a scooter that will be laced with all specs and features of S1 Pro but will be calibrated in such a manner that users will only be able to enjoy the specs and features of S1 only. Therefore, buyers will have the option to upgrade to a higher variant even after initially buying a lower-spec variant.
Ola Electric Scooters delivery update for Dec 2021
S1 and S1 Pro Specs
However, it should also be noted that customers will be provided with a larger and heavier 3.97kWh battery pack but will only be able to use a 2.98kWh capacity. This would reduce the range of battery on a single charge which is currently rated at 121 km for the base variant. Top speed will be limited to 90 kmph but with the heavier battery pack, performance could decrease.
Ola is yet to officially declare the specs of this variant and we are still waiting for official details. Meanwhile, Ola offers a common 5.5kW electric motor to both S1 and S1 Pro which return a peak output of 8.5kW and 58Nm of torque. Both models receive Normal and Sport modes but S1 Pro receives an additional Hyper mode. Further, both models receive the same hardware configurations.
Features on offer
In terms of features, amenities common to both S1 and S1 Pro include touchscreen infotainment, side-stand alert, anti-theft alert, proximity lock/unlock, remote boot lock, call and message alerts, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, onboard navigation, find my scooter, HMI moods with sound, reverse mode and much more.
Ola Electric has started working on the expansion of its charging network. On completion, it will be a dense network comprising more than 100,000 charging points which will be the largest two-wheeler charging network in the country. The charging network will encompass 400 cities across the country. More

Ola Electric Scooter Charging NetworkEasy availability of charging stations will be crucial in nudging people to shift to electric
After commencing delivery of its scooters earlier this month, Ola Electric has started working on expansion of its charging network. When fully completed, it will be a dense network comprising more than 100,000 charging points. It will be the largest of its kind 2-wheeler charging network in the country. There are plans to cover 400 cities across the country.
Ola Electric Scooter Charging Network – 4k points by 2022
The first set of charging stations are expected to become operational in the next 6-8 weeks. By end of next year, Ola Electric has set a target of 4,000 charging stations. In the initial phase, much of these charging stations will be installed at Bharat Petroleum fuel stations and residential complexes.
The choice of location of charging stations seems perfect, as it will play a key role in motivating people to make the switch to electric. As of now, there’s significant resistance to electric two-wheelers. One key reason is range anxiety, as people are not sure about easy availability of charging stations. When people see Ola charging stations at fuel pumps and residential complexes, it will give them more confidence to switch to electric.
In future, Ola charging stations could be made available at other public places, offices and commercial centres. Ola also has plans to setup Hypercharger towers that can accommodate several EVs simultaneously. These are likely to come up at specific business districts and city centres.
Ola Electric Scooter Charging Network
Free charging for 6 months
To make it more attractive for existing users and potential customers, Ola is offering free charging at its charging points till June 2022. This will create significant savings for Ola electric scooter users. It will also motivate Ola scooter users to use the hypercharger network instead of charging their scooter at home.
A key benefit available with using Ola’s hypercharger network is that it has fast charging. On S1, 75 km can be loaded in just around 18 minutes. In comparison, achieving the same with a home charger will take much more time. Ola scooters have a portable home charger that can be easily plugged into any standard 5 Amp socket.
Ola Electric currently offers the S1 and S1 Pro electric scooters. While Ola S1 ARAI range is at 121 km on full charge, S1 Pro has range of 181 km. The latter has a dual-battery setup. S1 Pro has higher top speed of 115 kmph, as compared to 90 kmph of S1. It also has faster acceleration with 0-40 kmph achieved in 3 seconds. S1 takes 3.6 seconds. S1 is offered with ride modes of Normal and Sport whereas S1 Pro has an additional Hyper mode.
Prices start at Rs 99,999 and Rs 1,29,999, respectively. Prices may vary based on the level of subsidy offered by respective state governments. Ola scooters are currently the cheapest in states like Gujarat, Delhi, Rajasthan and Maharastra. Ola is offering attractive finance plans in partnership with banks and NBFCs to make ownership a lot easier for users. More

One owner got delivered damaged Ola Electric ScooterAfter delayed deliveries, Ola electric scooters face new challenges as owners point out to multiple issues
Ambitious plans take a lot of courage and they often have to face numerous challenges along the way. Something similar appears to be happening with Ola Electric that aims to become the largest producer of electric scooters in the country.
While the scooters are well-equipped with several best-in-class features, things are not exactly working out as expected for some users. These owners have now shared their experiences online and are expecting to get a resolution soon.
Ola electric scooter owner reporting problem
Ola electric scooter – post-delivery issues
One user has reported that his Ola S1 Pro started experiencing problems soon after delivery. After riding just around 6 km, the owner noticed problems such as screeching noises and headlight issues. The scooter was subsequently towed away for repairs. When the scooter was delivered back, the owner noticed broken number plate and oil marks on the scooter. On its part, Ola Electric has offered to fix the reported issues.
Furthermore, the owner said the scooter was used for around 19 km while it was with the service team. He was also not happy with the fact that documentation for the repairs was not provided.
Ola electric scooter range issues
In another case, a Visakhapatnam-based Ola S1 Pro owner has reported that his scooter was delivered with cracks and dents all over the body. Although customer care team has assured that repairs will be done, the owner said he purchased a new product and not a refurbished product.
Ola electric scooter free replacement
The owner also pointed out to the gap between the LCD panel. According to him, this fault can potentially damage the panel if exposed to water or rain. In this case, Ola has replied that the owner will be getting a free replacement of a brand new Ola electric scooter in pristine condition.
Ola electric scooter – insurance charges and range issue
An Ola electric scooter owner has pointed out the difference between the amount charged for insurance and the actual premium amount mentioned in policy document. As against Rs 7,471 paid, the policy document shows only Rs 6,695. As of now, Ola scooter buyers have to go with insurance chosen by the company.

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— ???????? ????? (@don4every1) December 24, 2021

Ola scooter users have also reported issues with range. In real world conditions, range is less than certified range of 121 km for Ola S1 and 181 km for S1 Pro. Ola has already issued an advisory for this in an earlier communication.
As compared to the conventional ecosystem of dealerships, Ola Electric is following an entirely online approach. Scooters are delivered and serviced at the user’s address. For repairs and other jobs that cannot be done onsite, it is likely that Ola has partnered with third-party workshops.
Alert citizens reporting fraud being done in the name of Ola Electric scooter dealership
Some have also reported of fraud by unknown parties. There have been cases where fraudsters shared fake links for making payment of Ola electric scooter. Another fraud that is going on in the name of Ola Electric, is fraudsters are asking for advance payment for setting up dealership of Ola Electric.
As this is a new way of managing after-sales services, it is likely to face problems. This is exactly what appears to be happening right now. Hopefully things will improve in future, as problems are identified and resolved. Ola is working with owners to fix issues they are facing. More

Image – Bhavish Aggarwal
Ola Electric has revealed the true range for the S1 Pro e-scooter which stands at 135km on a single charge
The electric scooters from Ola generated a frenzy in the online world and continue to garner interest even four months after their unveiling due to various reasons. While electric vehicles are mobility solutions for the future, hesitancy in their acceptance remains even now. The primary reason behind this is range anxiety among the masses.
People are still concerned about the distance an EV can travel on a single charge. Ola offers a claimed range of 181 kms on S1 Pro e-scooter which sounds impressive on paper. However, expecting this range in a real-world scenario would be unreasonable and the Bengaluru-based EV startup has now come up with an explanation for it.
The company has said that the ARAI-certified range of 181 kms has been attained when tested under a controlled lab environment. However, such a condition would be vastly different when driving in a real-world scenario. Ola has also shared the true range of S1 Pro which stands at 135 kms on a single charge.
Ola Electric Scooter Range In Real World
Automotive enthusiast Anish Deshpande asked Ola about the true range of their electric scooter in real world conditions. To this, Ola Electric scooter support team has replied with specific details.
Conditions under which you can achieve the True Range of 135 kms from Ola electric scooter S1 Pro in real world
The EV maker has laid out a set of conditions for buyers to achieve this range. For starters, the 135 kms range can be achieved when only there is only the rider and no pillion. Weight of the rider has been considered 70 kgs with no other load being carried on the scooter. For city driving conditions, a maximum 3-5 percent incline has been taken into account.
The entire duration of the ride has to be covered in the Normal ride mode with a moderate riding style. Even weather conditions have been pre-defined between 24 and 35-degree celsius. Implementation of all these conditions should provide the said 135 kms range. With deliveries commencing recently, it will be interesting to hear from buyers in this regard.
Ola Electric recently started shipment of the first batch of its e-scooters across the country after several delays. There are two variants of the electric scooter on sale- S1 and S1 Pro, priced at Rs 1.0 lakh and Rs 1.30 lakh (both prices ex-show) respectively. Both variants of the scooter are powered by an 8.5kW electric motor with a continuous output of 5.5 kW.
Battery Specs
That said, S1 Pro features a larger battery pack of 3.97 kWh whereas S1 gets a smaller battery pack of 2.98 kWh. There has been no approval of a true range in S1, however, previous claims of an ARAI-rated range has been pegged at 121 kms. The true range of the base S1 trim will also be exciting to see in the coming future. More

Ola Electric Scooters Delivery Starts TodayOla Electric scooters- S1 and S1 Pro offer are packed with features such as a digital instrument console enabled with an Android-based OS and more
After several delays, Ola Electric has started with the delivery process of its first electric scooters S1 and S1 Pro. The Bengaluru-based EV manufacturer has started dispatching the electric scooters to their respective owners.
First batch owners will get delivery today. The electric scooters are on their way. The development was confirmed by company CEO, Bhavish Agarwal, on his Twitter account.
Ola Electric Scooter Delivery Starts Today
Agarwal also shared a video of units of the production-spec S1 and S1 Pro scooter being prepped up and loaded in the cargo bay of trucks. For the uninitiated, Ola is using a direct-to-customer sales model that involves dealerships or any third-party intermediaries. Therefore, the scooters will reach directly at the owners’ doorsteps.
The video shows electric scooters being dispatched from the Ola Futurefactory. Based out of Tamil Nadu, it is aiming to become the largest two-wheeler manufacturing hub in the world. This factory will be managed by an all-women workforce. Spread across 500 acres of land, this plant aims to employ 10,000 women once production goes full tilt.
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Several Delays
Earlier, Ola had pushed back the deadline for test rides and start of deliveries of its e-scooters from 25 October to 10 November. The EV brand was able to start test rides from 10 November albeit only on an invite-only basis, however, customers still had to wait for their scooters to be delivered. Ola Electric, thus far, has been able to conduct over 30,000 test rides for its customers across the country.
The EV manufacturing arm of the ride-hailing major intends to honour the latest commitment to start deliveries of scooters by 15 December. Also, Ola is scheduled to open the second window for booking of S1 and S1 Pro electric scooters starting on December 16. Initially, the company had decided to open the second batch of bookings from November 1 but was forced to defer it due to an overwhelming demand from the first batch.
S1, S1 Pro- Specs & Prices
Offered at respective prices of Rs 1.0 lakh and Rs 1.30 lakh (both prices are ex-showroom), S1 and S1 Pro are powered by the same 8.5kW electric motor with a continuous output of 5.5 kW. However, both scooters offer different battery packs. S1 features a battery pack with a capacity of 2.8 kWh whereas S1 Pro packs a larger 3.97 kWh battery.
Apart from variations in performance, both variants of the electric scooter offer different ranges with S1 offering a range of 121 km whereas S1 Pro boasts a range of 180 km on a single charge. S1 comes with two ride modes- Normal and Sport while the top-spec S1 Pro gets an additional Hyper mode. More