Ola Electric

Ola testing ADAS tech for its scooter lineup might come off as overkill for a city scooter, but will be useful to deal with chock-a-block trafficOla Electric Scooter ADAS TestingThere seems to be a theme that most 2W EV manufacturers are following. This theme is a culmination of two different things. One is a distinctive design and the other is a bucket load of features with respect to regular ICE 2W vehicles we are familiar with. This theme is immediately evident too as almost all manufacturers are following it.Ola follows it too. It has a distinct retro-futuristic design that screams EV. In terms of features, helpful or gimmicks, Ola has a plethora of them that regular ICE scooters just miss out on. Now, there is a new feature under testing which is an absolute novelty in 2W vehicles. It is ADAS and is teased by CEO Bhavish Aggarwal on Twitter. Let’s take a look.Ola Electric Scooter ADAS TestingOla Scooter ADAS Tech Testing Starts – Launch Expected SoonCurrently, there are just a handful of 2W vehicles with ADAS tech onboard. These are the creme-de-la-creme of motorcycles commanding more than just a kidney. In scooters, this is unheard of. Even in big buck touring scooters, manufacturers haven’t bothered with offering ADAS and enthusiastic CEO of Ola Electric, Bhavish Aggarwal has teased it on Twitter.Yes, we’re talking about the same ADAS tech which is currently the hottest thing in the 4W vehicle realm. Most recent vehicle to launch with ADAS in India is Hyundai Verna, Tata Safari and Harrier and Honda City facelift. We’re not yet sure what Ola is trying to accomplish in terms of functionalities with its ADAS tech, but it is coming, nonetheless.Will share more in a tech demo soon! pic.twitter.com/8GVirNMOAP— Bhavish Aggarwal (@bhash) March 18, 2023In a video posted by Aggarwal, we can see an Ola test mule trundling around in Bengaluru city traffic. Only, this is equipped with a camera at its front and a digital display, replacing its left ORVM housed inside a weather-proof case. On the screen, we can read OpenADAS, which might be the name of this project internally.The system is found tracking objects in real-time and also monitoring test mule’s speed in relation to traffic. Even though ADAS might come off as overkill for a city scooter, Bengaluru’s chock-a-block traffic might suggest otherwise. We can see it being a useful safety net to glide through traffic with minimal rider inputs.Ola is highly likely to be using camera-based ADAS tech, something similar to Honda’s Sensing suite found in the City sedan. To enable ADAS to have adaptive cruise control, Ola needs to have an actuator for brakes as well for emergency braking. Or engineering a stronger regen, bringing the scooter to a complete halt might come off as less complicated as well. It is not yet sure whether existing customers can retrofit this on their scooters, but we have to wait for Ola’s tech demo.Ola front forks upgrade post recallFront Single-Sided Forks ReplacedOn the onslaught of front suspension break-downs, Ola has issued a voluntary recall. Replacements of said single-sided front forks are currently underway. It was earlier speculated that Ola would replace it with a double-sided fork, found on Ola S1 Air, but this doesn’t seem to be the case. They are getting replaced by updated single-sided forks. More

Ola Electric offers a range of accessories that includes scooter cover, chargers and apparelOla Electric Scooter Centre StandBased on market feedback, Ola Electric had recently introduced new accessories such as buddy step and centre stand. As Ola does not have any dealerships, users need to order these online from the company’s website. Ola has now started shipping these accessories.While the centre stand costs Rs 999, the buddy step is priced at Rs 1,999. The buddy step seems expensive, as a similar side step offered by Honda for Activa costs Rs 915. Hero MotoCorp’s side step is even cheaper at Rs 885. Ola scooter cover and t-shirts are priced at Rs 999.Ola Electric Scooter Buddy StepOla buddy step and centre stand – Official AccessoriesInstallation of buddy step and centre stand has been done in a seamless manner. The buddy step or side step is made from cast aluminium. It has high tensile strength and should be able to resist things like corrosion. Both the buddy step and centre stand are offered in black colour.The centre stand is made from tubular steel and is designed to have a long service life. A centre stand is better suited for Indian conditions, where finding parking spaces is often a challenge. A scooter parked on the centre stand takes less parking space in comparison to a side stand.Ola Electric Scooter Centre Stand and Buddy StepOla’s centre stand also takes care of issues reported with the side stand. In some cases, users had reported breakage of side stand after a few months of use. The side stand may be good enough to support the weight of the scooter. But it may not be designed to take additional weight such as someone sitting on the scooter with the side stand engaged. The centre stand is expected to fare better, as it is made from tubular steel.While the factory-fitted side stand comes with a sensor, the centre stand does not have any such feature. With the side stand engaged, users get a message on the dash that the stand is open. The scooter will not move unless the side stand is retracted. Such a feature is not required with the centre stand, as the scooter will already be in an unmovable position with the centre stand engaged.Ola beset with problemsBased on market feedback, Ola has been working to introduce the necessary updates to its scooters. A few days back, Ola had announced a voluntary recall of the front suspension system of S1 electric scooter. Multiple users had reported breakage of front suspension system. As per the voluntary recall, Ola will be fitting a new front fork on all affected scooters. This upgrade will be provided free of cost.Ola Electric Scooter Centre StandOla’s voluntary recall process for replacement of the front fork will commence from March 22. Users will be contacted individually and informed about how to proceed with the recall process. Users can also contact their nearest Ola Experience Centre or service centre for details.Source More

Ola Electric Recalls Ola S1 Scooter Front Suspension System – Commitment to Customer Safety
Ola Electric Scooter Suspension Recall
Ola Electric has today announced a voluntary recall of its Ola S1 electric scooter front suspension system. This recall announcement was much awaited, and often suggested by customers. It comes after a number of incidents where the front suspension broke.
Upgrading Your Ola S1’s Front Suspension System: What You Need to Know
The company has assured its customers that all components of the front fork arm have been thoroughly tested under extreme conditions and engineered for safety. The front fork design has been updated in the 2023 Ola scooters, further enhancing durability and strength.
Ola Electric Scooter Suspension Recall
For customers who have concerns over their scooter’s front suspension system, Ola Electric is offering a free upgrade. Customers can book an appointment for the voluntary recall procedure at an Ola Experience Centre or Service Centre starting March 22. Ola Electric will soon outline the booking appointment process.
If you’re curious about the Ola S1’s front suspension system, here’s what you need to know. The front suspension system is responsible for absorbing bumps and jolts while riding. It’s made up of several components, including the front fork, shock absorbers, and other scooter parts. Front fork is a crucial component that connects the front wheel to the scooter’s body and helps support the rider’s weight. If it breaks when being ridden, it poses serious danger.
Is Your Ola S1 Scooter Affected by the Voluntary Recall?
As per Ola Electric, the front suspension system of the Ola S1 electric scooter has been designed to provide optimal performance and reliability. The scooter’s front fork suspension has been engineered to work with the scooter’s weight and to handle typical loads. The front fork suspension system has been tested at much higher loads than what is typically expected during normal use.
However, there’s no denying that multiple Ola S1 electric scooter owners have been posting photos of their broken scooters. Different situations and reasons. Same outcome. If you’re looking to upgrade the front suspension system of your Ola S1, you can get in touch with the company for more information.
Ola Electric’s Transparent Communication with Customers.
Seeing Ola Electric’s monthly sales, there’s no doubt that their scooters are selling like hotcakes. Providing riders with a smooth and comfortable ride as is evident from numerous customer testaments. With the free upgrade/voluntary recall option available, Ola Electric is demonstrating its commitment to ensuring the safety and satisfaction of its customers. More

Case Study on OLA Electric Scooter (Pro Midnight blue, 3.975KWH) and Consumer Protection and Redressal MechanismsOla Electric ScooterThe Consumer Protection Act, 2019 was introduced to safeguard consumers against unfair trade practices, defective products, and deficient services. Let’s analyze a case study that involves the purchase of an OLA Electric Scooter (Pro Midnight blue, 3.975KWH) and the complaint filed against OLA Electric Technologies Pvt. Ltd. The case highlights the importance of consumer rights, redressal mechanisms, and responsibilities of businesses towards their customers.Consumer Protection Act, 2019 provides legal remedies to consumers who have been affected by unfair trade practices, defective products, and deficient services. In this case, the complainant purchased an OLA Electric Scooter from OLA Electric Technologies Pvt. Ltd. and faced charging problems from the date of delivery.The complainant approached the servicing centre, but they did not respond properly. Forty days before filing the complaint, the servicing centre took the vehicle for repair and did not rectify the defect. The complainant filed a complaint seeking refund for scooter costs of INR 1,93,000 and INR 3,00,000 towards damages, pain, suffering, and mental agony.Complaint and Response; Legal ProceedingsComplaint filed under Section 35 of Consumer Protection Act 2019, seeking redressal for the problems faced with the OLA Electric Scooter. The opposite party, General Manager, OLA Electric Technologies Pvt. Ltd., did not appear before the District Consumer Redressal Commission at Khammam, despite being served notice. The complainant stated that they suffered a lot of pain and mental agony due to the attitude and conduct of the opposite party.According to the job record, the complainant’s vehicle was held in the service station for over five months. The complainant submitted a memo stating that despite the prolonged period of time, the issues with the vehicle such as charging, starting, and Bluetooth and sensor functionality were not resolved, and the vehicle was only returned to the complainant on 11-12-2022.The District Consumer Redressal Commission at Khammam analyzed the case and passed an order. The Commission directed the opposite party to either provide a genuine and appropriate replacement for the faulty vehicle, or issue a refund of the sum of Rs.1,63,549. And to pay Rs. 10,000 for deficient services, damages, and mental agony, and another Rs. 10,000 for litigation costs to the complainant.Analysis of the CaseThe case highlights the importance of consumer rights and the responsibilities of businesses towards their customers. The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 provides a legal framework for consumers to seek redressal for unfair trade practices, defective products, and deficient services. In this case, the complainant had a legitimate grievance against the opposite party, and the Commission passed an order in favour of the complainant.The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 empowers consumers to seek legal remedies against unfair trade practices, defective products, and deficient services. The case study involving the purchase of an OLA Electric Scooter and the complaint filed against OLA Electric Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (General Manager) highlights the importance of consumer rights and responsibilities of businesses towards their customers.Businesses must ensure that products and services meet the expected quality standards. And they must address customer grievances promptly. In conclusion, the case emphasises the need for businesses to be accountable and responsible towards customers. And the legal system provides consumers with the necessary tools to seek redressal for their grievances. Consumers are now well-informed and have the necessary legal framework to seek redressal for grievances. More

Prices for Ola S1 Range batteries go till Rs. 66,549 for a 3 kWh pack and Rs. 87,298 for a 4 kWh packOla Electric Scooter Battery CostIndia has opened up to the EV revolution like never before. This is reflected in sales figures as they post meteoric rise month-on-month. Leading this growth in 2W EV segment is Ola Electric. The company recently announced varied battery options for its S1 range of scooters. Along with that, we also got a glimpse of Ola’s 5 future motorcycles too.Ola’s batteries range from 2 kWh (S1 Air & S1), 3 kWh (S1 Air & S1) and 4 kWh (S1 Air & S1 Pro) in capacity. One must have wondered how much one battery from Ola costs. Prices have been recently revealed by a Twitter user Mannu Bhardwaj. Prices for a 3 kWh battery pack for Ola S1 and S1 Air is Rs. 66,549 and a 4 kWh battery pack for S1 Air and S1 Pro is Rs. 87,298.Ola S1 Range Batteries PricesConsidering the price of these scooters respectively, battery alone costs more than half of the entire vehicle. It is staggering to learn how much EV batteries cost. For example, Nexon EV battery pack and electric motor costs Rs 11 lakh. One has to be aware of battery costs while buying EVs.Ola’s banana-shaped batteries are manufactured in-house and are indigenously designed as well. Even though Ola Electric is one of the leading mass-manufacturers of batteries in India, prices are relatively higher. Unlike China, India is still in its infant stages where battery production is concerned.Ola Electric Scooter Battery Cost – 2.98 kW at Rs 66kManufacturing efficiency of China associated with a large scale of production is a crucial factor too. Not to mention the world’s largest reserves of Lithium are in China. Indian battery prices can’t compete with Chinese component prices. Plus we have to pay customs duties. Due to a combination of factors, cost of batteries is relatively higher in India and batteries play a vital role in EV prices.Ola Electric Scooter Battery Cost – 6 kW at Rs 87kOn top of this, Ola’s batteries are part of a high-voltage EV architecture as opposed to abundant slow-speed electric scooters. Ola’s motors are capable of peaking at 4.5 kW (S1 Air) to 8.5 kW (S1 & S1 Pro). Battery development costs and battery optimisation costs add to the overall price too. Ola has engineered its scooter lineup to extract as much as 181 km (claimed) from a single charge.Ola To Setup Lithium Cell Giga FactoriesOla CEO announced today – “Ola will setup the worlds largest EV hub with integrated 2W, Car and Lithium cell Gigafactories in Tamil Nadu”. They have sighed MoU with Tamil Nadu government. These new factories will help bring battery cost down in the future.Ola Electric Announces Lithium cell GigafactoriesOne might argue for Rs. 87,298, they can buy an entire 125cc ICE scooter (ex-sh) and still have Rs. 10,000 left for fuel costs to cover 5,000 km. It is hard to argue with despite the ecological concerns. That said, early adopters are the ones burdened with EV prices so manufacturers reach the mass-production stage. It is what it is.Source More

Earlier, Ola S1 Air only got a sole 2.5 kWh battery and now it offers a choice between 2 kWh, 3 kWh and 4 kWh as wellUpcoming Ola Electric Motorcycles TeasedOla Electric as an EV maker, has come a long way since its very inception. Their enthusiastic CEO Bhavish Aggarwal has lead his prized possession to what it is today – Ola Electric is the highest-selling 2W EV maker in India with sales crossing 18,000 mark in January 2023.Not only is the company offering new variants for the S1 range of electric scooters, we now have first teasers of the upcoming Ola electric motorcycle. This might be uncharted waters for Ola, but seeing their success in the electric scooter segment, one expects a similar performance going forward.Ola Teases 5 Electric MotorcyclesLet’s get the juicy bits out of the way first and then cover sensible bits. For starters, there is not one, but five different electric motorcycles that Ola has teased today. Sure, these are still in the design phase. It is likely that in the prototyping stage, they will be slightly toned down.Ola has tried to diversify its interests by widening the horizon where motorcycle body styles are concerned. At the center of it all, we have an electric ADV with Adventure insignia on it. It is visibly the largest of the bunch too. This is likely to go head-to-head with the upcoming electric Himalayan. It features knuckle guards, a futuristic design approach and a lot more.[embedded content][embedded content]We have a new cafe racer with a futuristic appeal too. This is unlike anything we have seen before in India or even the world (production motorcycles). It has a chunky face with sleek LED elements. Handlebars come out of it looking like horns of a raging bull. It gets an illuminated rear wheel, indicating it might feature a hub motor. Or it might just be a design element too.There is a street bike beside the ADV and is likely to be the least expensive offering among the five. Other two motorcycles look like they’re both flat trackers. In reality, one of them is likely to be a Scrambler, while the other one is definitely a flat tracker.S1 Electric Scooter LineupOla S1 range has been paramount for the brand in its success. Last year, we saw the addition of S1 Air, an inexpensive variant of the S1 and S1 Pro. It came with a 2.5 kWh battery pack, and has been taken offline and a 2 kWh priced Rs. 84,999, 3 kWh priced at Rs. 99,999 and a 4 kWh starting from Rs. 1,09,999 options are launched. People who booked 2.5 kWh option, will get a free upgrade to 3 kWh.2023 Ola S1 Electric Scooter LineupA 4.5 kW motor is standard with S1 Air lineup with a top speed of 85 km/h. Range varies from 85 km with a 2 kWh option, 125 km with a 3 kWh option and 165 km with a 4 kWh option. S1 Pro is kept as is with 4 kWh battery and 8.5 kWh motor with 116 km/h top speed and 181 km range. However, S1 range is now extended with a 2 kWh battery option.This is priced at Rs. 99,999 and gets an 8.5 kW motor with a 90 km/h top speed and 91 km of range. While S1 with a 3 kWh battery pack is retained as is with a 95 km/h top speed and 141 km of range. Priced at Rs. 1,09,999. Note: All prices are ex-sh, Bengaluru. Deliveries will commence in July 2023. More

Even though Ola has been registering strong growth, it continues to be plagued by both software and hardware issuesOla Electric Scooter Front Fork breaks while ridingIn a recent incident involving Ola S1 Pro, the rider suffered serious injuries when the front fork suspension broke off. The owner claimed that the mechanical failure occurred when the scooter’s speed was just 35 kmph. However, as per Ola’s preliminary investigation, it is claimed that the incident actually involved a high-impact road accident.It is to note that several other users have reported similar cases of front forks breaking off. However, as earlier cases did not involve any major mishaps, they were not widely covered. Not many people were aware of this issue.Latest incident of Ola electric scooterOla’s official statementThe recent case was different, as the rider had suffered life threatening injuries and was admitted to ICU. In its official statement, Ola has stated that they have provided all the necessary support to the family of the rider involved in the accident. Ola has also informed that the rider is safe and is recovering.Talking about the incident, Ola says that vehicle safety and quality standards are their highest priority. Top-spec Ola S1 Pro electric scooter has the highest quality standards in all aspects. Moreover, it has been tested across challenging terrains and all-weather conditions. The scooter has been rigorously tested for more than 5 million km.Ola Electric official statementOla’s view about the front fork breakage issue is that such cases are rare and involve high impact accidents. Ola has more than 1.5 lakh scooters on the roads and only a few had the front fork issue. Ola says that the front fork arm has been tested with loads that are 80% more than the loads usually encountered by such scooters.However, as a precautionary measure and to assure community members, Ola has offered to get the scooters checked via their service network. Ola has also urged users to follow road safety protocols and wear a helmet.Possibility of manufacturing defects?As other users have also reported similar cases, it is possible that a specific batch of front forks may have manufacturing defects. Some people are also pointing fingers at the fact that Ola S1 and S1 Pro have only a single fork setup. However, Ola has already clarified that the front fork has been adequately tested.Change Org has highlighted the Ola scooter issue after the recent incident.A more detailed investigation needs to be done, as breaking of front suspension is not a common phenomenon. If we consider popular scooters like Honda Activa, there’s hardly any reported case of front fork breaking off. Even in accident cases, the front forks don’t just break off. This is true even when the scooter may be badly mangled.We pray for the speedy recovery of the rider and hope that such incidents do not occur again. Ola Electric needs to get to the bottom of these incidents and take appropriate measures to ensure that their scooters are completely safe. More

It won’t be until 2026 that we will see a mass-market electric car from the Indian EV startup, Ola ElectricOla Electric ScooterAfter launching Move OS 3 for its customers, Ola Electric is bracing for the future. The company recently launched a new electric scooter named S1 Air at a low Rs. 80,000 price point (introductory). This way, Ola is set to bring EVs to an even larger segment of buyers.Despite setbacks like suspension failure, software errors, etc Ola has moved ahead in the game. It is currently the highest-selling electric 2W brand in India with over 16,000 units sold in its name last month. Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal revealed in a blog post that in just a year, 2W EVs penetration increased to 6%, from 1%.1.5 Lakh Scooters in 2022Ola Electric has revealed that they sold almost 1,50,000 electric scooters in 2022. This number is set to increase in 2023. In the same blog post, Ola’s future roadmap was revealed to great extent which includes vehicles in both 2W and 4W realm and in both mass market and premium segments. Let’s take a look.Aggarwal never dropped an opportunity to signify “The end of ICE era” and the same was reflected in this blog post. Mission Electric by Ola is set to replace all 2W with e-2W by 2025 and all 4W by e-4W by 2030. Even though this is not entirely feasible with developing markets like India, there is hope.Ola Electric Future Launch PlanUnder ACC PLI scheme, Ola has been allocated to manufacture batteries with a capacity of up to 20 GWh capacity by Indian Government. This will be the first stepping stone for Ola in making EVs accessible to masses. With indigenously designed and developed batteries and heavy localisation, battery prices will reduce, reducing the overall cost of an EV.Future RoadmapIn the blog post, 6 future Ola products were demonstrated falling under different segments and different price points. To kick things off, Ola is set to offer a mass-market electric scooter in 2023. This will be targeted at ICE scooters with up to 110cc of displacement which are generally priced at around Rs. 70,000 price point.2024 will mark Ola’s foray into electric motorcycles. The company is set to launch one premium motorcycle that is likely to cater to enthusiasts and then a mass-market electric motorcycle that might cater to premium commuter buyers. In 2025, Ola will launch a premium electric car, which has been teased multiple times and then a premium electric SUV.Lastly, the year 2026 will mark Ola’s entry into the mass-market electric cars segment which will be a lot more widespread than it currently is. Right now, Tata Motors dominates the electric car segment in India. It is to be seen how Ola’s roadmap will translate into a feasible reality in the coming future. More