Ola announces plans for electric motorcycle as it surpasses 100,000 scooters built in a year
Indian electric scooter manufacturer Ola Electric announced that the company plans to unveil an electric motorcycle to complement its growing electric scooter production.
Ola is known for its low-cost electric scooters that combine tech-forward design with high performance operation.
The company recently surpassed 100,000 units, despite production only beginning less than a year ago.
The company operates a massive electric vehicle production facility known as the FutureFactory, which is staffed and run by an entirely female workforce.
There, Ola currently pumps out electric scooters, but has its sights set on expanding to larger electric vehicles.
The first new electric vehicle currently in the works at Ola is an electric motorcycle, or perhaps a series of electric motorcycles. According to Autocar India, Ola’s founder and CEO Bhavish Aggarwal plans to eventually unveil electric motorbikes in three categories of mass-mark, mid-segment, and premium superbikes.
Aggarwal was quoted as saying:
I have studied the Rs 80,000 to Rs 10 lakh motorcycle market and such hyper segmentation in EVs is not needed. In bikes, there is a lot more room for bringing a new sphere of technology and we will be announcing this by the end of next year.
That timeline might need to be taken with a grain of salt. In mid-2021, Aggarwal also said that Ola would begin international exports of its electric scooters soon and that US exports would begin in early 2022. Here we are in November, and I don’t see any Ola S1 Pro scooters with US plates.
The company has even longer term plans for its full-size car, which Aggarwal expects to be unveiled in late 2024. Again, you probably shouldn’t use those dates to plan anything critical.
Ola seems to have its hands full as it is, even without a new electric motorcycle or electric car on its plate.
The company recently announced plans for a lower cost S1 Air electric scooter that would take the form factor of the company’s popular S1 and S1 Pro but detune the performance to reach a lower price point.
At INR 139,999 (approximately US $1,690), the Ola S1 Pro is already fairly priced in the market. But the new Ola S1 Air, which just launched in time for Diwali, was unveiled at an even more attractive promotional price of INR 79,999 (approximately US $960).
The Ola S1 Air comes with a smaller 4.5 kW motor and peaks at 85 km/h (53 mph), making it more of a city scooter that can be used for occasional excursions on faster urban roads.
The scooter’s maximum range is 100 km (62 miles), though that is measured in Eco mode. In practice, the real-world range will be somewhat shorter.
At well under a thousand US dollars, a lower-spec electric scooter could help Ola significantly expand its market with a more attractive entry-level price point.
As the company expands in both directions, offering a lower priced entry-level scooter while setting the stage for higher performance and costlier electric motorcycles (and eventually full-sized electric cars), Ola appears to be making progress towards Aggarwal’s goal of becoming a full-fledged electric vehicle maker.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Subscribe to Electrek on YouTube for exclusive videos and subscribe to the podcast.
Environment
Trilogy Metals shares soar nearly 200% in premarket after U.S. takes stake in minerals explorer
On today’s budget-conscious episode of Quick Charge, we’re building up to the reveal of a new, more affordable Tesla Model Y tomorrow that will almost definitely not be a cheap pile of misaligned plastic body parts with inconsistent panel gaps that’s utterly incapable of turning the tide on Tesla’s global decline.
Plus, we’ve got news that Tesla is in hot water with California over its alleged mishandling of its insurance business, revisit the lies told about Cybertrucks drag racing Teslas, and look at the incredible 110% increase in EV sales over at GM that’s driving Cadillac’s renaissance.
Today’s episode is brought to you by Climate XChange, a nonpartisan nonprofit working to help states pass effective, equitable climate policies. The nonprofit just kicked off its 10th annual EV raffle, where participants have multiple opportunities to win their dream model. Visit the site at CarbonRaffle.org/Electrek to learn more.
Source Links
Prefer listening to your podcasts? Audio-only versions of Quick Charge are now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn, and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.
New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded, usually, Monday through Thursday (most weeks, anyway). We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage daily news.
Got news? Let us know!
Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.
If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Waev Inc. has just unveiled the GEM eX, a new electric utility vehicle designed to bridge the gap between street-legal low-speed vehicles (LSVs) and true off-road work machines. The company calls it the most versatile electric work UTV yet.
Unlike most golf cart–based UTVs or high-speed recreational rigs, the GEM eX is purpose-built for commercial, industrial, and government fleets that need to move between city streets, job sites, and rough terrain, all while staying emissions-free.
The vehicle features a top speed of 25 mph (40 km/h) and is said to be DOT street-legal as an LSV on roads up to 35 mph (56 km/h), giving it a clear advantage over most off-road-only competitors.
Power is provided by a 6.5 kW motor in a rear-wheel drive setup with a limited-slip rear differential. An 8 kWh battery provides enough juice for a claimed maximum range of 85 miles (137 km).
The eX comes with several fleet-focused safety and utility upgrades, including 3-point seat belts, roof crush protection, backup camera, mirrors, pedestrian noise emitter, and a robust bumper system. It rolls on street, winter, or all-terrain tires, and the chassis features 9.5 inches (24 cm) of ground clearance, 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) of suspension travel, and a 50-degree approach angle for climbing curbs or crossing uneven work terrain.
Hill-hold assist and single-pedal descent control make it easy to handle on slopes, while a limited-slip differential helps maintain traction without chewing up turf.
In the back, a 1,250 lb (567 kg) composite dump box can fit a full-sized pallet and comes with gas-assist or electric lift options, while towing capacity matches that at 1,250 lb (567 kg). Optional hard doors, roll-down windows, and HVAC with heat and A/C turn it into a true all-weather workhorse.
The lithium iron phosphate battery pack is said to provide a long lifespan for extra durability in extreme climates from –20°F to 140°F (–29°C to 60°C). Charging is flexible via 120V, 240V, or J1772 public stations, and Waev backs the battery with a 7-year warranty – on par with many passenger EVs.
“We field-tested the GEM eX everywhere from Arizona deserts to Minnesota winters,” said Sven Etzelsberger, Waev’s Director of Engineering. “Every piece of customer feedback went back into this vehicle. The result is a work UTV that’s refined, reliable, and ready to go.”
The GEM platform has expanded significantly over the years, from its humble beginnings as a simple people mover to more recent adaptations into everything from ambulances and emergency vehicles to the new GEM eX electric UTV.
Priced at $24,955, the higher purchase price may be one of the few downsides to the quieter, cleaner, and easier to maintain alternative to traditional gasoline-powered UTVs.
Electrek’s Take
Waev’s new GEM eX seems to hit a sweet spot that’s been missing – a street-legal, electric work UTV tough enough for real jobs yet affordable and easy to maintain. For fleet managers juggling both paved and off-road environments, this could be a serious game-changer.
While the price is high, it comes in at significantly less than other well-known models like Polaris’ Zero-powered electric RANGER UTV.
At the same time, there are still more affordable options like those from KANDI that offer more power for a lower price. However, without GEM’s storied brand legacy and increased national support, cheaper options may not have the staying power to compete.
So sure, it’s expensive, but at least I’m glad to see more options coming to the market, especially from brands that have been around for years. Here’s to hoping for more affordable options in the future.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports2 years agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports3 years agoButton battles heat exhaustion in NASCAR debut
-
Sports3 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment1 year agoHere are the best electric bikes you can buy at every price level in October 2024