Ather’s new e-scooter to launch on August 29: Details, what to expect

Ather Energy has confirmed that it will unveil its first mass-market electric scooter during the fourth edition of Ather Community Day in Bengaluru on August 29. The upcoming model is expected to help the company expand its presence in the affordable electric scooter segment and introduce a brand new platform that will underpin future products.The new scooter will be the first to use Ather’s modular EL platform. According to the company, the architecture has been developed to improve scalability, versatility and manufacturing efficiency.Ahead of the official launch, a prototype of the upcoming scooter, believed to be the EL01, has been spotted testing on Indian roads. The test shows that the Ather is moving towards a more practical and family-centric design. Compared to the 450X, the new scooter is expected to have a longer wheelbase, wider seat and larger floorboard.The spy images also indicate that the production version will largely retain the design seen on the near-production concept shown earlier. The scooter is expected to feature handlebar-mounted headlamps with wide LED DRLs on the front apron. It is also likely to ride on a larger 14-inch wheel, while a smaller 12-inch wheel can be used at the rear.The EL platform is engineered to accommodate battery packs ranging from 2 kWh to 5 kWh. The new scooter is also expected to use a swingarm-mounted electric motor. Suspension duties will be handled by telescopic front forks and a single rear shock absorber, while braking is likely to include a front disc brake and rear drum brake.Once launched, the new Ather electric scooter is expected to be positioned below the Rizta in the company’s portfolio. It will take on established rivals like Bajaj Chetak and TVS iQube in the growing mass-market electric scooter segment.