The commuter two-wheeler segment in India accounts for a major share of the Indian automotive market. As the electric two-wheeler segment has taken off, OEMs have now made a move to cash in on the segment. Ola’s S1 Air, Ampere EV’s Primus electric scooter, and TVS iCube’s lower variants all aim to provide eco-friendly and cost-effective personal transport solutions to the average Indian commuter. in this article, We delve into a detailed comparison of the price, specifications and features of these three electric scooters to determine which one offers better value for money.
Ampere Primus vs Ola S1 Air vs TVS iQube: Price and availability
All three scooters fall just below the premium end of the electric two-wheeler market. The 2023 Ampere Primus electric scooter has been priced at Rs 1.10 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai, after FAME II subsidy). This pricing puts the Ampere scooter at par with the top-end variant of the Ola S1 Air electric scooter, which costs Rs 1.09 lakh (ex-showroom, after FAME II subsidy). On the other hand, the base variant of TVS iQube costs Rs 1.18 lakh in India (ex-showroom Mumbai after FAME II subsidy).
Ampere Primus vs Ola S1 Air vs TVS iQube
design
The commuter segment in India has never been a segment for style icons and most offerings in this segment choose function over form. This is true with the Ampere Primus as well as the TVS iCube. The Ampere Primus looks like a modern scooter but lacks the unique styling. The LED lights, chrome elements and matte paint option make it look like a two-wheeler under Rs 1 lakh.
The TVS iQube, in contrast, looks boxy and practical, while the OLA S1 Air’s design is inspired by the S1 Pro. The Air looks sleek and futuristic with Android-like headlights, poppy paint scheme and minimalistic body paneling. The S1 Air manages to be practical as well with its large under-seat storage, functional grab rails and flat floorboard.
Specifications and Features
All three electric scooters get the time-tested metal chassis with fixed battery pack, alloy wheels, combi-braking system, telescopic front suspension and coil spring rear suspension. In this comparison, the TVS iQube is the only electric scooter to feature a disc brake setup at the front. The Ola S1 Air and Ampere Primus feature drum brake setup. That being said, all the scooters use the more cost-effective drum brake setup at the rear.
In terms of features, the TVS iQUBE, Ola S1 Air, and Ampere Primus all get now-segment standard LED lighting at both the front and rear. However, among TVS and Ola’s EVs, the Ampere Primus stands out when it comes to feel-good features like color displays for instrumentation. Both the iQube and S1 Air offer expanded feature sets and more useful connected vehicle technology. The Ampere settles for a monochromatic LCD display. Ola S1 Air also has some additional features like music playback.
range and charging
Being a commuter focused segment, none of the three scooters focus on offering long distances. That said, each of the three scooters offers enough real-world range that should be more than enough for most users running in and around the urban jungle. The certified range of Ola S1 Air is 165 km. This figure is much higher than Ampere Primus and TVS iQube, which offer 107km and 100km of certified range.
Daily users will be largely dependent on home charging solutions as all three electric scooters offer a home charging kit that supports a standard 15A socket. Ola S1 Air has the biggest battery pack, and hence, takes the longest to charge. Ola will take around 6 hours 30 minutes to get fully charged. Ampere Primus and TVS iQube can be fully charged in 5 hours and 4 hours 30 minutes respectively.
Battery and Performance
In terms of powertrain, the Ola S1 Air is once again on top. The S1 Air has the largest battery pack at 4kWh and also has a 4.5kW hub motor capable of taking the electric scooter to a top speed of 85 kmph. The TVS iQube gets a 3kW motor with 33Nm of peak torque and a 3.04kWh battery pack that helps the scooter go from 0 to 40 kmph in 4.2 seconds. The top speed of iQube is 78 kmph. The Ampere Primus boasts similar performance figures to the iQube with its 3.4kW motor and 3kWh battery pack combo.
Ampere Primus vs Ola S1 Air vs TVS iQube: Verdict
The Ampere Primus is the company’s first attempt to make an indigenous product. While this is a step in the right direction, the value proposition of electric scooters remains unsatisfactory, at least on paper.
The Ola S1 Air follows in the footsteps of the Ola S1 and packages it in a more value-conscious form. This means that the scooter still manages to be funky and trendy and is packed with feel-good features that might attract buyers. However, Ola Electric has struggled with quality issues and after-sales service. Also, the company is yet to deliver a single Ola S1 Air since its launch last year!
The TVS iQube proves to be the best value among the many EVs, despite being more expensive. While the TVS iQube lacks the quirky appeal of the Ola and gets simple features in the form of its looks, the EV is decently equipped. The scooter also gets the basics right from an established automaker, and no real fault can be found in its long-term reliability. The fact that the TVS iQube is actually for sale and that TVS has an established service network to support it makes it a cherry on top of this cake.
