Ather 450

Features: Ather’s focus has been on an absolutely clean design. The scooter in no way looks dated nor is it typical of the traditional design approach we have seen with the Activas and Jupiters of the world. So you’ll never get lost in the sea of scooters out there. It clearly stands out in the crowd with its attention to detail, like the exposed trellis frame finished in green and not to forget, the slim LED tail light, which is neatly integrated into the turn indicators along the rear bodywork. The best part of the design is the minimal branding on the fluid yet sharp lines of the scooter. The Ather 450 is packed with features. It gets a 7-inch touchscreen with built-in data connection and Google Maps, integrated with Ather’s own navigation interface. You can even search for nearby charging points on the AtherGrid. The phone app displays scooter stats and battery charge status. The best bit though is the reverse assist system. The Ather 450 is a smart scooter at heart so the data from a total of 46 sensors, including a 6-axis IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit), allows Ather to develop algorithms to understand your riding style and offer better ride range. Ather can even assess any scooter problems remotely, with built-in connectivity for software updates over the air.

Engine: The 450's BLDC motor is capable of 3.3kW of sustained power (5.4kW peak). While it might not seem like much, it makes 20.5Nm of torque, which is as much as some 250cc bikes. That allows it a 0-40kmph acceleration time of 3.9 seconds and the ability to climb 18-degree steep gradients. Top speed is a true 80kmph. The battery pack is rated at 2.4KWh and affords it an ARAI-claimed range of 107km. Ather claims a real-world mileage of 75km in economy mode and 60km in power mode. However, we had a chance to test these range figures for ourselves and you can find the results here. The front telescopic forks and centrally mounted monoshock are responsible for the impressive ride quality the scooter has to offer. Braking is taken care of by a 200mm front disc and a 190mm rear disc with the added safety of the combined braking system.

Rivals: Okinawa PraiseThe Okinawa Praise has an impressive claimed range of 170-200km per charge. But you only have the option of a 72V/45Ah VRLA battery for now, as the more modern 72V/45Ah Li-ion unit is set to go on sale from September 2018 onwards. The former takes 6-8 hours to charge, whereas the latter takes only 1 hour, both under ideal testing conditions. The scooter has a top speed of 75kmph in ‘Turbo’ mode. You can even switch to ‘Eco’ and ‘Sporty’ modes. The Praise gets gas-charged telescopic forks up front and twin rear shock absorbers. Brakes include a twin-disc setup at the front. The rear also gets a disc with Electronic-Assisted Braking System (E-ABS) for regenerating energy. For a detailed Road Test review, click here. Twenty Two Motors FlowThe Twenty Two Motors Flow gets a commendable range of 160km from its lithium-ion dual-battery setup. The Bosch-developed DC motor produces a massive 90Nm of torque at 100rpm. This helps propel the scooter to a claimed top speed of 60kmph. The battery can be charged up to 70 per cent in an hour using fast charging. Furthermore, the front and rear discs come with regenerative braking, which recycles 6 per cent of the battery capacity. The scooter is suspended on telescopic front forks and dual rear hydraulic suspension.