Ola Electric's Journey: From Acquisition of Etergo to Revolutionising Gen 3 scooters

The Beginning

​Ola had begun their electric two-wheeler journey by acquiring a Dutch company named Etergo, for which an announcement was made in the month of May in the year of 2020 while the COVID-19 lockdown was in it’s course.

Despite facing so many challenges & problems with the initial launches and claimed testing, the company has come a long way and seems to be putting up a good fight against its competitors in the same category.

Some of the really dangerous issues the Ola scooters initially had were the scooters accelerating backward without any speed limit when the scooters were in a forward riding mode. Another issue one of the customers faced and highlighted on Instagram was the scooter gradually accelerating from a standstill to 60 kph without the rider’s grip on the accelerator.

Although these issues were addressed and were taken note of and solved in subsequent software updates, issues like these are a threat to one’s life, and even more so when an inexperienced rider tries to get his hands on a gizmo-packed electric two-wheeler for the first time. Another life-threatening instance was when the suspension of Ola scooters had started falling or breaking apart, according to the images of worried and enraged customers uploaded on the internet.

At a point, Ola had told its customers that the company was sorry and needed a 10% failure rate before even considering taking an action about the issues people have been facing with faulty Ola scooters.

On the brighter side of things, Ola had announced an expansion of 4,000 stores in the country and attractive benefits like the INR 7000 off on the S1 range. There would also be a free 8-year/80,000 km battery worth INR 7000. Ola had also announced benefits worth INR 6000 on MoveOS and INR 5000 off credit card EMI’s.

The announcement of MoveOS 5 also made its way, which is supposed to roll out mid-February, & features like DIY mode, live location sharing, and a road trip mode that were to be facilitated by Ola maps. Other smart features include smart charging, smart parking, a smartwatch app, and Bharat mood, which incorporates multiple live wallpaper themes that represent India’s diverse culture, followed by TPMS alerts, along with a voice assistant and predictive insights by Krutrim AI. This operating system also supports four riding modes: Hyper, Sport, Normal, & Eco, where Hyper stands for continued extreme acceleration while Sport ensures the required pushes on the go.

The Ola electric app also received updates and added a “service status” where the customers could track real-time updates of their respective scooters.

Another exciting announcement was of the Ola S1 Pro Sona, which integrated 24-karat pure gold into their design. The limited edition Sona got a dual-toned theme with a pearl white and gold. The seat’s finish was made of dark beige Napa leather with a golden thread stitching using zari threading; moreover, cosmetic enhancements.

Ola has made significant advancements in the existing three generations of electric scooters. Namely, the Gen 1, Gen 2 & Gen 3. Let’s venture into this trio of generations.

Ola Gen 1

The first of the Ola electric scooter’s generation, or Gen 1, played a significant role in the electric vehicle segment. Especially the S1 Pro, which had launched with a maximum output of 8.5 kW & a 4.0 kWh battery. The Gen 1 scooters covered a maximum speed of 116 km/h and claimed a mileage of 170 km in eco mode.

The design comprised a central spine on the floorboard, which amped the aesthetic but at the cost of limited space efficiency. The Gen 1 proved its capability for urban commuting by being able to accelerate from 0 to 40 km/h in about 2.9 seconds. The under-seat storage capacity was 36 litres in the Gen 1 series, and the overall weight would be around 121 kg, which made it difficult for customers to handle.

Ola Gen 2

Taking notes of the complications Gen 1 faced, the second generation, or Gen 2, hoisted a lot of changes and upgrades in terms of range management. The S1 Pro Gen 2 featured the same battery capacity in exchange for an even more powerful motor with a maximum output of 11 kW and an increased top speed up to an approximate 120 km/h, along with an improved range of about 195 km/h. The weight of the Gen 2 was reduced to 116 kg, and it also transitioned a shift from monoshock to telescopic forks for an improved ride quality.

The exterior design of the Gen 2 is similar to the Gen 1 but with a flat floorboard to increase functionality. The under-seat storage was reduced to 34 litres in exchange for enhanced accessibility. The technological updates include improved software for better energy management and charging efficiency with a recharge time of 6.5 hours. The Gen 2 also introduced dual-channel ABS into their models for better braking.

Ola Gen 3

The Gen 3 battery options range from 2.0 kWh to 5.0 kWh, approximately covering a range up to 320 km (ARAI), which is a 20% increase from the previous Gen 2 models. The top speed of the S1 Pro+ has also received an upgrade up to 141 km/h. Meanwhile, the Gen 3 debuted with Ola’s patented and revolutionary ‘Break by Wire’ technology, which improves braking performance and regenerative capabilities by up to 15%, which extends the brake’s lifespan. This first-in-segment technology is assisted by brake levers, which come integrated with automated sensors. The design, more or less, remains the same from the previous generations. However, a robust chassis has been introduced, which has been tested on extreme temperature grades, promising utmost safety and improved manoeuvrability.

The battery of the Gen 3 model is also Ola’s own 4860 lithium-ion battery, which is entirely made in India. Adding further, the dual-channel ABS is only offered in the higher variants like the S1 Pro & S1 Pro+. Meanwhile, the lower variants like the S1 X & S1 X+ only receive a single-channel ABS with discs on the front wheel.

When it comes to the Gen 3’s assembly, the electronic architecture is simplified as multiple boards are integrated into one unit, which does not only increase reliability but also helps to reduce costs. The previous generation’s belt drive set-up has been replaced with the mid-mounted motor chain drive system and pre-lubricated O-rings, which promise a prolonged service life and ensure control on NVH levels.

Ola has positioned their new Gen 3 series as a high-performance vehicle that exceeds previous generations and set a milestone of performance & reliability. The introductory prices of the Gen 3 series start from INR 79,999. The introductory prices will result in a change from February 6, 2025.

Talking about the performance, range efficiency, and the introductory prices of the Gen 3 Ola scooters, the brief overview is as follows:

Conclusion