As a part of getting into main stream electric two-wheeler market, mass premium electric scooter maker Ather Energy on Saturday unveiled its affordable electric scooter platform EL, which the company says is the most versatile and scalable one. The platform can produce a diverse range of scooters, from comnuter and family to high-performance models, offering various battery sizes, wheel dimensions, and dashboard designs.
“With the EL platform, we are laying the foundation for Ather’s next phase of growth. Just as the 450 defined our first chapter, EL will define the next, enabling us to develop multiple types of scooters at scale far more efficiently. This platform-first approach enables faster innovation and improved efficiency, serviceability, and rider experience,” Tarun Mehta, co-founder & CEO of Ather Energy.
The EL platform is crucial for Ather Energy as models derived from that platform can significantly expand the company’s addressable market and fend off the competition from its rivals. Currently, Ather Energy’s portfolio consists of two models – 450 X and Rizta – with multiple battery capacities ranging from 2.9kWh to 3.7 kwh. Both the products are priced above Rs 1.1 lakh, and around 40-50% of the sales in the Indoa electric two-wheeler market is estimated to come from models priced under Rs 1 lakh.
“What we really want to do is start building exceptional scooters for everyone. And we want to start building that fast. Which means we have to stop thinking products and start thinking platforms. It took us 12 years to get to the first two products of our portfolio. And that’s not something that we can have. We want to increase that pace incredibly now,” said Milind Kothekar, vice president and head of product at Ather Energy said.
Ather’s new EL platform is engineered to accommodate a wide range of specifications, including both LFP and NMC battery chemistries with capacities from 2.2 kWh to 5 kWh, as well as two distinct wheel sizes (12-inch and 14-inch). According to co-founder and CTO Swapnil Jain the new platform significantly improves assembly time by utilizing a unibody frame instead of multiple bolted-together pieces. Similarly, eliminating the belt transmission removes the need to tune belt tension on the production line, further streamlining the process.
“These and other improvements will enhance overall efficiency. Furthermore, the new manufacturing plant’s improved architecture will bring additional efficiencies, as the previous plant’s layout imposed restrictions on both vehicle and manufacturing processes,” Jain said. The simpler architecture and reduced component count enable 15% faster assembly. This also allows up to 2X faster periodic services, increasing the service interval up to 10,000 km, he said.
Ather Energy has long been synonymous with premium tech driven scooters tailored for urban early adopters. With an rapid expansion of its retail footprint across the country, affordable models in the pipeline, new marketing models such as Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS), the new age automaker is looking to challenge legacy players such as TVS Motor, Bajaj Auto and Hero MotoCorp. New models in the platform will allow Ather Energy to capture price sensitive customers.
Competition in the electric two-wheeler market has been intensifying recently with legacy OEMs tightening their grip. TVS and Bajaj now leads market, followed by Ather Energy, Ola Electric and Hero MotoCorp. TVS Motor this week launched its affordable scooter Orbiter, while Bajaj Auto is expected to launch an entry level Chetak soon. Ola Electric is expected to launch a cheaper model targeting the gig economy.
Ather Energy also unveiled a concept model on the new platform -EL01. New models will be manufactured from Ather Energy’s upcoming facility in Aurangabad. However, the company’s Cheif Business Officer Ravneet Phukela said the first model based on the new EL platform will go into production only by the festival season of 2026. In the mean time, Ather Energy is focusing expanding its retail footprint to 750 stories and maximise the reach of its family scooter.
Premium electric two-wheeler maker Ather Electric on Saturday unveiled its first affordable electric scooter platform EL (Enlighten), which the company says is the most versatile and scalable one. The platform can produce a diverse range of scooters, from comnuter and family to high-performance models, offering various battery sizes, wheel dimensions, and dashboard designs.
“What we really want to do is start building exceptional scooters for everyone. And we want to start building that fast. Which means we have to stop thinking products and start thinking platforms. It took us 12 years to get to the first two products of our portfolio. And that’s not something that we can have. We want to increase that pace incredibly now,” said Milind Kothekar, vice president and head of product at Ather Energy said.
The EL platform is crucial for Ather Energy as models derived from that platform can significantly expand the company’s addressable market and fend off the competition from its rivals. Currently, Ather Energy’s portfolio consists of two models – 450 X and Rizta – with multiple battery capacities ranging from 2.9kWh to 3.7 kwh. Both the products are priced above Rs 1.1 lakh, and around 40-50% of the sales in the Indoa electric two-wheeler market is estimated to come from models priced under Rs 1 lakh.
Ather’s new EL platform is engineered to accommodate a wide range of specifications, including both LFP and NMC battery chemistries with capacities from 2.2 kWh to 5 kWh, as well as two distinct wheel sizes (12-inch and 14-inch). According to co-founder and CTO Swapnil Jain the new platform significantly improves assembly time by utilizing a unibody frame instead of multiple bolted-together pieces. Similarly, eliminating the belt transmission removes the need to tune belt tension on the production line, further streamlining the process.
“These and other improvements will enhance overall efficiency. Furthermore, the new manufacturing plant’s improved architecture will bring additional efficiencies, as the previous plant’s layout imposed restrictions on both vehicle and manufacturing processes,” Jain said.
Ather Energy has long been synonymous with premium tech driven scooters tailored for urban early adopters. With an rapid expansion of its retail footprint across the country, affordable models in the pipeline, new marketing models such as Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS), the new age automaker is looking to challenge legacy players such as TVS Motor, Bajaj Auto and Hero MotoCorp. New models in the platform will allow Ather Energy to capture price sensitive customers.
Competition in the electric two-wheeler market has been intensifying recently with legacy OEMs tightening their grip. TVS and Bajaj now leads market, followed by Ather Energy, Ola Electric and Hero MotoCorp. TVS Motor this week launched its affordable scooter Orbiter, while Bajaj Auto is expected to launch an entry level Chetak soon. Ola Electric is expected to launch a cheaper model targeting the gig economy.
Ather Energy also unveiled a concept model on the new platform -EL01. New models will be manufactured from Ather Energy’s upcoming facility in Aurangabad. However, the company’s Cheif Business Officer Ravneet Phukela said the first model based on the new EL platform will go into production only by the festival season of 2026. In the mean time, Ather Energy is focusing expanding its retail footprint to 750 stories and maximise the reach of its family scooter Rizta.