Ola Electric announced two new electric scooters, the S1 Z and the Gig range, starting at a price of ₹39,000, and these are so far the cheapest in its lineup.
Ola Electric Unveils Affordable Electric Scooters
Announcing the launch on X (formerly Twitter), CEO Bhavish Aggarwal shared, “Say hello to Ola S1 Z & Gig range, starting at just ₹39K! Affordable, accessible, and now with a portable battery pack that doubles up as a home inverter using the Ola PowerPod.” Reservations for the scooters have already begun, with deliveries scheduled to start in April 2025.
Say hello to Ola S1 Z & Gig range, starting at just ₹39K!
— Bhavish Aggarwal (@bhash) November 26, 2024
Affordable, accessible, and now with a portable battery pack that doubles up as home inverter using the Ola PowerPod
Reservations open, deliveries Apr’25!🛵⚡🔋
Ola S1 Z: https://t.co/jRj8k4oKvQ
Ola Gig:… pic.twitter.com/TcdfNhSIWy
This announcement comes amid challenges the product is addressing regarding customer complaints and internal restructuring efforts. Despite ongoing scrutiny from the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) over alleged deficiencies in its electric two-wheelers and services, Ola claims to have resolved 99.1% of the 10,644 complaints forwarded by the authority last month.
The launch also coincides with a reported layoff of 500 employees across various departments earlier this month as part of a company-wide restructuring effort to streamline operations and enhance profitability.
About the S1 Z and Gig Range
The newly introduced scooters are targeted at specific consumer segments, offering features tailored to affordability and utility.
- S1 Z: The entry-level model begins at ₹39,000 and is supposed to be used by individuals looking for a cost-efficient means of commuting.
- Gig Range: Gig workers will be targeting the Gig range, primarily as it will address both shorter and longer trips. Under the Gig range, Ola has introduced two versions:
- Gig: It is priced at ₹39,999 (ex-showroom) and is for short-distance gig workers. It comes with a 1.5 kWh removable battery and a hub motor, and it can run for 112 km on a single charge and has a top speed of 25 km/h.
- Gig+: This is for long-distance and heavy-load users, priced at ₹49,999 (ex-showroom). It supports a single or dual 1.5 kWh battery configuration that provides a higher range up to 157 km. It is equipped with a stronger 1.5 kW motor and has a maximum speed of 45 km/h.
Both scooters are designed with interchangeable batteries, which increases the convenience factor for users. The Gig and Gig+ incorporate Ola’s PowerPod, a portable battery pack that can serve as a home inverter, making both scooters even more appealing to consumers.
The product will look to fortify its electric scooter market position by bringing in budget-friendly models while expanding its portfolio to cater to diverse customer needs. Ola currently offers the S1X at ₹69,999, the S1 Air at ₹1,00,499, and the S1 Pro at ₹1,34,999.
The S1 Z and Gig range additions align with Ola’s vision of making electric mobility accessible and affordable, especially for gig workers who form a considerable part of the urban mobility ecosystem. The company is addressing practical concerns such as range anxiety and charging convenience through portable and extendable battery options.
Ongoing Challenges
Ola Electric’s statement came following recent criticism of its customer service and the quality of products. The CCPA had filed a comprehensive inquiry based on reports that the company’s electric scooters and services had shortcomings. The firm recently announced significant success with complaint resolution in the vast majority of cases.
Despite all this, Ola witnessed internal pressures when it laid off as many as 500 employees to restructure itself to optimize its operations while trying to enhance profitability. The company will continue looking for ways to maintain this trajectory in the very competitive and saturated EV market.
The S1 Z and Gig range from Ola Electric will now capture a broader market as it will target budget-conscious customers and gig economy workers who need the best affordable car. The introductory pricing coupled with practical features such as being able to remove the battery and the Ola PowerPod inverter functionality is expected to attract a wide range of clients.
Deliveries for the new scooters will start in April 2025, giving Ola enough time to deal with the problems it faces and prepare for the next stage of growth in the electric mobility sector. The continued innovation and market focus by the company are testaments to its commitment to making EVs accessible to all while pushing boundaries in sustainable transportation.
The latest launch not only adds to Ola Electric’s growing portfolio but also underscores its determination to cater to diverse consumer needs in the rapidly evolving electric vehicle landscape.
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