Ola vs Ather vs iQube: Which One Has The Lowest Maintenance Costs?

The Ola with its highest range really stands out in the three e-scooters

• Tha Ola will help you save nearly Rs 23,000 each year
• Over a period of a couple of years, it’ll even amount to the total cost of the scooter
• The Ather scooter, meanwhile, will help you save around Rs 15,000 each year

In recent years, electric scooters have become incredibly popular in India. Many folks now rely on them for their daily travels. And among these years, Ather, Ola, and TVS are brands that have sold the most electric scooters. Their flagship offerings, the 450X, S1 Pro, and iQube S have really sold like hotcakes since people have started seeing the sheer amount of money they can save on fuel with electric scooters. 

And now if you’re considering getting any one of them, saving fuel money would obviously be one of the top goals in your mind. And if that’s the case, it might also confuse you as to which scooter will provide the highest amount of savings. If that question has been bothering you, here’s a quick lowdown on the same, as to which scooter will help you save the most. 

Range Comparison

The Ola S1 Air is driven by an electric hub motor with a rated power output of 2.7kW and an impressive peak power of 4.5kW. This motor gets its power from a 3kWh battery pack, giving the electric scooter an official range of up to 125km and a top speed of around 90 kmph.

It's important to mention that there's a slight delay between twisting the throttle and the scooter actually moving forward, especially noticeable when making quick passes. Interestingly, during sudden slowing down, the scooter has a unique characteristic of maintaining some level of acceleration even after you release the throttle. That said, what the higher range does is save electricity money for you will need to charge it up less frequently. 

The new iQube S is equipped with a larger 3.04kWh lithium-ion battery pack, boasting a claimed range of 100km. However, our tests showed even more impressive results. We were able to cover an exceptional 114.76km on a single charge, surpassing the advertised range by approximately 15km.

The standout feature behind this extended range is the aggressive regenerative braking system. When you release the throttle, you can clearly feel and see the regen system in action. It's worth noting that this scooter doesn't coast freely like a traditional one, so it might take a bit of time to get accustomed to. However, once you've mastered this technique, you'll find that you rarely need to use your brakes while navigating the city.

This system essentially allows the scooter to achieve a higher range. With fewer instances of braking and hard acceleration, it makes the scooter's operation much smoother. Because there are fewer abrupt inputs, the motor can efficiently deliver a greater range.

As for the Ather 450S and 450X, they have always faced a challenge when it comes to their range. These scooters prioritize performance, which does affect how far they can go on a single charge. In real-world conditions, both the 450S and 450X offer around 90km to 120km of range, which is in the same ballpark. However, when you compare this to their competition, it falls a bit short.

For instance, the Ola S1 Pro boasts nearly 50km more range than the Ather scooters, which is quite a significant difference.

The downside of this lower range is that you'll find yourself needing to charge the scooter at home or at an Ather Grid more frequently compared to the competition. This, in turn, could mean higher electricity bills or more expenses for using the Ather Grid.

Running Costs

Ola: When it comes to maintenance, electric scooters have a significant advantage. They require minimal upkeep, mostly focusing on brake pads and occasional minor adjustments.

Let's talk about running costs, which also factor in petrol expenses. If your daily commute is around 30km, a typical distance for many in India, you can save nearly Rs 2,000 every month just on petrol. For most people in India, this represents substantial savings.

In total, this adds up to approximately Rs 1,905 in monthly savings, translating to nearly Rs 23,000 saved annually. 

You could use this money for riding gear, fuel for your other petrol vehicles, or even as a down payment for your next dream vehicle. So, if you're looking to maximize your savings, the Ola S1 Air can help you save Rs 23,000 each year.

However, where the S1 Air falls short is in terms of reliability, a concern that has been associated with the brand in general.

iQube: The iQube is primarily targeted at residents of tier 1 and 2 cities, so we can reasonably assume a daily commute of approximately 30km. Over the course of 50,000km, which is a typical usage milestone for an average scooter, this could result in savings of nearly Rs 1 lakh! 

Accumulating savings of nearly Rs 1 lakh over 50,000km is a substantial amount. In fact, it's approximately the cost of a brand-new scooter. Essentially, you end up saving enough money for a completely new scooter over roughly 5 years. This represents remarkable savings and excellent value for money with the iQube.

Ather: Servicing a typical petrol scooter can range anywhere from Rs 500 to Rs 2000. While it may not be exorbitant, this cost is primarily due to the numerous moving parts found in conventional petrol-powered vehicles. With an engine in play, there are various lubricants that require continuous monitoring, replacement, and maintenance. One significant expense is engine oil, which constitutes a substantial part of the servicing cost at each interval.

In contrast, maintaining an Ather electric scooter is considerably more cost-effective. Firstly, there are significantly fewer moving parts, owing to the absence of an internal combustion engine. Additionally, the service interval is a robust 5,000km, which surpasses the standard intervals for many petrol scooters, such as the Honda Activa 6G. The required working time for service is estimated to be between 24 to 48 hours, the time it takes to thoroughly inspect and repair your scooter. This combination of factors results in more economical servicing for Ather electric scooters.

Verdict

Those spending a lot of money on their petrol scooters must be very tempted by all three scooters as of now. Now while the Ola scores the highest in terms of sheer money savings, we wouldn’t really advise anyone to buy it given the sheer amount of reliability issues the scooter has. If you’re looking for an e-scooter with impeccable reliability, we’d advise you to look further ahead than the Ola. 

And that’s where the Ather and the iQube come in. Both have proven to be extremely reliable scooters in their own way and we wholeheartedly recommend them to customers. If you want something more family-friendly, the iQube S makes for a fantastic choice. But if you want something more youthful and enthusiast-oriented, you should definitely have a look at one of the Ather electric scooters.