Sampling them for a few days is all well and good, but the real test of electric vehicles is living with them on a daily basis. So when Ather called to offer us a long-term test unit of its 450X, we couldn’t have asked for a more perfect opportunity. Here’s a company that not only churns out a mighty impressive e-scooter, but also has its own network of fast chargers dotted across the city. But there was an obstacle. The layout of my apartment building means it’s impossible for me to charge EVs at home. And despite its many admirable qualities, the 450X doesn’t have a removable battery pack. Which means I’ve had to resort to using the fast-chargers on the Ather Grid, and charging the scooter at the office, using the portable charger provided with it.
Both these solutions have had their own obstacles – there are currently only four fast chargers within a 10km radius of my house, and while they do top up the scooter quite quickly, they each have only one plug point available, which can often be occupied. And the portable charger I used at the office has a much slower charging rate, requiring three hours to take the 450X from 58 percent to full. Had I been attending office every day, I have no doubt that the Ather could be a perfectly usable mode of city transportation. But with work from home still prevalent, office visits are more rare, and I’ve had to hand the scooter over to someone who can plug it in overnight at their house.
This is a rather unique set of circumstances and I sure hope it passes soon, because in the few days that I spent with it, I really enjoyed the 450X. Right from the way it looks to the features it packs and the way it rides and the quality of everything, the 450X looks and feels like a premium and intelligent product. Even the most docile Eco mode is good enough for most inner-city duties, and I only switched to Ride when ferrying a pillion or on more open stretches of road. Sport and Warp mode were never really needed, but sporadically used to put a quick smile on my face. The range estimate shown for Eco and Ride modes has so far proven to be exceedingly accurate.
The navigation feature is delightfully easy to use and an absolute boon, though it did sometimes direct me onto roads where two-wheelers aren’t allowed. The rest of the user interface is similarly slick and responsive, and the touchscreen works well even when wearing gloves. While I have absolutely no major complaints, there are a few bugbears — the lack of a centre stand makes parking in tight spots difficult, the throttle is a little heavier than I’d like, and it would’ve been nice if the flap covering the charging port was springed. (I found myself forgetting it open sometimes, which could be an issue when it rains.) But I’m really nitpicking here, and I’m sure the 450X is going to be an excellent companion to Rishabh who now has her.
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