Ather has announced the Ather 450S electric bike with a reduced range of 115km in India. This comes after the substantial reduction in applicable Fame II subsidy which has already kicked off in India. The Fame II revision came into effect this month and the subsidy cap has been pegged at Rs. 22,485 (~$273) from the previous regime of Rs. 55,000 (~$668).
The Ather 450S is a cheaper version of the Ather 450X and Ather 450 Plus. The new model however offers the same top speed of 90km/h as its more expensive siblings. The certified range of the e-bike however goes down from 146km to 115km. There are no details yet on the battery capacity of the Ather 450S but it is expected to be less expensive than that of the Ather 450X. The design of the Ather 450S bears a close semblance to the Ather 450X, although the new model offers an alternative to 125cc gasoline motorbikes.
The Fame II subsidy varies across cities in India and that also impacts the price of the Ather 450S. The electric scooter will start at Rs. 129,999 (~$1,578) and this price has incorporated Fame II subsidy. It is less expensive than the Ather 450X and Ather expects its affordability to draw customers to the scooter. Ather is reportedly absorbing a huge chunk of the subsidy review in order to engender greater penetration of the EV in India.
Ather 450S to arrive as a cheaper version of the Ather 450X
Pre-orders for the Ather 450S open in July 2023 while the earliest deliveries will be in August 2023. Ather is expected to provide more details about the new bike and the incentives it has put in place for customers.
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