Ola Electric launches electric motorcycles with up to 501 km range

The Roadster X series has a chain drive, a performance-oriented mid-mounted motor, and an integrated motor control unit (MCU) for better range and efficiency. Ola Electric uses flat cables in these motorcycles for advantages in packaging efficiency, weight, and thermal performance. The company calls them an industry-first innovation and says they improve durability and reliability.

The company offers the Roadster X in standard and ‘+’ variants. It employs a 7 kW motor in the Roadster X and gives customers a choice of three range versions. The base Roadster X has a 2.5 kWh battery that delivers a range of 144 km. It accelerates from 0 to 40 kph in 3.4 seconds and achieves a top speed of 105 kph. The mid-tier and top-end Roadster X feature 3.5 kWh and 4.5 kWh battery packs, respectively, giving them a range of 201 km and 259 km. They both take 3.1 seconds for a 0 to 40 kph sprint and top out at a significantly higher speed of 118 kph.

The Roadster X+ caters to customers who demand even higher performance and want to avoid the hassle of charging frequently. It sports an 11 kW motor that enables it to accelerate from 0 to 40 kph in just 2.7 seconds and attain a top speed of 125 kph. Ola Electric offers the Roadster X+ in two versions, one with a 4.5 kWh battery pack and one with a 9.1 kWh battery pack. The 4.5 kWh unit returns a decent range of 259 km, while the 9.1 kWh unit gives a stunning range of 501 km, enough to ride a whole month without plugging in.

Ola Electric uses its 4680 Bharat Cells in the 9.1 kWh battery pack and says they possess five times more energy density (275 Wh/kg) than the more common 2170 form-factor cells. The Bharat 4680 cells are more suitable for India’s climate, with a wider operating temperature range of 10-70%. Additionally, they promise greater longevity, with a lifespan of more than 1,000 charge cycles, and give the convenience of fast-charging to 50% in just 13 minutes. The company developed these cells in-house and manufactures them at a local factory in Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu.

Both the Roadster X and Roadster X+ give the riders a choice of Sports, Normal, and Eco riding modes. They feature a patented brake-by-wire technology with single-channel ABS and a 4.3-inch colour LCD instrument cluster running the new MoveOS 5 software and offering USB connectivity as standard.

Ola Electric offers the Roadster X for 74,999 Indian rupees (824 euros) in the 2.5 kWh version, 84,999 Indian rupees (934 euros) in the 3.5 kWh version and 94,999 Indian rupees (1,044 euros) in the 4.5 kWh version, and the Roadster X+ for 104,999 Indian rupees (1,154 euros) in the 4.5 kWh version and 154,999 Indian rupees (1,703 euros) in the 9.1 kWh version. All these prices include a discount of 15,000 Indian rupees (165 euros) applicable for a seven-day introductory period and a subsidy of 5,000 Indian rupees (55 euros) under the Indian government’s PM E-Drive scheme.

Just days ago, Ola Electric launched new electric scooters with a range of up to 320 km. Along with new products, the company is doubling down on its retail footprint. In December last year, it opened more than 3,200 showrooms co-located with service centres, growing to 4,000 stores across India. The company was the country’s most popular EV brand across segments, contributing 407,547 units or 21% to the total EV sales of 1,949,114 units.

Sources: Information per e-mail