As an environmental enthusiast living in Jaipur with congested roads and skyrocketing fuel prices, I started looking at electric scooters as an alternative. Petrol scooters were expensive to maintain and polluting. Electric scooters promised eco‑friendliness, low running costs, and futuristic features like smartphone connectivity and regenerative braking. In 2025, after test riding several models and eventually buying one, I can share what it’s actually like to ditch petrol for electrons.
Why Electric Scooters?
Electric scooters are becoming popular in India for good reasons. They are more eco-friendly and produce zero tailpipe emissions, helping reduce air pollution in crowded cities. Running costs are a fraction of petrol scooters because electricity is cheaper than fuel and maintenance is minimal: there are no oil changes or complicated engines to service. Government incentives and state subsidies make them more affordable, and companies offer innovative features like app-based diagnostics, navigation, and theft protection.
Ola S1 Pro Gen 2 – The Speed Demon
The Ola S1 Pro Gen 2 was the first scooter I tested. It has a lighter battery pack and redesigned frame for better handling. The improved electric powertrain feels powerful off the line and the top speed of 120 km/h is honestly more than you need for city riding. Features like party mode (the lights flash to music), proximity unlock (no key needed), and cruise control make it feel like a gadget on wheels. I loved blasting music through its built-in speakers while riding around the colony. The downside? Even with a range of around 180 km (claimed), I found myself charging every three days because I kept using sport mode. Also, the build quality of the plastics feels a bit cheap for the price.
Ather 450X Gen 3 – Tech Lover’s Dream
Next I tried the Ather 450X Gen 3. It comes in two battery sizes: 2.9 kWh with 111 km range and 3.7 kWh offering up to 150 km. The scooter feels solidly built, and the 7‑inch TFT screen is responsive and now has more RAM for smoother performance. Features like AutoHold (no rolling on slopes), Park Assist (slow reverse), Guide‑Me Home lights, and Emergency Stop Signal make it feel like a premium motorcycle. I loved how quickly it accelerates and the connected app that shows ride stats. However, the seat felt a bit small for me and my backpack; and Ather’s charging grid is still growing, so long trips required planning.
Ola S1 Air – Budget Friendly Cruiser
The Ola S1 Air is the more affordable cousin of the S1 Pro. It has a claimed range of 125 km and a top speed of 85 km/h. The design is lighter with a comfortable seat and large under-seat storage that easily swallowed my laptop bag. The 7‑inch touchscreen offers navigation, music controls, and ride statistics, though it can lag sometimes. I took it on a 20 km commute to my friend’s house and back without any anxiety, and charging from 20% to full took about 4 hours on a regular socket. On the downside, the suspension feels soft on potholes, and the scooter struggles to climb steep flyovers with a pillion.
Hero VIDA V1 Pro – Practical and Customizable
Hero’s VIDA V1 Pro surprised me. It has a cruise control‑enabled display, keyless entry, and even customizable seating that can convert into extra storage space. The removable battery is handy: you can take it inside to charge, which is useful if you don’t have a ground-floor parking spot. The My VIDA app lets you customise riding modes, check vehicle health, and navigate. I loved its comfortable ride and solid build. The downside is the range is around 110 km, and I once forgot to properly latch the battery after charging – hitting a speed bump made it disconnect and the scooter stopped dead. Thankfully there was no damage, but I learned to double-check the latch every time.
Bounce Infinity E1 – Battery as a Service
The Bounce Infinity E1 has a 1,500 W motor, top speed of about 65 km/h, and a range of around 85 km. Its unique selling point is battery swapping: you can opt for a subscription where you just swap batteries at a station instead of charging at home. It also offers reverse parking assist, geo‑fencing, multiple riding modes, cruise control, and an anti‑theft mechanism. I didn’t buy this one, but my friend did. He loves the convenience of swapping batteries in 2 minutes, but there aren’t many swap stations in Jaipur yet. On my test ride, the scooter felt nimble, but the top speed was limiting on open roads.
Living with an Electric Scooter
I eventually bought the Ather 450X with the larger battery because it balanced performance and practicality. Living with an e‑scooter is mostly great: charging overnight becomes a routine like charging your phone. My electricity bill went up by about ₹300 per month, but I no longer spend ₹2,000 on petrol. Maintenance is almost nil; I just clean it and check tyre pressure. The instant torque makes riding fun, and strangers often stop me to ask about it. There are challenges though: range anxiety is real if you travel outside the city. Public chargers aren’t as common as fuel pumps, and not all work properly. Rainy season riding required caution since water can affect electrical components, though manufacturers claim they are waterproof.
Pros, Cons, and My Rankings
In summary:
- Ola S1 Pro Gen 2 – Fast and feature-packed; best for tech enthusiasts who want performance and don’t mind paying more.
- Ather 450X Gen 3 – Premium feel, great acceleration, solid app integration; range options suit different riders. My top pick.
- Ola S1 Air – Good value, comfy seat and storage; ideal for city commuters on a budget.
- Hero VIDA V1 Pro – Practical with removable battery and custom storage; a strong contender if you lack charging infrastructure.
- Bounce Infinity E1 – Swappable batteries and anti‑theft features; best if you have swap stations nearby.
Electric scooters have come a long way, but they aren’t perfect. High upfront costs, limited charging infrastructure, and slower speeds compared to petrol bikes are real drawbacks. Still, with government incentives and rising fuel prices, they make more sense each year. If you value quiet, emission‑free rides and lower running costs, give them a try. Just be ready for a few quirks and the occasional typo in your ride stats app.
