Key highlights
- Ather to unveil a new affordable scooter platform (EL) at Community Day 2025.
- The upcoming scooter will feature a Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) model to reduce upfront cost.
- Ather plans to double its retail footprint to over 750 stores by the end of 2025.
Ather Energy is preparing to shake up the electric two-wheeler market with a new affordable scooter, built on its upcoming EL platform. The Bengaluru-based EV maker will unveil the platform and concept vehicles at its annual Community Day 2025, scheduled for late August.
The EL platform is designed to be cost-efficient and modular, allowing Ather to finally enter the sub-INR 1 lakh segment—a space currently dominated by Ola Electric, TVS, and Bajaj.
Battery-as-a-Service: A game-changer for affordability
To make its new scooter even more accessible, Ather will introduce a Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) model. This approach separates the battery cost from the vehicle, allowing customers to subscribe to battery usage either monthly or per kilometre.
Since the battery accounts for 30–40% of an EV’s cost, BaaS could reduce the scooter’s upfront price significantly. Ather’s Chief Business Officer, Ravneet Phokela, confirmed the plan, stating that BaaS could solve the affordability challenge for many first-time EV buyers.
What to expect from the EL scooter
While technical details remain under wraps, the EL scooter is expected to offer:
- A price tag under INR 1 lakh (ex-showroom)
- Simplified design for mass-market appeal
- Compatibility with Ather’s next-gen Grid fast chargers
- Likely integration with Ather Stack 7.0, the brand’s updated software suite
This scooter will complement Ather’s existing lineup, which includes the 450 series and the family-oriented Rizta, the latter having recently crossed 1 lakh unit sales.
Retail expansion and charging infrastructure
Ather is also doubling down on its retail and charging network. The company aims to expand from 350 to over 750 stores by the end of 2025, with a focus on North India and high-volume metro cities.
In parallel, Ather is developing next-gen Grid chargers, which promise faster and more efficient charging. These chargers will support both Ather and Vida scooters, thanks to an open-source connector.
Also read: Can the Hero Vida brand come back to life with the VX2?
