The new motorcycle from Ather is rumoured to be more powerful than its 450 series e-scooters.
Recently, officials from Ather revealed that the company is developing an electric motorcycle, though specific details remain scarce. Ather’s Co-founder and CEO, Tarun Mehta, spoke about it during the company’s Community Day event in Bengaluru.
Mehta outlined Ather’s vision for their electric motorcycle, recognizing two main types of motorcycle buyers: those who prioritize performance and those who seek operational efficiency. The former group, according to Mehta, requires a large battery, leading to challenges in packaging, weight, and cost. This has hindered significant breakthroughs in this market segment, even internationally.
Ather, however, aims to cater to the latter group of buyers who value operational aspects, such as the stability offered by larger wheels compared to scooters. These customers typically expect lower upfront and operational costs compared to scooters. Mehta believes that the electric vehicle (EV) industry can disrupt this market segment, which is traditionally dominated by 110-150cc commuter motorcycles. He argues that EVs can provide a superior riding experience and lower costs.
Addressing the critical issue of range, Mehta acknowledges the complexity of determining the optimal battery size to satisfy market expectations for a smooth transition to EVs. He humorously notes that this is a question the industry has been reluctant to tackle, but it must be addressed eventually.
Mehta reassures that since the electric motorcycles in question are not high-power machines, much of the core technology developed for Ather’s scooters can be adapted for these motorcycles, which could have a power output of 12-15kW.
He also expressed confidence in current battery technologies, dismissing the need to wait for advancements in battery chemistry to create such a product.
Regarding the timeline for this project, Mehta indicated that Ather might not embark on large-scale experimentation this year as the new Rizta scooter is the immediate priority. However, he assured that the company would continue to develop the motorcycle behind the scenes, even though the launch schedule is not yet defined.
