Ola Electric launches Gig and S1 Z series of scooters amid rising complaints

Bhavish Aggarwal-led Ola Electric has announced the launch of its Gig and S1 Z range of scooters, which the company says are designed to unlock the full potential of electric mobility for the masses.

The new range of scooters includes Ola Gig, Ola Gig+, Ola S1 Z, and Ola S1 Z+, available at introductory prices of Rs 39,999 (ex-showroom), Rs 49,999 (ex-showroom), Rs 59,999 (ex-showroom), and Rs 64,999 (ex-showroom), respectively.

The company said that deliveries of the newly introduced scooters will commence in April 2025 and May 2025, respectively.

CEO Bhavish Aggarwal shares announcement

CEO Bhavish Aggarwal said that the company aims to further accelerate EV adoption, catering to a wide range of personal and commercial use cases with "affordability, reliability, and safety as the core pillar."

"The new range of our scooters also features portable batteries that can double up as an inverter using the Ola PowerPod and power home appliances, allowing for more efficient use of our batteries. With Ola Gig and Ola S1 Z scooters and our existing EV portfolio, we are strongly positioned to take India closer to #EndICEAge," Aggarwal added.

Ola Gig and Ola Gig+

Ola Electric said that Ola Gig is designed to address the needs of gig workers involved in shorter trips. It offers a robust design, sufficient range, removable battery, adequate payload capacity, and reliable safety features.

The scooter offers an impressive IDC-certified range of 112 km and a top speed of 25 kmph. It comes with a removable 1.5 kWh battery, a hub motor, 12” tyres for superior braking. 

Notably, the scooter comes with an introductory price of Rs 39,999 and will be available for B2B purchases and rentals.

India’s Gig economy will be 2x in the next few years with more than 10 Mn workers. These workers unfortunately have to ride poor quality products at a much higher price.

Ola Gig will change this!🛵💪 pic.twitter.com/iRYpE03yNn

— Bhavish Aggarwal (@bhash) November 26, 2024

On the other hand, the Ola Gig+ scooter, which comes with an introductory price of Rs 49,999, comes with a top speed of 45 km/h and a removable single/dual battery of 1.5 kWh, each with an IDC-certified range of 81 km (157 km X 2).

The scooter is powered by a hub motor with a peak output of 1.5 kW. 

Ola S1 Z and Ola S1Z+

According to the company's statement, Ola S1 Z is a personal-use electric scooter aimed at urban commuters. The scooter sports removable dual batteries of 1.5 kWh each with an IDC-certified range of 75 km (146 km X 2) and comes with a top speed of 70 kmph, an LCD display, and a physical key. 

Powered by a 2.9 kW hub motor, it can clock 0-20 kmph in 1.8 seconds and 0-40 km in 4.8 seconds.

With the S1 Z, the Bengaluru-based company aims to offer an unparalleled alternative value proposition to entry-level ICE models keeping young professionals, students, women, and elderly riders in mind. The Ola S1 Z is priced at Rs 59,999 (Introductory price).

S1 Z: The @OlaElectric S1 in a more affordable package. Starting at ₹59,999!🛵🕺🏻

Will make EVs accessible to every Indian. Know more: https://t.co/jRj8k4pilo pic.twitter.com/zhL5HWbF3N

— Bhavish Aggarwal (@bhash) November 26, 2024

On the other hand, Ola S1 Z+ is a dual-usage electric scooter designed for both personal and light commercial use with a high payload capacity and versatile storage options.

The company said that the scooter is built for ruggedness, durability, and extended range, catering to the needs of small business owners, local shopkeepers, and individuals involved in light to medium commercial activities.

S1 Z+ sports removable dual batteries of 1.5 kWh each with an IDC-certified range of 75 km (146 km X 2) and comes with a top speed of 70 kmph, 14” tyres, an LCD display, and a physical key.

Powered by a 2.9 kW hub motor, it can clock 0-20 kmph in 1.8 seconds and 0-40 km in 4.7 seconds. The Ola S1 Z+ is priced at Rs 64,999 (Introductory price).

Introducing Ola Pods

In addition to electric scooters, Ola Electric has also introduced Ola PowerPod, a versatile and reliable power source. It will allow Ola’s portable battery to double up as an inverter which can power small household appliances, lights, fans, and other essential devices.

The PowerPod has a maximum output of 500W, a 1.5kWh battery that can provide power for 3 hours to run 5 LED bulbs, 3 ceiling fans, 1 TV, 1 Mobile charging, and 1 Wi-Fi router. This dual functionality of the battery offers a valuable proposition for users in semi-urban and rural areas where access to a stable electricity supply may be limited, furthering the goal of accessible, sustainable energy for all.

The PowerPod is priced at Rs 9,999.

The Ola PowerPod will enable power backup, home solar energy storage and portable power anywhere. It’s a step in line with our honourable PM’s vision of making home energy free!

At ₹9,999 Ola PowerPod makes EVs more flexible and adaptable across urban and rural India! 🔋⚡ pic.twitter.com/zyr50RdUjV

— Bhavish Aggarwal (@bhash) November 26, 2024

Launch amid rising customer complaints

The launch comes amidst rising complaints from Ola Electric customers, with the majority raising concerns about quality and after-sales service. Last month, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) issued a notice to Ola Electric regarding over 10,000 unresolved complaints.

However, the company later claimed that it had resolved 99.91% of these complaints to the satisfaction of its customers.

“We wish to reiterate that Ola Electric has a robust mechanism to address complaints raised with respect to our vehicles. In fact, we wish to emphasise that out of 10,644 complaints that we received from the CCPA, 99.1% of the complaints were resolved to the complete satisfaction of the customer as per Ola Electric’s robust redressal mechanism,” the company earlier said.