Ola Electric announced that customers who buy S1 scooters are automatically enhanced to S1 Pro, free of charge. Or it looks like. The brand said this customer would only benefit from hardware (only machines) from S1 Pro, but had to pay Rs 30,000 to access all software features offered by S1 Pro. So what exactly does this mean?

When Ola Electric introduced the S1 scooter range, the difference was quite clear. S1 is an entry level scooter, with prices starting from Rs 1 Lakh. Although identical in appearance to S1 Pro, the scooter displays a smaller 2.98 kWh battery instead of a 3.97 kWh battery at S1 Pro. This means that certain features, including “hyper mode” Ola, is missing from S1, which is lighter but has a lower range of S1 Pro.

What customers are liked, according to Ola

When the booking window for open scooters, Ola Electric has stated that the dominant order amount is for the more expensive Ola S1 Pro (Rs 1.30,000) instead of cheaper S1. According to the recent brand announcement, the relatively small portion of customers who ordered S1 will be automatically enhanced (whether they like it or not) to S1 Pro, which is heavier by 4kg without better features. .

To get access to features that are activated Scooters such as “Hyper Mode”, Hill Hold, Cruise Control and Sound Help, customers must issue Rs 30,000 more. An additional amount effectively places the total cost of equivalent to S1 Pro.

What is the equation between S1 and S1 Pro? Both models come with the same 7-inch touch screen interface, frame, suspension, octa-core processor and body panel. Unless S1 Pro gets five additional colors.

Choice, limited

When asked whether the customers who received upgrades would now benefit from the additional color range offered at S1 Pro, Ola Electric said they would receive S1 Pro in the same place they ordered S1 in. What the customer means is to receive an upgrade without the benefit of additional features.

To take advantage of the S1 Extended range (claimed) of 181 km, a reduction in charging time 4 hours 48 minutes (instead of 6 hours 30 minutes on S1), the top speed of 115 kph (not 90 kpj boundaries on S1), customers have no choice but to issue rs 30,000 additional.

What this means is that customers who choose S1 for their affordability, will now receive a heavier product by 4kg. According to the Ola message to its customers “you get access to the best class hardware at the same price as Ola S1”.

What failed to be called a memo is that without an optional software upgrade (which is not free) hardware is basically dead weight. The statement from Ola added: “In the future, if you want to unlock the features of the exceptional software, the range and full potential of Ola S1 Pro, you can do it by paying Rs 30,000.”

So it’s not free, right?