Ola’s electric scooters have been gaining a lot of traction in the Indian market. Yes, there have been some complaints, but this is certainly revolutionary. Moreover, more and more Ola scooters are now seen on the roads every day, which says a lot. One of the major gripes we have with electric scooters is the pricing. Spending roughly Rs. 1.25-1.50 Lakhs on a scooter in India still feels unnecessary. And this is why Ola hasn’t moved into the common houses yet. However, Ola is trying to solve that issue with the Ola S1 Air. The Ola S1 Air is a toned-down version of the S1 and S1 Pro, with some differences that make it more affordable. You can most definitely say that the naming here has been inspired by the iPads and MacBooks!
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What’s different about the Ola S1 Air?
The Air model gets 5 colours, Jet Black, Coral Glam, Liquid Silver, Porcelain White, and Neo Mint. The colour lineup is pretty similar to the S1 and S1 Pro. What makes it look different is the matte black on the lower half of the body. The tyres are smaller, and the design on the wheels is different. The suspension setup has also been changed to a more economical dual telescopic setup for the front and twin springs for the rear. The twin blades for the grab rails on the S1 and S1 Pro have been replaced by a single unit on the Ola S1 Air. Overall, these are the visible cost cuts that have been done on the Ola S1 Air, and honestly, they do not look as cheap as you may think!
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Battery and Range
Of course, the major part of the reduced cost comes from the smaller battery. The Ola S1 Air gets a 2.5kWh battery pack as opposed to the 3.9kWh unit on the S1 Pro. This brings down the claimed range to 101KMs. This scooter should be able to comfortably cover 80-85KMs on a full charge if ridden in eco mode (real-world estimate). Yes, it does get modes, eco, normal, and sport. It misses out on the hyper mode though. The top speed on this one is 85KM/hr, and it takes 4.3 seconds to go from 0-40. This one is also pretty light and weighs just under 100KGs. The numbers are pretty decent for city usage, and they do justify the price drop. Keep in mind, electric scooters are not supposed to be performance-oriented, their aim is to get you through the city in an eco-friendly, cheap way.
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Pricing of the Ola S1 Air
The Ola S1 Air has been launched in India at Rs. 84,999. It is Rs. 15,000 cheaper than the S1 and Rs. 35,000 cheaper than the S1 Pro. Considering the massive price difference, the S1 Air surely seems worth it for people looking for a commuter. Effectively, this scooter will be cheaper to buy than a Honda Activa and will be way cheaper to run. If Ola avoids the list of complaints it got earlier, this EV can rule the market very easily. 
Related – Ola S1 Pro vs Bajaj Chetak vs Ather 450X vs TVS iQube
Did you like the Ola S1 Air? Would you prefer it over the Ather 450 or the TVS iQube? Let us know in the comments below!
