In May 2020, Ather Energy presented its first model, the 450X. At the time, it was touted as India’s first premium electric scooter, featuring high-tech connectivity features such as Bluetooth and 4G. Since then, many new players have entered the market, taking the spotlight away from Ather. New entrants such as Ola Electric have made electric mobility accessible to communities, while established brands such as TVS have extended their brand trust and reputation into the electric space.
That said, Ather Energy is once again taking advantage of its technology with the launch of the 450 Apex in India. The 450 Apex, as its name suggests, is the brand’s top-of-the-range model, with the most power, performance and technology in its range. It’s also the most expensive.
So what do you get for the premium price? Surprisingly, quite a lot, actually. For a start, Ather has equipped the 450 Apex with its most powerful motor, a 7-kilowatt motor that gives the scooter a top speed of 100 km/h. The battery is also impressive, offering a certified range of 157 km on a single charge. In short, Ather claims that the 450 Apex can go from 0 to 40 km/h in just 2.9 seconds. For reference, the 450X does it in 3.3 seconds.
Complementing the powerful engine are six riding modes – Smart Eco, Eco, Ride, Sport, Warp and Warp Plus – a new mode designed to unlock extra performance. Naturally, all the convenient accessories from the 450X are also transferred to this model, so the Apex features full LED lighting, a large seven-inch TFT screen with smartphone connectivity and automatic brightness adjustment. Other useful features, such as the parking assistance system, hill hold system and turn indicators with automatic override, are also included as standard.
Weighing in at 111.6 kg, the 450 Apex isn’t exactly a lightweight scooter, but it’s light enough for novice riders to easily get a leg over it. It has telescopic forks as standard and a rear monoshock, and is equipped with front and rear disc brakes measuring 200 mm and 190 mm respectively at the front and rear.