Electric vehicle owners in India face range anxiety due to limited charging infrastructure. A heartwarming incident involving an Ather Energy scooter owner assisting a stranded Tata Nexon EV driver was captured in a viral video.
As electric vehicles gain increasing popularity in India, it is evident that they represent the future of transportation. Nevertheless, owners of electric vehicles often contend with “range anxiety” due to the still-developing charging infrastructure in the country. A recent incident involving a Tata Nexon EV owner highlighted this issue, as the vehicle’s battery ran out on the road. However, the day was saved by a fellow electric scooter owner from Ather Energy who lent a helping hand, and this heartwarming act was captured in a widely shared video.
The video, originally posted by a user named V. S. Sunil on X (formerly Twitter), shows an Ather Energy electric scooter owner pushing a Tata Nexon EV on what seems to be a bridge. The Ather EV owner skillfully utilizes the instant torque available in electric vehicles, a feature that delivers power right from the start. This enabled the Ather Energy owner to assist the stranded Tata Nexon EV, despite the SUV’s weight. Ather’s flagship model, the Ather 450X, generates an impressive 26 Nm of torque, far surpassing traditional internal combustion engine scooters in this aspect.
The scooter featured in the video is the Ather Energy 450 EV model, but the specific variant cannot be identified. Ather Energy, a Bengaluru-based electric scooter manufacturer, currently offers two models. The first is the third-generation Ather 450X, renowned for its popularity, with a starting price of Rs. 1.35 lakh. The second is the recently introduced 450S, starting at Rs. 1.27 Lakh.
The new Ather 450S is equipped with a belt-drive motor that delivers a peak power of 7.24 BHP and a torque of 22 NM. It achieves a top speed of 90 KMPH in Sport mode, while Eco and Ride modes offer slightly lower speeds. With a 2.9 kWh lithium-ion battery, the 450S is certified by ARAI to have a range of 115 KM on a single charge, although real-world performance typically reaches around 90 km.