2022 Ather 450X Gen 3 Review: The electric scooter that gets better with age!

We recently rode the 2022 Ather Energy 's 450X electric scooter in Bengaluru, ahead of its launch on July 19. Now in its 3rd generation, both the 450X and 450 Plus have received tailored enhancements rather than headline-grabbing hardware upgrades and this has led to incremental improvements in range, performance and User Interface (UI).

Here is what's new in the Ather electric scooters.

At first glance, one will struggle to find any change in the Gen 3 450X, as the exterior design remains the same even for 2022. However, upon closer inspection, you will notice the redesigned rear view mirrors that Ather has developed after receiving complaints about the earlier design which was aesthetic but impractical. Ather tells us that the new design offers a 25 percent wider viewing angle and is also lighter and sturdier. It also has a single adjustment mechanism now.

For 2022, the 450X also gets a new set of tyres, that have been co-developed with MRF. Ather founders tell us that these offer riders 25 per cent more grip and a 16 per cent higher contact patch that helps the 3rd gen 450X come to a complete halt, a quarter of a second faster than its predecessor. The rear tyre profile is also wider than before.

Apart from that, buyers will also have the option of choosing a side step as an accessory which has been specially designed to compliment the scooter's overall design theme.

Hardware upgrades:
The first major change in Gen 3 450X is the upgraded battery pack that now boasts of a 3.7kWh capacity which is more than the Gen 2's 2.96kWh battery pack. Ather states that out of this, 3.24 kWh capacity is the usable capacity. The bigger battery capacity has increased the 450X's true range from the earlier 85km to 105km in Eco mode. Apart from that, other parameters such as top speed of 80 kmph, peak power of 6kW from the PMSM motor and 0-100 percent charging time of 5 hours 45 minutes remains the same as Gen 2. Fast charging times of 1.5 km per minute (up to 50 percent) are also unchanged.

Ather insists that just throwing in a bigger battery and motor is not a sustainable way to tackle the issue of range anxiety that most first-time buyers have. Rather optimising the scooters each and every aspect, holds the key to mass adoption. A bigger battery, bigger network of Ather Grids, TPMS, accurate range predictions and a new riding algorithm called the SmartECO mode are what the company is relying on to win first-time buyers.

Smart ECO mode:
The Smart Eco mode's algorithm has been developed based on Ather's existing user usage data that has been collected over 218+ million km, that Ather scooters have completed since the Gen 1 started rolling out in 2020. It is dynamic in nature and alters the scooter's performance based on how you are riding to extract maximum efficiency. If you are riding hard, the SmartECO mode will cut down the scooter's power to maximise range and similarly if you are riding in a spirited manner, it will open up the taps for more power on demand. However, during our test ride, we found that the dynamic nature of the SmartECO mode could become an issue in certain real-life situations. For example, when you need the extra juice to make an overtaking manoeuvre and the algorithm decides to cut down the power. Hence, the SmartECO mode might be best for riding in low-speed situations where the environment is a bit more forgiving.

For our riding preferences, we found the 'Ride' mode to be adequate. But in case one has a short and calculated commute, then the 'Sport' or 'Warp' mode is where the scooter is fastest and the rider has the maximum control. It should be noted that even in 'Ride' mode the scooter does offer a true range of 85 km, which is a significant improvement from the earlier version. The introduction of Smart ECO does not mean that ECO mode is out of the UI, it still exists but one has to select it from the internal setting menu accessed through the digital touchscreen UI.

Just like its dimensions, the 450X's excellent riding dynamics remain the same and it is still a fun scooter to pitch into corners while carrying speeds in Warp mode. Increased grip from the new tyres throws a bit more confidence in the mix now.

UI upgrades:
The other area where the 450X has seen significant improvements is the 7-inch touchscreen console, which now has 16GB of memory space for storing more apps, a big leap from the 8GB storage that earlier versions had. Ather has upgraded the 450X's Android OS system with 2GB ram for 2022. What this does, is that it allows the system to push more processing power towards other apps that used to get throttled due to the earlier model's 1GB ram. Ather claims that everyday tasks are now executed 80 percent faster and Google Maps has become much smoother than earlier.

Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS):
Ather told us that in their research, they found that a 6 PSI drop in tyre pressure of the 450X can result in an 18 percent drop in the total range. A scooter running on 24 PSI rather than 30 PSI will also require a 20 percent higher steering effort. In order to tackle this, Ather has now introduced a TPMS system in its scooters. The TPMS system is theft-proof as it sits inside the rim, it is accurate and offers alerts both on the mobile app and dashboard. Currently, the TPMS system is not standard equipment but only available as an additional accessory.

Accurate range prediction:
While the range predictions offered on the 450X scooter's dashboard are purely mathematical the ones offered by the Ather Energy mobile application are a lot more accurate now as they are based on your riding behaviour.

Price:
Ather Energy has launched the Gen 3 450X electric scooter at an introductory price of Rs 1.55 lakh (ex-showroom Bengaluru). The ex-showroom prices vary from state to state.

One might think that there isn't much to write home about in regard to the third generation. But we have to understand Ather's psyche behind these small changes that bring significant benefits to the overall package without adding exorbitant costs to both manufacturer and customer. The company is determined to offer long-term consistent and dependable performance to riders. They want their products to continue to hold value as they are always getting better features through over-the-air OTA updates and do not turn obsolete as their petrol-powered counterparts. This strategy of optimising the scooter's each and every aspect in contrast to just throwing in bigger hardware is what Ather believes will allow the 450X and 450 Plus to continue being perceived as a superior product in the segment.

To sum it up, much like today's smart devices when you buy an Ather scooter you are also buying into their ecosystem. One that offers software support to customers for years and keeps the scooter up to date with new features. Surely a democratising move towards e-mobility that is aimed at driving mass adoption. So tell us in the comments section below if the Ather will make it to your shortlist and why.