The AppScooter is an alluring product from Amsterdam-based start-up Etergo, which was recently acquired by Ola Electric. It is highly plausible that this ‘smart’ e-scooter’s design and engineering is to underpin the electric two-wheeler that Ola Electric plans to build for domestic and international markets.
Ola Electric is one conspicuous unicorn that the Indian industry has high hopes on, in taking electromobility to the masses. With plans already set to develop charging and battery swapping infrastructure across the country, the company has revealed its plans to develop its electric vehicle for the domestic market as well. It has recently acquired Etergo – an innovative electric scooter maker based in Amsterdam – to aid its entry into the premium e-scooter market in the country.
I was not aware of the brand before this news, frankly speaking. No shame in that, there are tons of EV start-ups blooming these days, it’s hard to keep track of them all. After a bit of online reading, I then realised that Etergo is one remarkable start-up. Its quintessential product – the AppScooter – has been lauded to the skies, to the extent that the British motoring journalist Jon Quirk calls it the ‘Tesla’ of the scooter world!!
Etergo considers the AppScooter as its first step in a mission to make electric the future of mobility. It is the first and only market-ready product from the start-up that was founded in 2015. But this is no regular e-scooter – thanks to its ‘smart vehicle’ concept wherein battery management, communication, safety, and even entertainment are unified into an intuitive app-centric interface. It is a corollary for EV start-ups to embrace internet app-based systems, just like what Tesla has taught us, but these innovations are yet to catch up in the e-scooter segment meant for the masses.
We are not sure whether the AppScooter is aimed at the mass market buyers in Europe – certainly not, considering its price starting at €3,399 (approx. INR 2.85 lakhs) for its basic variant without any extra upgrades! But it interesting to note that Ola Electric wants to bring a ‘smart’ electric two-wheeler for the Indian market as well. Given the company’s prior indulgence in app-based business models aimed at the masses, it is likely that a similar scooter with app-centric goodies is in the making, also within the affordability of budget scooter buyers in our country.
Moving on to the specifics of the vehicle in the discussion, the Etergo AppScooter has won many accolades for its innovative design and engineering, notably at CES 2019 and German Design Competition 2020. Its styling looks premium, unique, and instantly recognizable – just like a Vespa or Aprilia. It gives a clean ‘electrish’ feeling all around, while its body design makes it a utilitarian – say for the 50L seat storage or better in handling or a broader handle-bar design to accommodate a 7-inch touchscreen display for infotainment.
Further, its modular design and engineering instead of shelf parts are worth appraising. For instance, the battery module is just 8.5 kgs; riders can remove and carry with them easily (with a shoulder sling – oh wow!) to charge at using their living room wall socket, if they are unable to charge the scooter directly. Each module has a power capacity of 1155Wh and offers 80 km range in simulated conditions; customers can opt for max three modules together in their scooter, thus choosing the range they need up to 240 km.
The scooter is powered by a brushless AC motor that offers a max power of 6 kW and 50 Nm of torque. Etergo claims that its e-scooter accelerates 0-45 kmph in 3.9 seconds, with class-leading instance torque even over steepest inclines. What’s all the more interesting is the scooter’s software and connectivity features. This includes Android-powered built-in system with GPS, 4G, Bluetooth, and WiFi connectivity that offers vehicle management, advanced remote diagnosis, navigation, music (with 2 x 10W full-range audio), phone controls, over-the-air updates and so on.
Etergo is betting on direct-to-customer sales for retail buyers and rental fleets in Europe, as against dealer network-based sales. Whether Ola Electric will adopt this quirky sales model as well – along with all of the AppScooter’s exciting goodies – with their proposed smart two-wheeler in India is anybody’s guess. We all hope that the company comes up with an impressive product and a distinctive business model, to make a cathartic impact on the future course of EVs in India.
