The Bengaluru-based electric two-wheeler startup Ather Energy last year in August unveiled its affordable electric scooter. This scooter has been internally codenamed the EL01, and recently, the first-ever test mule of this scooter was spotted testing on public roads. The EL01 will take the position as the affordable Ather Energy electric scooter in India and will be priced in the range of Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.3 lakh.
The Ather EL01 test scooter was recently spotted at night and was seen covered in heavy camouflage. Not a lot of details were noted from the test mule seen on the road. However, it was clearly noted that the production version of the EL01 will look almost the same as the concept model which was showcased back in August 2025.
Starting with the front, the headlamp appeared to be mounted on the handlebar cowl. The apron featured a wide LED daytime running light which stretched across the width and had a slight upward curve towards the edges. This design looks very similar to the concept version shown. There is also a strong possibility that the production model could feature an illuminated Ather logo positioned just above the DRL, like the concept vehicle.
One of the biggest highlights of the EL01 will be its wheel setup. The test mule was seen with a 14-inch front alloy wheel, which makes it the first Ather scooter to feature such a large front wheel. Larger wheels generally offer better stability and improved ride quality over bad roads.
The front wheel was also equipped with a disc brake. At the rear, it appeared that the scooter will use a smaller 12-inch wheel. Ather has already confirmed that the new EL platform is flexible enough to support both 12-inch and 14-inch rear wheel configurations depending on the variant.
The Ather EL01 will feature a telescopic fork at the front and a single shock absorber at the rear. However, unlike the Ather Rizta, the rear shock absorber on the EL01 has been positioned closer to the tail section. With this change, it is expected to increase suspension travel, which will result in a more comfortable ride, especially on uneven city roads. At the rear, a wide LED tail-light was also seen under the camouflage.
The EL01 is the first scooter to be built on Ather’s new EL platform. This platform has been developed for cost efficiency. The new platform uses a steel unibody frame instead of the aluminium-heavy construction seen on the Ather 450 series and the Ather Rizta.
Ather has highlighted that despite switching to steel, the design has been optimized in such a way that the overall weight remains comparable to the Rizta. This switch will work out for Ather Energy as due to the recent wars, the prices of aluminium have spiked. So switching to steel will help in keeping the pricing low.
The scooter will also have a longer wheelbase of around 1,300 mm, which will improve stability and ride comfort. Only the underseat storage space on the EL01 is expected to be smaller than that of the Rizta.
The EL01 is expected to come equipped with a direct-drive motor, which will be similar to what we see on the affordable rivals like the Bajaj Chetak. This type of motor setup reduces mechanical complexity and helps in offering smoother and quieter performance, which is ideal for city usage.
The new EL platform will support battery packs ranging from 2 kWh to 5 kWh. However, the EL01 is expected to be offered with battery options in the 2 kWh to 4 kWh range. As for the performance, the scooter is likely to offer a top speed of around 70 to 80 kmph. Meanwhile, its range will be approximately 120 to 160 km depending on the battery pack.
Another one of the major highlights of the EL01 will be the inclusion of an integrated onboard charger. This means the owner will not have to carry a portable charger, and this will make daily usage more convenient. Ather refers to this system as the Charge Drive Controller.
On the feature front, the EL01 is expected to run on the latest AtherStack 7.0 software. It will likely come equipped with a 7-inch TFT touchscreen display and support features such as voice commands and connected technology. In terms of safety, the EL01 could become the first Ather scooter to feature an Advanced Electronic Braking System (AEBS) as well.
The Ather EL01 is expected to be launched sometime in the second half of 2026. Most likely, it will be launched around the company’s Annual Community Day event in August. Production will take place at Ather’s new manufacturing facility in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. As for pricing, the EL01 is expected to be positioned between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 1.30 lakh (ex-showroom).
Recently Ravneet Phokela, Chief Business Officer at Ather Energy, stated that the upcoming models such as the EL01 and others will be positioned below their current premium range. However, the brand will not be introducing any product priced under the Rs 1 lakh mark.
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