EV Startup ‘Ather Energy’ Inks Pact with Scooter Sharing Platform ‘Bounce’

Bengaluru-based e-mobility startup Ather Energy has entered into a partnership with dockless mobility solution provider Bounce for a scooter selling and sharing initiative ‘Peer to Peer’ (P2P) with the pilot programme taking off from Bengaluru.

As per the deal, Hero MotoCorp-backed company will sell its ‘Ather 450’ e-scooter through Bounce’s website and customers can book this scooter for Rs 499.

The coupon amount will be adjusted against the registration fee of the vehicle, which will be facilitated by Bounce, Ather said.

The company also said that it will be delivered on a priority basis once deliveries resume post lockdown.

Bounce is also a Bengaluru-based startup and having a P2P initiative called ‘ScooterHero’, under this scheme, an individual can rent out his/her vehicle directly during the lockdown.

This partnership will further enable new Ather 450 owners to monetise the idle time of their vehicle by listing their vehicle on the Bounce App. The owners can select the number of days they want to list Ather 450 for rent, share it with users of the Bounce platform and get compensated for it from Bounce.

Ather 450 electric scooter is specially designed for daily city riding, with a top speed of 80 km/hr, and a range of 75 km. Also, it is one of the quickest scooters with an acceleration of 3.9 seconds from 0-40 km/hr.

Moreover, the battery of the e-scooter is designed to last for 50,000 km. Typically it runs around 6,000 to 8,000 km a year, so chances are that this battery won’t need a replacement for 6-7 years, the company said in a statement. Also, this scooter can be charged in about 5 hours.

Under this scheme, the final price of the scooter is Rs 1,15,494 including Ather portable charger, the Fame Subsidy and 5-year comprehensive insurance.

The company said that the on-road price is all-inclusive, and includes the cost of the vehicle, registration, insurance, tax and the FAME subsidy.

However, in order to list Ather 450 for rent through Bounce, the customer will be required, under the Motor Vehicles Act, to obtain a commercial permit, leading to a nominal increase in the total on-road price by approx. Rs 1,800.

Earlier, Ather Energy signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tamil Nadu government for a 4 lakh square feet electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing facility.