As a senior sub-editor, Sandeep is generating tech-oriented content and also monitoring the content published on the website. He has over five years of experience in tech journalism and has expertise in product reviews, news articles, campaign articles, and listicles.
Ather 450S electric scooter owner disappointed with high service charge
Had to pay around Rs. 10,000
Service cost similar to Kia EV6
Ather Energy seems to be letting down its customers in unusual ways. Just a while ago, a Noida resident was seen complaining online getting late to work due to Ather e-scooter update. Now, another Ather customer resorted to microblogging platform Twitter to share disappointment over expensive service charge which he had to pay for the 450S electric scooter. Here’s what happened:
A user on X (Arun Bhat S) shared series of tweets where he shared disappointment with high service maintenance cost associated with the 450S electric scooter. Ather has been touting its low cost service charges for the electric scooter. The customer also shared service cost comparison between the Kia EV6 and the 450S.
With @atherenergy the low cost of service and maintenance seems to be a thing of the past . Latest service invoice for 20K service for my Kia EV6 ( AC filter change , wheel alignment, balancing & rotation) and 30K service for one of the Ather 450s are costing the same ~₹7.5 K pic.twitter.com/bAyTBI3BZS
The Ather 450S electric scooter owned by the user was serviced at 30,000 kms for which he had to pay around Rs. 7,500. Whereas, the Kia EV6 which the customer owns also got serviced with the similar costs which included AC filter change, wheel alignment, along with balancing and rotation.
In another tweet Arun notes that the Ather 450S service cost was cheaper until the pro service subscription was active. However, with this service pack getting discontinued, the charges spiked. But why exactly the service cost is so expensive and almost equivalent to that of a premium electric car.
Arun explains the primary costing which made the servicing expensive was the added cost for braking module. However, consider the Ather 450 electric scooter series utilizes regenerative braking system, the maintenance cost shouldn’t have been this high.
Ather has tried to reach out the customer and replied with a comment stating, “Hey, Arun! We’re here to help resolve any issues you’re facing. Could you kindly provide us with the case ID that you might have raised through the Ather app, or your registered contact details via DM? We’re ready to assist you further.” It remains to be seen what resolution Ather brings for this customer and other who might experience similar issues with 450 series e-scooter servicing in future.
E2W startrup from Bengaluru, Ultraviolette has taken the wraps off its latest high-speed electric motorcycle — the F77 Mach 2. The latest F77 iteration has arrived with multiple upgrades improving the performance metric substantially over the existing model. Let’s take a look at the Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2 e-motorcycle’s variants, updated powertrain, and features:
Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2 Electric Motorcycle Variants, Design
The newly launched Ultraviolette F77 electric motorcycle will be available in two different trims. There will be a F77 Mach 2 standard variant and a F77 Mach 2 Recon model. Both variants of the F77 Mach 2 electric motorcycle gets the updated powertrain and feature-sheet.
However, the design language isn’t altered compared to the existing models. While the design is identical to the previous-gen models, the latest variant does get a re-worked paint scheme and can be purchased in a variety of color options. The F77 Mach 2 will be available for sale in Afterburner Yellow, Asteroid Grey, Cosmic Black, Plasma Red, Supersonic Silver, and Stellar White shades. The Mach 2 also flaunts new graphics engraved at the front fork suspensions.
The Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2 standard comes as the low-end model which is driven by a 27kW electric motor, while the high-end Recon model is backed by a 30kW motor. With a 7.1 kWh battery pack, the Ultraviolette F77 standard model is capable of delivering up to 211 km range with a full charge.
On the other hand, using the integrated 10.3 kWh electric motor, the F77 Mach 2 Recon variant offers around 323 km range on a full charge. The standard model can reach up to 140 kmph top speed, while the Recon variant is said to reach up to 152 kmph. Both F77 Mach 2 models comes with a regenerative braking system.
Other Key Features Offered By Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2
Both Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2 Standard and Recon variants comes equipped with a 5-inch TFT instrument cluster with Bluetooth connectivity and navigation control. There are three different riding modes offered by the new F77 Mach 2 electric motorcycle models. Suspension module comprises 41mm USD fork suspension upfront and adjustable rear monoshock absorber. Braking is taken care of by 320mm front and 230mm rear disc brakes.
The Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2 India price begins at Rs. 2.99 lakh and Rs. 3.99 lakh for the standard and Recon variant respectively. It is worth mentioning that these are the introductory prices which can be availed by the first 1000 buyers. The new F77 Mach 2 e-motorcycle can also be pre-booked with Rs. 5,000 token amount.
Increasing service infrastructure beneficial for both consumers and brand
Ola electric has emerged as the most popular E2W brand in India ever since the launch of Ola S series e-scooters. The company currently has the largest consumer base in the country and offers multiple e-scooters in the premium as well as affordable segment. The company is also working on expanding its service network across the country and has just inaugurated its 500th service station in the Indian market. Details are as follows:
Ola Electric’s 500th Service Station Launched In Kochi
Ola electric’s latest service centre is now open in Kochi, Kerala, India. As mentioned above, the service centre comes as part of brand’s service network expansion across the country and is the 500th station for Ola electric scooter repair and maintenance works. As for the newly inaugurated service centre in Kochi, it is said to be the brand’s one of the biggest service centers in the state of entire Kerala.
It is worth noting that Ola has one of the largest networks in the country and probably the biggest consumer base too when it comes to electric scooters. However, there have been several reports that suggest the brand has been experiencing backlashes from the customers for poor servicing infrastructure.
But now, the brand aims to strengthen its portfolio with a wide range of service centers catering to customers in all major cities. Ola also believes with the expansion of its service networks, it will be able to provide improved after sales services too.
In the recent developments, Ola electric announced a price cut on its most affordable electric scooter, i.e., the S1X and made it cheaper by Rs. 10,000. Starting at Rs. 70,000, the Ola S1X is currently amongst the best budget electric scooter that one can buy in the Indian market.
Separately, Ola has also commenced its ride hailing services in Ayodhya. Customers will now be able to get cab services directly from Maharishi Valmiki International Airport in Ayodhya. This new move will be beneficial for the tourists paying a holy visit to the city.
New initiative in works to ease traffic situation in Bengaluru
Real time updates to be provided
MoU signed with Mappls Mapmy India
Traffic situation is getting worse in Bengaluru and citizens are forced to travel through congested city traffic. It has become a nightmare for the residents to travel to any near by or longer destination specifically during the peak hours. Traffic police in Bengaluru have been struggling to ease down traffic situations across the city. To do so more efficiently, the traffic police in Bengaluru has collaborated with a tech firm and aspires to manage traffic with real time updates.
MoU Signed Between Bengaluru Traffic Police And Mapples Mapmy India
The local traffic authorities in Bengaluru has teamed up with Mapples Mapmy India to provide real time traffic updates to the commuters in the city. An Mou (Memorandum of Understanding) has also been signed between the two parties with the aim to cut down of the heavy congestions at different traffic junctions and lanes.
With this new navigational app support, commuters will not only get real time traffic details but will also get updates of the less congested and shorter routes for the desired destination. Going forward, the Mppls Mapmy India users will be able to see an easy user interface detailing the traffic updates in real time along with 3D view as well as personalized navigation options.
A statement released by a senior traffic officer notes, Through the MoU, the traffic police have gained access to better traffic monitoring systems and advanced algorithms, empowering them to make informed decisions and implement targeted interventions to alleviate traffic bottlenecks. Moreover, the app served as a platform for community engagement, allowing citizens to report traffic violations, potholes, and other road hazards in real time. This is going to improve the traffic movement and management.”
It has been long since the traffic conditions across Bengaluru have been a big concern for the residents as well the authorities. While it seems that a dedicated app with real time updates of traffic, potholes, and other scenarios will help easing down the traffic conditions, the real life application and success of this initiative will only be clear after the
Ampere EV has finally confirmed the launch timeline for its upcoming electric scooter in India. The two wheeler EV company has been conducting test runs of the NXG e-scooter and also promoted its arrival with the Kashmir to Kanyakumari ride. Here’s when the new Ampere electric scooter is making its debut in the country.
Ampere NXG Electric Scooter Official India Launch Date
Ampere NXG electric scooter is set to launch on April 30, 2024 in India. The confirmation comes via the brand itself. It has been a few months since the product listing of the NXG electric scooter was uploaded on Ampere’s official website but there was no word related to its launch. All this while, Ampere has been completing endurance test runs and after all the performance and safety tests have revealed this month’s arrival.
It is worth mentioning that Ampere also completed a trademark registration for the Nexus electric scooter recently. This increases the possibility of the NXG e-scooter to be carry the Nexus moniker in the Indian market. While the NXG electric scooter is said to be a premium offering, the pricing range is kept a mystery.
Nevertheless, Ampere is already taking pre-bookings for the upcoming premium family e-scooter via its official website. Interested customers just need to pay a small token amount of Rs. 499 for the pre-registrations of the NXG/ Nexus e-scooter.
Going by the test mule snapshots and other credible leaks, the Ampere NXG will be a family-segment e-scooter featuring a single-piece long seat for comfortable rides. The upcoming e-scooter is also expected to offer flat floorboard and sufficient leg room, storage space for luggage. Powertrain details including motor and battery are not known at this point. However, the Ampere NXG e-scooter could come with a bug TFT digital screen with Bluetooth connectivity and an all LED lighting (headlamp and tail lamp).
Smartwatches have majorly replaced conventional wrist watches globally. Consumers are proactively opting for the smart wearables to keep a tab on health while-on-the-go. And the market today has offering not just for adults or teens but kids too. The imoo Watch Phone Z7 is one of such watch which is tech-rich and is a reliable health and safety gadget for your kid. Available at Rs. 14,990, the imoo Watch Phone Z7 smartwatch can be expensive than the readily available smartwatches in the market. But what makes it worth a buy for kid? This review will help you analyze.
imoo Watch Z7 wears a modern sport-style aesthetics which you kids would love to flaunt. It has a durable and sturdy build material which will ensure least damages even with rough outdoor usage. imoo has certainly kept all the necessary design factors in mind while designing this kids smartwatch to offer a long terms usage.
The brand has used aluminum casing for the dial and a good quality silicone-rubber strap. Usage is fairly simple with the integrated power key on the right. Now, what gives the imoo Z7’s design a unique twist is the lifting dial that allows camera usage.
Yes, you read that right. Right above the imoo Z7’s 1.3-inch display is a 2MP front camera which allows video calling. But that’s not the only camera sensor this watch offers. A bigger 5MP snapper is tucked at the rear profile which becomes visible when the dial lifts from the frame. As for the screen, it’s an AMOLED panel which offers adequate response overall but an average visibility when the panel is exposed to harsh sunlight.
You will also see a SIM card tray right beneath the sensor module on the back panel. This is used for two-way phone calls on the imoo Watch Phone Z7. Lifting up the tray could be little tricky but its just a secured fit of the tray to protect it from falling off accidentally.
To make it more sturdy, imoo has got IPX8 certification for the Watch Phone Z7 with which it becomes water resistance (to up to 20m depth). At around 65g of weight and the large dial size, the imoo Watch Phone Z7 might be a but bulky for kids. However, overall wearing comfort isn’t compromised much.
The imoo Watch Phone Z7 draws its power from the Spreadtrum W317 entry-level chipset. The smartwatch features a built-in memory space of 4GB which enables smooth scrolling experience through the watch’s interface. The UI loaded on the Z7 is CaremeOS Lite which offers a clean interface for convenient usage.
Moreover, the Watch Phone Z7 is equipped with a variety of sensors such as GPS, GLONASS, and LBS for tracking and other monitoring. It also has WiFi network support but only 2.4 GHz networks. Pairing it with standard WiFi routers isn’t much of a hassle but those operating on dual band 5GHz might not offer a smooth pairing experience.
The biggest feature highlight of the imoo Watch Phone Z7 is undeniably the two-way calling and two-way video chat option. As mentioned previously, it is equipped with a 2MP front and 5MP rear camera both of which offer a good image/ video quality. The front cam will double up for video calling, while using the rear cam, your kids can show the surroundings or backdrop easily.
This a nifty feature that can have several usage scenarios and be beneficial during any unforeseen emergencies. The compatible smartwatch app will help with camera toggling on the Watch Phone Z7. Besides the voice and video calling, the imoo Watch Phone Z7 also supports messaging. You will need the imoo watch app for texting as well. It is worth noting that this smartwatch currently comes void of any third party app support like WhatsApp.
Hence, the only way to use the two-way voice and video calling is the supported mobile app that you can download from either Google Play Store or Apple’s App Store. Additionally, the Z7 smartwatch offers a range of health measuring features. It is equipped with a PPG heart rate monitor and an air pressure sensor that can keep a track of heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and also body temperature on-the-go.
Since the Watch Phone Z7 is kids specialised smartwatch, bigger battery backup is what the audience expects. With a full charge and standard usage, expect this smartwatch to deliver almost three days of charge. But you can get additional juice out of the 740 mAh integrated battery if the usage of extra features like camera is kept minimum.
In this competitive market, the imoo Z7 brings along standout features which certainly makes it an advanced smart wearable for kids. While it handles the primary health metrics, it elevates the user experience with the extra range of futuristic features such as two-way audio/ video calling and SIM card compatibility. While the price range of Rs. 14,990 is a bit on the higher end of spectrum, the features offered makes up for the higher costs. This watch does make for a good buy if you prioritize your kids health and safety.
A few weeks ago Ultraviolette sent out media invites for an upcoming product launch in India on April 24. Now, the two wheeler EV brand has shared an official teaser revealing the next big launch for the country. The Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2 is all set to mark its entry into the premium electric motorcycle segment tomorrow in India. Check out the details:
Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2 India Launch Teased
Ultraviolette’s upcoming offering for the Indian market is the F77 Mach 2 electric motorcycle. In a teaser shared on its official social media handles, Ultraviolettte has confirmed the new e-motorcycle launch in the country. You can take a look at the teaser below:
Along with the short teaser video for the Mach 2’s launch, the company has also shared a note which hints what it plans for the consumers. The brand has shared a note along with the teaser stating the Mach 2 to be the ‘new benchmark in Technology for a Sport motorcycle’. But what upgrades should we expect from this new F77 e-motorcycle variant? Below is a round up of the speculations.
The Ultraviolette F77 arrived as one of the most powerful electric motorcycles back in 2022 in the Indian market. The F77 Mach 2 is expected to arrive with multiple enhancements highlighting speedy performance. It is being anticipated that the F77 Mach 2 variant could feature a powerful motor setup than the standard variant to deliver better performance overall.
However, the exact powertrain upgrades will be known during its official launch tomorrow. Besides the powertrain, the Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2 could also come with cosmetic enhancements. It is also likely to get multiple feature enhancements such as an updated TFT screen with new UI. A new mode for quicker acceleration and faster speeds will also be added to the F77 Mach 2 as per the official teaser.
Mahindra is running series of tests on its upcoming electric four wheeler range. Just recently, spy shots of the XUV.e9 has started doing rounds over the web. Snapped during performance test runs, the upcoming electric SUV’s production-ready model is seen flaunting a coupe styling under heavy camouflage. When do we expect the XUV.e9 to launch in India and what all details have been revealed till now? Find out below:
The Mahindra XUV.e9’s production-ready model snapped during endurance test runs appears identical to the concept showcased earlier. The fascia, side profile, and rear have been snapped where the coupe-style statement is evident. The XUV.e9’s test mule wears a closed-off front grille and has vertically aligned triangular headlamp design giving it a distinct appeal.
The Mahindra XUV.e9 also gets a connected LED tail lamp design which has been in trend for a while in the premium and mid-tier segment. The edgy and curvy rear profile seems futuristic and boasts an EV-specific profile. The current leak details only the exterior design of the XUV.e9. But we do have some information on the internals courtesy past leaks and rumors.
Mahindra will be making XUV.e9 a feature rich electric coupe SUV offering a triple-screen layout (12.3-inch) infotainment and instrument cluster module. The cabin will be equipped with a two-spoke steering wheel with a flat bottom. The electric SUV is said to come with connected tech cabin and offer several security features including ADAS Level 2 and possible 360-degree camera surveillance.
The Mahindra XUV.e9 electric SUV could be an electric variant of the XUV 700 which will come with vehicle-2-load (V2L) technology. It is likely to share the same powertrain as the XUV.e8 and could be launched with both single and dual electric motor setup producing up to 350 hp of peak power. The XUV.e9 might feature an 80kWh battery and offer around 450 km range per charge as per WLTP cycle.
Bajaj Auto might be planning a new e-scooter’s launch for India. The two wheeler auto giant is said to be bringing an affordable model of the Chetak e-scooter. The Bajaj Chetak e-scooter currently comes in two different trims with up to 113 km range offering. What all we can expect from the upcoming Chetak e-scooter’s budget variant and when its its arrival tipped for? Let’s find out:
New Bajaj Chetak Affordable E-Scooter Model Launching Soon?
Bajaj Auto is rumored to be setting up roadmap for its new electric scooter launch in the country. The name of the affordable variant of the Chetak e-scooter is yet to be revealed. However, the rumor mill has started anticipating its arrival timeline by this year. Exact date remains to be confirmed from the brand. If the rumors are true, Bajaj Chetak will soon be available in three different variants in the Indian market.
For refrence, the current lineup of the Chetak e-scooter includes the Chetak Urbane and the Chetak Premium. This brings us to the expected pricing of the new Chetak electric scooter’s pricing. As the rumors suggest the new model will come with an affordable price, we can expect it to be available starting under Rs. 1 lakh in India. This is considering the low-end Chetak variant (Urbane) is priced starting at Rs. 1.23 lakh in the country.
And since the upcoming model will carry a lower price tag amongst all the variants, the aforementioned price range tipped by the rumors could be accurate. Nevertheless, we should wait for some brand announcements before believing the words doing round online.
New Budget Bajaj Chetak E-Scooter Features And Powertrain: Details Known
As of now, only the development details of the upcoming Chetak electric scooter’s affordable variant is tipped by the leaks factory. Crucial specifics such powertrain and features are yet to be shared. But knowing this variant is coming as an affordable option, we can expect some missing features compared to the top-end models. Whether there will be any major difference with the powertrain-sheet is something that still needs clarification.
Google Maps is one of the most advanced navigational apps available on Play Store and Apple’s App Store. Gradually, the Google-owned navigation app is making way to the digital consoles of automobile with the connected car technology. Google Maps offers multiple street view option offering users both 2D and 3D view of any route. Off late, the search giant started testing an additional 3D view option for Maps. The latest feature will allow the users to see building as well in 3D.
Spotted earlier with the Google Maps beta version 125, the 3D buildings Google Maps options seems to be making its way to the compatible devices in a phased manner globally. With just a few taps, the one can easily enable Google Maps 3D building. This feature makes maps more interactive while traveling to new and unknown destinations. The steps can be checked below:
Step 1: Launch Google Maps application on the Android or iOS device you are using. Make sure the app is updated to the latest version. You can do a manual update if required.
Step 2: Tap on the Profile icon from the top right of the app.
Step 3: Select the Setting menu
Step 4: Scroll down to the Navigation settings tab and click on it.
Step 5: Move to the Map display segment in the Navigation settings menu
Step 6: If the feature is rolled out to your device, you will be able to see the ‘Show 3D building’ option right above the ‘keep map north up’ option. Toggle the former option on.
Step 7: Once the ‘show 3D maps’ tab is enabled, you will be able to see 3D buildings on the Maps.
