To commemorate its tenth anniversary, Ather Energy has released its most powerful scooter to date, the Ather 450 Apex. The Apex is the fastest and most powerful product from the brand to date, representing the apex of the startup’s first scooter platform. At Rs 1.89 lakh (ex-showroom), the Apex is also the most expensive electric vehicle Ather ever produced, and manufacturing of the Apex will be limited, so it will only be available for about eight to nine months. Bookings have been available for a few weeks, with delivery beginning in March 2024.
The 450 Apex is mostly identical to the ordinary 450X, but Inher has chosen a distinctive color scheme that blends a two-layer ‘Indium Blue’ paint job with contrast orange paint for the wheels, emblems, and frame to visually separate it from other 450 models. The 450 Apex also has near-transparent side panels, an homage to the translucent panels first seen on the Ather 450X Series 1.
Features in Ather 450 Apex
The 450 Apex also boasts a more powerful engine, producing a peak power of 7kW (0.6 kW more than the original 450X), although torque output stays constant at 26 Nm. The Apex is the first Ather with a peak speed of 100 kmph and an 0-40 kmph acceleration time of 2.9 seconds, a near-half-second improvement over the basic scooter. It is equipped with an upgraded ‘Warp+’ riding mode. In addition, Ather claims a 30% increase in roll-on acceleration, making it faster in the 40-80 kmph sprint.
A new, sophisticated regenerative braking system, along with a new energy management algorithm dubbed ‘Magic Twist,’ is another important innovation. Ather claims the technology is powerful enough to bring the scooter to a complete stop without requiring any brake lever inputs, and that it operates consistently and effortlessly independent of the state-of-charge (SoC) of the scooter’s battery. This has also resulted in a small improvement in the overall approved range, which now stands at 157 km (150 km for the base model).
The 3.7 kWh battery pack, as well as the suspension and brake system, have been carried over from the 450X. There is no anti-lock braking system (ABS), although tire pressure monitoring is included as standard. Buyers will also receive a customized helmet with a livery that matches the color scheme of the scooter.
As Ather is planning to make considerable modifications for the 450 series’ replacement, this is likely to be the final derivative to emerge from the present 450 platform. However, before that happens, the firm will unveil its second model line in the coming months, which will be a more accessible, comfort-oriented family scooter.
