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Ather Energy has launched the new Konarc electric scooter as it looks to strengthen its presence in India’s mass-market scooter segment. Priced from Rs 99,999 (ex-showroom), the Konarc is the first production model based on Ather’s EL platform. With the new scooter, Ather aims to move beyond the premium electric scooter segment and compete with both petrol and electric mass-market models.
The Konarc will be offered across the S and Z lines. The 100km Konarc S is priced at Rs 99,999, while the 125km and 161km range variants are priced at Rs 1,21,999 and Rs 1,44,999, respectively. Prices for the 200km S variant and the two Z variants have not yet been announced.
Ather will roll out the Konarc in phases. Deliveries of selected S variants will begin from September 21, while the 100km version will be delivered in the first quarter of 2027. The Z line is scheduled to arrive in the second quarter of 2027, followed by the 200km S variant in the third quarter.
The Konarc will be available with four range options to meet different customer requirements. The 100km and 125km versions are aimed at regular urban commuting, while the 161km and 200km variants are designed for customers travelling longer distances or those with limited access to charging. The 200km version will offer the longest claimed range in Ather’s portfolio.
Ather EL platform has been developed to support multiple products and battery configurations. According to the company, sharing components and manufacturing processes across models will help control development costs and enable faster product launches.
The Konarc combines Ather’s technology-focused approach with features aimed at conventional scooter buyers. It gets a 14-inch front wheel, a 1,352mm wheelbase, longer rear suspension, a front disc brake and a combined braking system as standard. It also features an adjustable pillion backrest, centre stand and metal body panels.
The scooter introduces Ather Advanced Electronic Braking System, which combines mechanical and electronic braking. The company claims that the system can increase peak braking force by up to 20 percent, reduce stopping distances and lower the risk of rear-wheel lock-up.
Ather has also introduced its Bedrock battery package with the Konarc. The battery comes with a warranty of 10 years or 100,000km, whichever comes first. The warranty includes a minimum 70 percent state-of-health assurance, protection against manufacturing defects and failures, and coverage during extended periods of vehicle inactivity.
According to Ather, improved cell-balancing hardware could increase battery life from around 80,000-100,000km to approximately 120,000km. The Bedrock battery package will also be extended to the 450, Rizta and other models based on the EL platform.
Konarc customers will have access to Ather’s network of around 6,000 public fast chargers. However, the company is also focusing on charging infrastructure in residential societies and apartment complexes, which it sees as an emerging challenge as EV adoption increases.
To address this requirement, Ather has introduced AtherNode, a residential charging system that uses a building’s common electricity supply to provide charging at individual parking spaces. The system can manage available electrical load, queue vehicles for charging and generate separate bills for residents. Ather plans to introduce AtherNode in six cities from December, beginning with Bengaluru.
The Konarc gets a 450W onboard charger and supports combined charging. When paired with an additional 450W charger, the total charging output can reach 900W.
Ather has also introduced True Health, a digital feature designed to provide greater transparency in the used electric scooter market. Available through the Ather app for eligible scooters more than three years old, the feature provides information on the condition of the battery, motor, charger, dashboard, service history and wear components.
Customers will also be able to view the battery’s state of health, the condition of key components and an estimated resale value. Ather believes the feature can help bring greater transparency to the pricing of used electric scooters, where battery condition is often difficult for buyers and sellers to assess.
With the Konarc, Ather is making a significant push into the mass-market scooter segment with a sub-Rs 1 lakh starting price, multiple range options, lower servicing requirements and a long battery warranty. However, expanding production, retail reach and service capacity will remain crucial as the company looks to serve a larger and more geographically diverse customer base.
