Ather Vitality has constructed its fame round sporty, technology-heavy electrical scooters, however Konarc represents a really completely different path for the corporate. Constructed on the brand new cost-focused EL platform, it’s designed to take Ather deeper into India’s mass-market household scooter section.
Konarc is constructed on Ather’s new value efficient and mass market EL platform which has unlocked a brand new value level for the model, now beginning at Rs 99,999 (efficient Ex-sh). After witnessing the launch, I skilled Konarc on the media trip occasion held in Bengaluru. After using it and understanding it throughout a number of terrains, that is what I take into consideration the brand new Ather Konarc.
Ather Konarc EV Overview
Now we have to begin with costs as a result of that’s the headline determine. Rs 99,999 to Rs 1,44,999 price ticket (efficient Ex-sh) and 200 km vary, are new for Ather. These are made potential by a brand new EL platform, however the headline figures create a spec that doesn’t exist. Ather solely launched base S trim and never top-spec Z trim which will get all of the bells and whistles. Even inside this S trim, 200 km vary variant just isn’t launched but.
So, for those who purchase a Konarc at the moment, you don’t get all of the options and vary goes until 161 km solely. That is regardless of paying Rs 1.45 lakh + AtherStack Professional as a result of many of the drool worthy options are locked behind AtherStack Professional. You could possibly look forward to the Z trim, select a better vary variant, prolonged guarantee after which AtherStack Professional, however costs might close to (and even cross) Rs 2 lakh (OTR, Karnataka).
There are 4 colors to select from – Lumen Copper, Quartz White, Majestic Gray and Celestial Gold, which is what we sampled. Solely Celestial Gold and Quartz White will get Blue distinction on seat cowl, flooring space and trim behind the entrance apron. The opposite will get Black in these areas. Konarc is Ather’s first scooter to come back with metallic physique, however it’s only seen on the facet physique panels and isn’t very intensive.
Design & Practicality
By way of design, Ather Konarc follows a household scooter format and isn’t offensive or polarising in any means. Ather designers have completed an excellent job in making a scooter that can attraction to as many individuals as potential. Positive, Ather Konarc type of seems like TVS Orbiter, however Konarc has far more highway presence and a way of a premiumness to it. Headlight is a triple barrel reflector setup within the handlebar cowl and LED DRLs are positioned within the apron.
Ather brand is lit and outer components of DRLs double up as flip indicators too. An analogous sample might be seen on the rear tail lights as nicely. Facet physique panels have clear surfacing and minimal creases, exuding magnificence and stylish aura. Facet stand will get its personal window and Ather Konarc will get a major stand for comfort as nicely. Seat is lengthy, large, contoured and accommodating. My 6-foot body might simply flat foot on either side and my EU45 (~UK11) dimension boots match properly on the flat floorboard.
Talking of floorboard, it’s fairly spacious too and household oriented patrons will discover it accommodating. There’s a hook for practicality, a Sort-C port and a small glove compartment too. ORVMs are good and large and so they supply good visibility even past my broad shoulders. Pillion room is ample too and there’s a mounted backrest within the S variant. Solely Z trim will get the peak adjustable backrest, which is barely bigger in dimension to be extra accommodating.
Underseat storage is 31L and it’s fairly massive and spacious with oodles of practicality. The boot space is lengthy and is pretty deep, however is simply inches away from accommodating my full-face XL-sized ADV-styled helmet. Solely the Z variant will get LED boot mild and the seat-release strut. Talking of, Ather Konarc Z variant will get keyless go and distant boot launch perform on the important thing. There’s a devoted button behind the pillion backrest which additionally releases the seat.
Options & Gear
Switchgear are all high-quality and gave constructive suggestions. They’re not clicky, however they really feel type of plush and premium. The variant we sampled got here with a 7-inch LCD instrument cluster which helps Bluetooth connectivity together with a plethora of linked options like turn-by-turn navigation, notifications, name alerts and extra. There’s a devoted button for reverse mode and the ignition button doubles up as a mode toggle to cycle between SmartEco, Eco and Energy.
There are usually not a variety of options with Ather Konarc S trim and even inside the S trim, options are locked behind AtherStack Professional. Journey Help suite of options are solely with AtherStack Professional. These embody options like AirWalk, AutoHold, FallSafe together with Bluetooth Name & Music Alerts. Ather Join is locked behind AtherStack Professional together with many linked options which one would really feel are needed. Additionally, Ather Join with AtherStack Professional is simply complimentary for 3 years solely.
When you plan on getting an prolonged guarantee of as much as 10 years, it is advisable to have AtherStack Professional. What’s not locked behind AtherStack Professional is the 450W onboard charger, normal throughout all variants. Ather has launched a mixed charging function too, permitting an exterior 450W charger to be linked on prime of the onboard charger for a complete of 900W AC charging. Sticking with charging, Ather Grid is simply normal with 125 km and 161 km variants.
Powertrain and Efficiency
Ather Konarc S is powered both by a 2.1 kWh, a 2.5 kWh or a 3.5 kWh battery pack, promising vary of 100 km, 125 km and 161 km, respectively. The 100 km variant will get a 4 kW motor with 0-40 km/h dash taking 5 seconds, whereas 125 km and 161 km variants get 4.7 kW motor taking 4.7 seconds to 40 km/h. High pace is identical at 70 km/h with all three Konarc S variants and so is the 16 Nm torque determine.
We felt that the efficiency is brisk at decrease speeds in Energy Mode, however can really feel boring with Good Eco mode. Efficiency tapers off fairly shortly as you method the highest pace. It took round 8.2 seconds to succeed in 60 km/h after which round 12 seconds to succeed in 70 km/h (speedo indicated). We wished prime pace was 80 km/h for an enticing trip, as a result of the 70 km/h prime pace felt limiting in some ways.
Ather Konarc will get 14-inch entrance wheel and 12-inch rear wheel. Couple that with lengthy journey suspension on the rear, Ather Konarc presents a luxurious trip high quality. Nevertheless, I needed Ather had given 14-inch wheels at each ends. I personally personal a scooter with 10-inch, 12-inch and 14-inch wheels at each ends and I’d select the 14-inch scooter any day of the 12 months. Due to the 14-inch entrance and 12-inch rear combo, trip high quality feels barely inconsistent, relying on the place you sit.
The brand new EL platform is cost-effective and doesn’t have any fancy Aluminium body beneath. This interprets to regular using traits, shedding the sporty issue that Ather is usually identified for. Steering is predictable and Konarc can lean right into a nook nicely, for its type issue and style. Braking is predictable too and Konarc got here to a standstill from 40 km/h very quickly. There’s no ABS right here and the scooter solely will get CBS and an digital layer Ather calls AeBS, detailed beneath.
Ought to You Purchase One?
On the keynote, Ather confirmed the Konarc you possibly can probably purchase at some point (Z trim), however not the Konarc you should purchase at the moment, which is the S trim. I want this disconnect didn’t exist. Our unit additionally had just a few flaws like tough edges, clotted paint, uneven panel gaps and I might see some color variation between metallic and non-metallic surfaces. I needed AirWalk function would work on an incline as a result of that’s after I really need it to work.
The largest hurdle for me, personally, is premium pricing technique. Ather Konarc costs are usually not aggressive if we take rivals under consideration. This premium pricing can be justified if the non-compulsory AtherStack Professional didn’t exist and all fancy options have been supplied as normal. I don’t have something in opposition to Ather Join subscription, as it’s an evolving software program suite and wishes fixed R&D to good additional.
AtherStack Professional Makes Enterprise Sense
Whereas I would like many of those options to be included with the scooter, it’s straightforward to grasp why Ather is pursuing this technique. Ather’s personal investor disclosures present that the AtherStack Professional connect fee has reached 94%, which suggests an awesome majority of consumers are choosing the paid software program package deal.
Curiously, the connect fee has remained constantly excessive at the same time as Ather’s volumes have grown. It stood at 89% in Q1 FY25 and has step by step elevated to 94%, whereas quarterly registrations grew from 17,798 to 88,387 over the interval proven by the corporate. Ather additionally says non-vehicle income now contributes round 14% of its general income.
AtherStack Professional is contributing to larger common promoting costs as nicely. Ather’s common ex-showroom promoting value elevated from round Rs 1.50 lakh in This autumn FY26 to Rs 1.61 lakh by June 2026. The corporate attributes this Rs 11,000 improve to a mix of upper car costs, AtherStack Professional pricing and clients more and more selecting higher-range fashions.
So, from Ather’s perspective, holding superior software program options behind AtherStack Professional makes enterprise sense. If 94% of consumers are prepared to pay for it, there may be little business incentive to bundle every part into the bottom car value.
Ather isn’t alone in shifting on this path both. Throughout the automotive and expertise industries, producers are more and more wanting past the preliminary product sale and in the direction of software program, linked companies, subscriptions and different recurring income streams. For Ather, AtherStack Professional successfully turns software program into one other revenue-generating layer on prime of the scooter itself.
From a purchaser’s perspective, nevertheless, the query is completely different: ought to options already enabled by {hardware} on an costly scooter require a further cost to entry? That’s the place my criticism of Konarc’s pricing stays.
Nevertheless, patrons don’t appear to thoughts the premium pricing in any respect and are glad to pay the asking value to be part of this enthusiastic group. And in addition get industry-best features-set and sensible options to enhance your on a regular basis using. Apart from the premium pricing, there’s nothing actually bothersome about Ather Konarc and must be excessive up your EV wishlist. In Ather’s journey to grow to be mainstream, Konarc just isn’t a step, however is a big leap.
