The S1 Pro, Ola Electric's most well-known electric scooter, was introduced in its second iteration on August 15, 2023. Although they appear to be nearly identical from the exterior, there are many significant distinctions between the two. The brand-new Ola S1 Pro is constructed on the organization's cutting-edge Gen 2 platform, which is also used by other Ola models including the S1 Air and S1X. What changes have been made to the Ola S1 Pro Gen 2 over the S1 Pro Gen 1?
Design changes
As previously stated, the Ola S1 Pro Gen 2's appearance is remarkably similar to that of the S1 Pro Gen 1. Its modern-retro style is actually rather lovely, and it has the same general shape. Both electric scooters use the identical twin-pod LED headlight configuration up front, which is framed by an oval LED DRL (Daytime Running Light). You can notice that the floorboard on the S1 Pro Gen 2 has gone flat in the middle, but the Gen 1 still has a spine running through it. We’ll get to why this change has happened a little later.
A single steel tube grab rail has been installed around the back to replace the split aluminum pillion grab rails from the Gen 1 model. This steel tube grab rail doesn't have the same quality appearance as the split aluminum one, but it is far more sturdy, doesn't slide when you put weight on it, and is also much simpler to hold. Additionally, a very basic cover has replaced the entire plastic cover that encircled the belt drive from the motor to the back wheel.
The S1 Pro Gen 1 comes in 12 different, vivid colors, however, the Gen 2 only offers five, muted colors: Jet Black, Matt White, Stellar (blue), Midnight Blue, and Amethyst (dark purple). This is one of the biggest cosmetic differences between the two.
Mechanical changes
The majority of the variations between these two iterations of the S1 Pro are found beneath the skin. Ola reworked the chassis for the Gen 2 to be lighter and constructed from fewer parts, keeping costs down. However, Ola asserts that the new chassis is more durable than the old one.
In addition, the suspension has undergone significant adjustments. On the S1 Pro Gen 2, Ola's renowned single-arm front suspension, which the firm previously asserted was 200 percent superior to a typical telescopic fork, has been swapped out for a telescopic fork. Even the rear mono-shock is now vertically positioned rather than horizontally mounted like it was in the Gen 1 design. And a more traditional steel box section swingarm has been substituted for the Gen 1's single-sided cast aluminum swingarm.
We are unable to comment on whether these improvements have improved or negatively affected the riding experience of the S1 Pro Gen 2 because we haven't yet had a chance to test it out. But it's safe to say that the Gen 2 looks considerably less expensive now that it lacks the single-sided front suspension and single-sided swingarm that made the 12-inch alloy wheels of the Gen 1 stand out.
The S1 Pro Gen 2 has become 5 kg lighter (116 kg) than the Gen 1 (121 kg) as a result of all the mechanical adjustments as well as changes to the battery and engine (which we'll examine next). However, the underseat storage has decreased from 36 liters to 34 liters. Additionally, the Gen 2's ground clearance has decreased to 160 mm, which is 5 mm less than the Gen 1's, while the seat height is 5 mm higher at 805 mm.
Battery and Motor changes
The Ola S1 Pro Gen 2's battery has the same 4.0kWh capacity as the Gen 1's battery. However, Ola has made the battery packaging better, making it lighter and enabling a level floorboard. Even the motor has undergone a revision to become smaller and lighter. The Gen 2 is said to accelerate from 0 to 40 kilometers per hour in just 2.6 seconds and reach a top speed of 120 kilometers per hour as opposed to 116 kilometers per hour for the Gen 1. However, it still manages to produce 30 percent more peak power output than the Gen 1 motor.
Ola claims that the entire electrical system has been improved to be more effective. Because of this, even though Gen 1 and Gen 2 both feature batteries with a 4.0 kWh capacity, Gen 2 has a 195 km (140 km) ARAI-certified range advantage. The S1 Pro Gen 2 will have a real-world range of 143km in standard mode, according to Ola. Gen 1 and Gen 2 both require the same amount of time to fully charge (6.5 hours from 0%).
Features & Electronics changes
In terms of features, the Ola S1 Pro Gen 1 and S1 Pro Gen 2 are identical. This means that it has the same four riding modes: Eco, Normal, Sport, and Hyper. There are more features as well, including built-in speakers with party mode, proximity unlock, music and call control, and many more. The upcoming release of MoveOS 4.0, which is expected to include even more functionality, will undoubtedly be made by Ola.
The main distinction between the Gen 1 and Gen 2 is the 7-inch TFT touchscreen console. The resolution of this screen has been lowered from 1260 x 768 pixels in the first generation to 800 × 480 pixels in the second generation. We saw this screen on the Ola S1 Air during our first ride, and to be honest, we didn't see much of a difference.
Price
The asking price for the Ola S1 Pro Gen 2 is Rs. 1,47,499. That’s Rs. 7,500 more than the S1 Pro Gen 1, which retails at Rs. 1,39,999 (both ex-showroom, Bengaluru).
Should you buy the Ola S1 Pro Gen 1 now or wait for the Gen 2?
Sincere advice: If you're interested in the Ola S1 Pro, hold off until Ola starts shipping the Gen 2 model before making a reservation for the Gen 1. Although the Gen 2 costs roughly Rs 7,500 more and doesn't have the same premium appearance as the Gen 1, the Gen 2 should be a much more useful option due to its lower weight and level floorboard. We believe that the Ola S1 Pro Gen 2 should be safer than the Gen 1 due to the change to a more traditional suspension system.