Simple One e-scooter to get 300km range via optional battery upgrade

Simple Energy is targeting a 300km Indian Driving Cycle (IDC) range, the highest on any electric two-wheeler in the country, with its upcoming One e-scooter. 

• Will cost Rs 35,000 more with the extra battery pack

• Additional battery pack to be housed in the boot

The company has pushed the scooter’s delivery to June 2022 from the earlier promised end-2021, and has said that it will be making improvements to the model before deliveries begin. The company’s founder and CEO, Suhas Rajkumar, has now tweeted that the Simple One will be offered with an optional extra battery pack, boosting the claimed IDC range to 300km.

The standard Simple One gets a combined battery capacity of 4.8kWh from a 3.2kWh fixed and a 1.6kWh removable battery pack, which affords it a claimed IDC range of 236km in Eco mode. This new option adds an extra 1.6kWh removable battery pack, taking combined capacity up to 6.4kWh, allowing it to get a claimed IDC range of 300km.

Simple says the extra battery pack will also be housed in the boot, like the standard removable battery, but there is no word yet on how this will affect boot space; with just the standard removable battery in the boot, you can fit an ECE-approved full-face helmet in the 30-litre compartment. There are also no details about how the additional battery pack will affect charging times. Claimed charging time for the standard scooter is 2.75 hours for the fixed battery pack.

Simple claims that the One, which comes with an 8.5kW motor and produces 72Nm of torque, does the 0-40kph dash in 2.85sec and achieves a top speed of 105kph. The rather futuristic looking 110kg e-scooter comes to a stop courtesy of disc brakes at both ends.

The standard Simple Energy One is priced at Rs 1.10 lakh and the battery upgrade takes the price up to Rs 1.45 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi, after subsidies). This is interesting, because with Simple charging an extra Rs 35,000 for a relatively small 1.6kWh additional battery pack, you get a clear idea of just how expensive battery technology still is.

The Simple One gets a 7.0-inch TFT touchscreen with Bluetooth connectivity, which allows the rider to accept or reject calls, and also offers navigation and music controls. It gets an LED headlight and there will also be a Simple One companion app (yet to be launched) that will bring with it the added functionality of remote access, OTA (Over the Air) updates, geofencing, and ride statistics.

Simple offers the One with a three-year warranty on the vehicle, battery and charger.

Would you be willing to shell out the extra cash for the additional range on offer? Tell us in the comments below.