The country’s largest electric two-wheeler in terms of volumes is constantly in the news, but not for reasons it would like. On August 15, 2021, Ola launched the S1 and S1 Pro electric scooters in India with much fanfare.
After users pointed out issues such as poor hardware finish, gaps in panels, unexpected reverse mode, scooters not being charged properly, or below expectation performance to even vehicles catching fire, the complaints have been numerous. Now it seems that the vehicle’s hardware-quality is now being questioned. Several Twitter users have shared pictures of their front fork breaking down on the move.
While the exact reason and speed at which the e-scooters were being ridden is unknown, most of the Twitter users claim that the breakdown has happened during normal course of riding and at speeds not exceeding the law.
The unfortunate incident can also be attributed to the European design, which may not be well suited to Indian road and riding conditions. An EV maker speaking on the condition of anonymity told Express Mobility that while the design may be attractive and offer more features, but “just a copy-paste job seldomly works in the country.”
It is not the first time that the company has drawn the ire of customers on social media. Right from delay in deliveries, to sub-par finishing to glitches and now breakdowns Ola Electric has surely got its work cut now.
It was supposed to be an impressive feat in the automotive segment, given the fact that the launch was expected to happen within a short time from acquisition of Amsterdam-based Etergo in May 2020 to commercial availability in 2021. But the stark reality paints a picture of whether launching products without much testing will backfire and pull down the EV sales momentum?
In response to the reports, Ola issued a statement stating, “Vehicle safety and quality standards are of paramount importance at Ola. Ola today has more than 50,000 scooters on the road. So far, our scooters have travelled over 45 million cumulative km on Indian roads. The recently reported incidents of front fork breakage are due to isolated high-impact accidents. All our scooters undergo rigorous quality and performance assessment across different terrains and riding conditions in India.”
