Ola has already launched several variants of electric scooters, and also an electric motorbike, but it seems to be looking to still expand its two-wheeler electric portfolio.
Ola has launched a new series of electric gig bikes starting at Rs. 39,999. The Ola Gig starts at Rs. 39,999, and has a range of 112 km and a top speed of 25kmph. The Ola Gig+ has a range of 157 km, and a top speed of 45 kmph. The bikes are open for booking, and Ola says deliveries will begin in April 2025.
These bikes are geared towards delivery personnel who work for quick-commerce, e-commerce or other delivery companies. These bikes are electric, so they’ll be cheaper to run than conventional petrol bikes, and save money for delivery partners — Ola claims that the running cost of the Gig bike is just Rs. 15 per day, which would represent a 93 percent saving in costs for delivery personnel. Even though their top speeds are lower than usual electric scooters, they can be used to deliver items in dense urban areas.
Interestingly, the bikes will come with portable batteries, which can be removed and charged through something called the Ola Power Pod. These batteries will also double up as a UPS system for homes, and will be able to power home appliances during power cuts. Ola has also launched a new series of electric bikes with these portable batteries named the S1 Z, which are modeled after its usual electric scooters but come with portable batteries.
Cheaper electric bikes for gig workers is an interesting use-case, and there isn’t as much mainstream competition in the space as in traditional electric scooters. Electric vehicles can lead to clear cost savings for delivery workers, and given how these workers operate in dense urban areas, the lack of performance and top speed wouldn’t deter adoption. Also, the fact that these bikes don’t emit pollutants could also help cities become cleaner and more livable.
Ola’s new launch comes at a time when the company has been facing criticism over the after-sales service of its electric bikes. There have been numerous complaints on social media, and an irate customer, Mohammad Nadeem, had even set fire to the company’s showroom in Karnataka. Ola for its part has been scrambling to add more service touchpoints, and aims to double its service centers to 1,000 by December. But it appears that Ola’s ploughing on with its product launches, and its gig bikes could find a ready audience among workers in India’s booming delivery space.