Ather has launched the Konarc electric scooter in India at its annual Community Day, with prices starting at Rs 1 lakh (ex-showroom, Bengaluru). The Konarc is available in three variants – S 100, S 125 and S 161 – with the numbers corresponding to their respective IDC range figures. A 200km version is also in the pipeline, while feature-loaded Z variants with 125km and 161km IDC range figures will also join the line-up.
- New AEBS braking system and MagicKey boot access headline the technology package
- 100mm rear suspension travel and a 1,352mm wheelbase are aimed at improving ride comfort and stability
- 31-litre boot and 1.35kW combined charging add to its practicality
- Feature-loaded Z variants announced; a version with up to 200km IDC range is also planned
Ather Konarc is based on the EL platform
The Konarc is aimed at delivering improved ride comfort and stability, with 90mm of front and 100mm of rear suspension travel. It has a 1,352mm wheelbase, the longest of any Ather scooter, along with a 14-inch front wheel and 12-inch rear wheel. The S 100 gets drum brakes at both ends, while the S 125 and S 161 get a 220mm front disc and 130mm rear drum.
Ather Konarc battery and range information
The S 100 gets a 2.1kWh battery and produces 4kW and 16Nm, while the S 125 and S 161 use 2.7kWh and 3.5kWh batteries, respectively, and develop 4.7kW and 16Nm. All three have a claimed top speed of 70kph. Their TrueRange figures are 80km, 100km and 130km, respectively.
The Konarc comes with a 450W on-board charger as standard. Ather says this can be combined with a 900W off-board charger, giving a total charging capacity of 1.35kW. The claimed home charging time from 0 to 80 percent with the standard charger is 4 hours for the S 100, 4 hours and 30 minutes for the S 125 and 5 hours and 40 minutes for the S 161. With the combined charger, these times fall to 2 hours, 2 hours and 25 minutes and 3 hours and 10 minutes, respectively. The charging speed is claimed at 13km in 10 minutes for the S 100 and 15km in 10 minutes for the S 125 and S 161.
Ather described EL as a scalable platform capable of underpinning different scooter formats while sharing major components. Developed using 26 lakh kilometres of field data, it features a new chassis, powertrain and electronics architecture. Ather says reducing the component count could make assembly 15 percent faster and periodic servicing up to twice as quick. It also demonstrated the platform’s serviceability on stage, with trained technicians dismantling and reassembling the Konarc’s battery and motor in around three minutes, highlighting the potential to significantly reduce workshop time for major component replacement jobs.
The Konarc offers 31 litres of underseat storage, along with an 18W USB Type-C port and an underseat lamp. The S 100 gets a 4.2-inch DeepView display, while the higher variants get a 7-inch DeepView display. Other features include Park Assist reverse, which uses the motor to help manoeuvre the scooter backwards, and AutoHold, which holds the scooter stationary when stopped.
Ather Konarc features
The Konarc Z gets some of Ather’s more significant new technologies, including the Advanced Electronic Braking System (AEBS). The system uses electronic control to improve braking performance; Ather says it reduces stopping distances and minimises rear-wheel lock-ups and is intended to offer greater control, particularly during hard braking.
The Z also gets MagicKey, which allows the rider to unlock the scooter’s boot through the Ather app rather than using a physical key. On the Konarc Z 161, MagicKey works with the boot’s AutoPop function, allowing the boot to open automatically.
Other Z-specific functionalities include Google Maps and WhatsApp on the dashboard, while cricket scores can also be displayed when the scooter is stationary. The Konarc gets Ather Connect with features such as theft and tow alerts, ride statistics, Find My Scooter and remote charging-status monitoring. OTA updates are also supported.
The Konarc uses a PMSM motor with IP67 protection, while its battery is also IP67-rated and housed in an aluminium casing. The S 100 weighs 126.5kg, whereas the S 161 weighs 129kg.
Ather Konarc price and warranty details
The Konarc also introduces longer service intervals, with periodic maintenance scheduled once every 10,000km or one year, whichever comes first. The Konarc S 100 is priced at Rs 1 lakh, while the S 125 costs Rs 1.22 lakh and the S 161 Rs 1.45 lakh. Ather has also revealed Konarc Z variants with 125km and 161km IDC range figures, although their prices are yet to be announced.
Vishal Venugopal
Stephen Raj Antony
