Simple Energy already has the One e-scooter, its debut offering, on sale in the country. Now, the company has trademarked the Dot One nametag, and it’s likely that it could feature on an upcoming model that will be more affordable.
More affordable Simple scooter
Priced between Rs 1.45 lakh-1.50 lakh, the One is a rather expensive proposition. A big part of that is down to its rather large 5kWh battery. The recent cut in the FAME-II subsidy will only have added to Simple’s challenges, and therefore, the Dot One is most likely a more affordable entry-level offering that could sport a smaller battery pack.
Sources close to the company indicate a claimed range in the ballpark of 180km for the upcoming model, which is slightly lower than the IDC-claimed 212km range for the One. This further supports the notion that the Dot One will receive a slightly smaller battery pack, and Simple could also cut down on some of the features to help reduce costs. The 5kWh capacity on the One is split between a fixed pack in the floorboard and a removable pack in the underseat area, and Simple could move to a ‘simpler’ design featuring only a single fixed battery pack.
Meanwhile, as Simple Energy seemingly prepares to launch new products, its debut offering has seen a slow start, with the government’s VAHAN portal showing just 32 Simple scooters registered since it became available to buyers in May. This comes two years after the company first ‘launched’ the product on August 15, 2021 at Rs 1.1 lakh. Despite this, Simple Energy claims to have received over 1 lakh bookings in the pre-launch period of the One.
Azaman Chothia
Vishal Venugopal
