Ather 450 Apex

A go-kart track and an electric scooter – this combination might sound absurd but Ather Energy believes a track was the ideal setting to test their latest creation, the 450 Apex. This is a special edition scooter and the most performance-oriented iteration of their long-running 450 model. Although the overall hardware package is nearly identical to the 450X, the Apex has some software and minor hardware changes to make it quicker and faster.

To elaborate on these changes and to give us a brief experience of what these revisions feel like on the track and the road, Ather took us to Bengaluru at the Meco Kartopia karting track. We put the scooter through its paces at the track and took a short spin on the streets to analyse if its Rs.1.89 lakh (ex-showroom) price tag is justified.

The Apex has a few unique aesthetic elements which distinguish it from the 450X. Firstly, the side panels are transparent and expose the neat-looking hybrid aluminium frame which the company takes so much pride in. This should make the Apex stand out visually on the road. Moreover, the rest of the body panels are dipped in a special Edium blue colour with a satin finish while the wheels are covered in orange. In case you’re wondering, the Apex will be limited to just a single colour option.

While the 3.7kWh battery capacity of the Apex has remained unchanged, the peak power generated by the motor is up from 450X’s 6.4kW to 7.0kW. As a result, the Apex can attain a top speed of 100kmph in Warp Plus mode which replaces the standard Warp mode of the 450X. This has been achieved by executing some software and algorithm revisions to the Ather drive controller (ADC) which acts as the main link between the throttle and drivetrain.

The changes in the ADC have also delivered other performance gains; 30 per cent improvement in 40-80kmph acceleration, 0-40kmph acceleration time of 2.9 seconds (0.3 seconds quicker than the 450X), and consistent acceleration up to 80kmph of speed.

In Warp Plus mode, Ather says it returns a range of 75km which is the same as the standard Warp mode. The maximum range one can extract is 110km in Smart Eco mode. Moreover, the charging time is also the same – 5 hours and 45 minutes through home charging and close to 1.5km/min at the Ather Grid.

The Apex has another party trick which goes by the name Magic Twist — a more sophisticated version of the 450X’s regenerative braking. The company says they have ironed out issues generally associated with regen braking and the updated version works more substantially yet consistently and gradually. In fact, Ather claims Magic Twist is so efficient that it can take care of almost 75 per cent of braking in the city.

Further, the Ather 450 Apex gets all the features that the 450X Gen 3 with Pro Pack offers. So, you get a seven-inch touch-operable TFT screen which works seamlessly and shows a plethora of information. Once connected to a smartphone via Bluetooth, you get access to navigation through Google Maps along with call and music control. Other features accessible via the Ather Connect mobile app include document storage, tow and theft notifications, find my scooter function, ride stats, inter-city trip planner, and more. It also comes equipped with park assist, auto hill hold, auto-cancelling turn indicators, and coasting regen.

For storing stuff, there’s a 22-litre under-seat storage space that can easily accommodate things like a backpack. While storing a full-face helmet is out of the question, a half-face lid should easily fit in.

While riding on the track, going flat out on the straights, judging the added punch that the Warp Plus claims to deliver was difficult. However, the pull from the motor while exiting the winding corners at speeds of about 30-40kmph was pretty brisk and strong. I even tried slowing down on the straights, riding at about 60kmph of speed and accelerating from there, and the scooter shot ahead with commendable urgency.

Although I couldn’t ride it in traffic, I got a straight patch of traffic-free road where I tried replicating the stop-and-go traffic scenario. Anywhere under 70kmph, the 450 Apex darts ahead vigorously. However, beyond that, it takes some time to reach the top speed of 100kmph but doesn’t feel sluggish by any means.

As for the Magic Twist regen system, on the track, it was a little strange to use. As I approached a corner and rolled off the throttle, it took some time to decelerate the vehicle, which made me use the brakes in panic. This was followed by the regen and manual brakes working in tandem, thus slowing down the scooter way too much. It took some time to trust and get used to the system.

While the Magic Twist feature felt slightly odd on the track, it seemed to work quite well out on the road when I tried to imitate the traffic-like scenario. If you’re riding at speeds of 40-50kmph, rolling off the throttle slows down the scooter progressively yet quickly. Even after rolling it off to the stop, there’s some play left for you to forcefully roll it off even further and then bring the scooter to a complete halt. Well, it was lesser jerky and more effective than any other regen braking I’ve experienced so far. However, relying on it completely would be a little risky unless one gets completely familiar with it.

The rest of the aspects of the Apex are the same as the standard 450X. So you have a scooter which feels a bit too compact under you. However, that adds to the playfulness and flicking it from side to side is quick, easy, and fun. This is arguably one of the best handling e-scooters out there and the light kerb weight of 112kg only helps its case further.

The front brake feels strong and has a strong bite while the rear works more progressively. The suspension, which is set slightly on the firmer side, keeps the scooter stable and planted, even if you attack the corners in anger. The suspension setup isn’t firm to the extent of delivering a jarring ride. Unless you go over the sharpest of undulations, the ride quality feels quite supple and absorbent.

With a price tag of Rs. 1.89 lakh (ex-showroom), the 450 Apex is around Rs. 30,000 more expensive than the 450X Gen3 with Pro Pack in select regions of India (it varies depending on the state subsidy). Is it worth that additional premium?

Well, Ather scooters have always been some of the most likeable e-scooters. We adore the 450X for its brisk acceleration, zippy handling, absorbent suspension, solid build quality, and the seamless functioning of the tech. While Apex’s higher top speed of 100kmph is commendable, we never found the 450X’s 90kmph top speed to be inadequate. And the Magic Twist regen braking, although sounds fascinating on paper, we are yet to thoroughly test it and verify Ather’s claim of its capability to handle 75 per cent of braking duties in the city. Then there are transparent panels and a swanky paint scheme. As I already said, looks are subjective and I personally like the standard model but the Apex will undeniably stand out visually in a sea of scooters on the road.

To conclude, while we feel the 450 Apex is an enticing package for someone who wants a brag-worthy, limited-edition e-scooter, you aren't really missing out on a lot by going for the 450X Gen 3 with the Pro Pack.

Photography by Kapil Angane