Ola's S1 X E-Moped Boasts Amazing Stats for a Price You Won't Believe: India for the Win

Folks, the machine we'll be talking about today is dubbed the S1 X. Simply put, it's the freshest e-moped from Ola Electric, an Indian crew from Bangalore that has had its eyes set on urban mobility domination. Even though they've only been around since 2017, they've already made a name for themselves by providing three continents with mobility solutions, often aimed at fleet businesses and operators.

But they also cater to the average Joe, and that's where the S1 X comes in. It's currently the freshest addition to an already-growing lineup, and overall, three variations are available. Best of all, the lineup lets you in on the action for as little as 80,000 Indian Rupees, which, believe it or not, is the equivalent of $960 (at current exchange rates). Hang on a minute, an e-moped for under $1,000!? You bet your bottom dollar!

Funny enough, for this sort of price, you'd expect to be receiving a rather "meh" machine, but instead, Ala is wowing news outlets left and right - ourselves included - with some pretty attractive stats for the S1 X lineup. Let's dive into this hunk of aluminum and plastic that can be our everyday solution to getting around town and reducing the amount of cash you pump into your vehicle day by day.

First off, take a nice long look at the images in the gallery and really let the design of the S1 X set in. Personally, I've seen similar styling on another brand of e-mopeds, Niu. Come to think of it; I'm seeing touches from Horwin, too, both brands with an already-established following.

Personally, for this sort of cash, I wasn't expecting the S1 X to be suitable for two riders and even some cargo, but it is. The large seat hides a 34 L cargo bay, and once set into position, you and your significant other can both hop on for a ride. A grab bar is also in place to make sure your passenger doesn't fly off the back.

How is all this made possible? Well, let's start off with this machine's motor. Mounted to the rear wheel is a 6 kW motor with enough kick to launch you around town at speeds upwards of 90 kph (56 mph). What more could you want!?

Again, this thing costs less than $1,000, so there's got to be a tradeoff one range, right? Wrong! As I explored this little EV, I continued to be surprised, discovering that Ola states that the S1 X can achieve a top range of 151 km (94 mi). What the heck is going on!?

This boasted range is only possible with the larger 3 kWh battery option, so you'll end up paying a tad more for this one. Still, with the 2 kWh juice box, 91 km (of range can be achieved. Not bad at all considering most e-bikes on the market cost nearly double an S1 X.

Moving forward, we also need to examine the cockpit too. Depending on which version you ultimately opt for, you'll be able to keep an eye on speed and battery levels via a 3.5 in or 5 in display. Once you throw in the app Ola has in store, you should be fine tracking and planning trips and keeping an eye on essential ride diagnostics.

More on the cockpit features, integrated into the interior paneling of the S1 X, two storage slots are available for you to throw in your wallet, smartphone, or house keys. Couple that with the 34 l of storage hiding under the seat, and you should be fine carrying your laptop to work or even grabbing a few small groceries.

What does all this mean for you and me? Well, quite a bit, including being patient. First of all, Ola is an Indian crew, so to get your hands on one of these, you'll have to ship it to your local country, and that's bound to tear a little hole in your pocket.

Then again, we could always wait for some local dealerships to start getting in on the action; this is the patience part. But there's a catch; that wonderful price tag is bound to change by a few hundred bucks. Nonetheless, it's still one hell of a deal!

For example, the Horwin EK3, which I tested, boasted a top speed of 95 km, a similar range, but with a larger and mid-mounted motor, costs as high as $5,000 through some dealerships. If that's not worth considering the S1 X, I don't know is. Heck, take into consideration that most e-bikes cost more than this e-moped.

Then there's the lifestyle aspect of things. No longer will you be polluting the local airwaves with ICE but zipping around with a near-silent whine. You'll also be able to skip out on the pump day after day; plug the S1 X into a power socket, and go from there. It should feel darn good to ride around town for pennies on the dollar and at speeds you're sure to enjoy.