Ola Electric has implicitly announced a recall of their S1 electric scooter due to numerous reports of accidents caused by front suspension breakage, which has caused the company to face controversy.
January incident
An incident was reported on Twitter in January of this year where an Ola S1 electric scooter rider had an accident due to front suspension breakage while traveling at a speed of only 35 kmph.
The rider sustained serious injuries and was hospitalized in the ICU. The company reached out to the affected party and the tweet was subsequently removed.
Ola Electric claims that their initial investigation into the matter revealed that it was a result of a “high-impact road accident.”
Not coincidence, just “isolated” incidents
Since Ola began delivering its scooters in December of 2021, the company has been grappling with quality concerns.
After a fire incident occurred in March of last year, the company announced a voluntary recall of 1,441 vehicles in April.
Ola has also had to release statements regarding various accidents, some of which were caused by the front fork arm breaking.
The company has consistently asserted that these were isolated occurrences.
Concerns are “unfounded”, however still offering upgrade
In an official statement, Ola Electric addressed concerns among the community regarding the safety of the front fork arm of the Ola S1.
The company has assured that these fears are unfounded and part of a continuous improvement process.
To alleviate any concerns that customers or community members may have, the Bengaluru-based firm is offering an option to upgrade to the new front fork, which has been improved to enhance durability and strength.
Peculiar choice of words
Although Ola Electric is not calling it a recall, industry executives are saying that is exactly what it is.
As per the opinion of multiple experts, if an OEM replaces a low-quality part free of cost as a precautionary measure, it is practically a recall.
However, for it to be technically classified as a recall, it may need to be intimated to the government.
The upgrade’s effectiveness can only be seen if there are no more incidents involving a broken fork.
Booking window
According to the official statement, customers who wish to upgrade their scooter with the new front fork can schedule an appointment starting March 22.
Those who are interested can book an appointment at the nearest Ola Experience Centre or at specific Service Centres.
Process
The replacement of the front fork on the Ola S1 electric scooter will be done free of cost, and customers interested in the upgrade can book an appointment starting March 22.
The company will provide customers with a detailed process for booking the appointment and after booking, customers can provide their location through the Ola Electric app to find nearby service centers for repair.
Pricing
Here are the prices of the six variants of the Ola S1 range of electric scooters, including the FAME II subsidy:
- Ola S1 Pro – 4kWh battery – 181km range – Rs 1.31 lakh
- Ola S1 – 2kWh battery – 91km range – Rs 1 lakh
- Ola S1 – 3kWh battery – 141km range – Rs 1.10 lakh
- Ola S1 Air – 2kWh battery – 85km range – Rs 85,000
- Ola S1 Air – 3kWh battery – 125km range – Rs 1 lakh
- Ola S1 Air – 4kWh battery – 165km range – Rs 1.10 lakh
