simple (y) mild
The scooter’s design had a very space-age appeal in the first concept images released of the One. However, in the flesh, the overall design is as simple as you’d expect from a scooter you’ll use every day. Still then, simple energy With this update, a lot of sharp edges and lines have been put back into the design.
The front looks very sharp with indicators that have now been integrated into the body. tail end, and much more. The scooter now looks slimmer than its initial design and along with that, the rear wheel is also more clean. The body panels, the paint finish on the sides, and the fit and finish still need improvement, but we’re very well aware of the fact that the one we rode this time was not the final production version.
simple (y) quick
One aspect of the scooter that doesn’t come across as pre-production is the powertrain. The 4.8 kWh battery pack churns out 72 Nm of torque, which is enough for a scooter weighing 115 kg. Simple One is off the line and remains so in the quarter-mile (not that we use drag strip terminology during the daily commute). The thing is, the scooter never feels sluggish even in Eco mode which is the least of the four modes.
One offers Eco, City, Dash and Sonic ride modes with a top speed of 105 km/h which is available in Sonic mode. One mode less, the Dash offers a top speed of 90 km/h which is still faster than the Simple One’s competition Ather 450X Which is above the speed of 80 km/h. The 0-40 km/h time is 2.77 seconds which is very impressive and .2 seconds faster than before. In fact, the Eco and City modes are enough to get around the city. Other than that, the response at the throttle is smooth and precise.
The scooter also offers regenerative braking. The thing is, this feature can be of some use. For now, every time the throttle is turned, there’s a small burst of energy that accelerates the scooter before slowing down. This can be a problem, especially in dash and sonic modes, but we’ve been assured it has to do with regenerative braking calibration and that the problem won’t make it to the final production model.
The suspension, which includes telescopic forks and a monoshock, is set on the soft side. It provides a comfortable ride while maintaining a sporty handling charter. The scooter remains decent even at speeds of 80-90 km/h and above. There are options for rear tire sizes – 100- and 110-section. Going for a bigger tire size probably won’t be a bad idea as it can promise better stability on corners. Besides, it looks better. It gets discs at both the ends which promise a very progressive stopping performance but tough braking conditions can be irritating.
It should be noted that the first ride experience had little to do with the realities of city streets or highways, so this review is limited to first impressions for now.
simple (y) clever
This is about the features of Simple One. The highlight is the seven-inch touchscreen instrument panel. The software we saw was in beta test mode but still the touchscreen worked pretty well as you would expect from a smartphone. it is equipped with a live E-SIM i.e. scooter does not depend on the network of the user’s smartphone for internet.
There are plenty of features including onboard navigation, document storage, sign of trouble establish. remote access, OTA (Over the Air) updates, smartphone connectivity, call and message alerts, and more.
The most important aspect of an electric scooter, at least for now, is the range. And the Simple One has pretty impressive numbers to claim for it – 203km in Eco mode in real-world tests. If the claimed numbers are delivered they can make One the winner. It should be considered that the range may be different for different people depending on their riding style which will include the mix of acceleration and braking and the riding mode they use.
We’d like to refrain from commenting on the range before spending more time with the scooter or hearing user stories. But the simple idea of splitting the battery into two parts – a 3.3 kWh fixed and a 1.5 kWh portable – could actually work. The One will be able to use home charging and public fast charging, and not be bogged down by the struggles of high-rise apartment buildings or ever rely on battery swapping. The company is now also offering a home charger for Rs 15,499 which promises fast charging at a speed of 2 kmph.
Simple but complex?
The story of Simple Energy launching and delivering its first electric scooter which is also their flagship has been full of ups and downs. There have been delays due to various reasons like pandemic and supply chain constraints. But the company remains calm and confident about its product, which it says has been extensively tested, adding that there has been a special focus on the thermal management system – something that has gone awry after the unfortunate fire incidents. Welcome what happened recently.
The Simple One has evolved during this time into an electric scooter which is now more ready to hit the market. It offers great looks, comfort and speed, technology and connectivity, ease of charging, a range that will satisfy a daily commuter, and a sensible price tag of Rs 1.1 lakh (ex-showroom). Test rides are on and deliveries are expected to start in October if there are no further delays. We expect not because considering where the Forest was a few months ago and what it has become now, we have positive things to say about it. Admittedly, the rough edges need attention but Simple One holds great promise and we are eagerly waiting for the final version.
