Ola EV Scooters: Thrilling Ride or Total Letdown?

I've been zipping around Hyderabad's chaotic traffic—fresh off upgrading to my Kia Seltos—I've eyed electric scooters like Ola's S1 Pro for quick commutes. But after digging into real rider stories, including a scathing test-drive review, I'm waving a big red flag.

Blazing Acceleration, Crashing Reliability

Ola S1 Pro packs a punch with effortless acceleration up to 82 kph, leaving petrol scooters in the dust on open roads. Yet, this thrill sours fast: unresponsive UI, blank app screens, and error messages plague the experience, even dismissed by showroom staff as minor glitches. Showrooms brush off desperate customers, directing them to a glitchy app with zero follow-up—one owner was left fuming after repeated ignored complaints. Across India, service centers are overwhelmed: 118 of 135 cities have zero slots, with backlogs of thousands like 3,500-4,000 in Thane alone, turning repairs into months-long ordeals.

Fires and CEO Drama

Multiple Ola scooters have burst into flames in Pune and Bangalore, sparking probes but little resolution—lithium-ion batteries under scrutiny for manufacturing flaws. Adding fuel to the fire, Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal faces arrest charges over alleged consumer fraud and service failures, amid government scrutiny and owner backlash.

Sales Plunge Exposed

Ola's sales nosedived 55% YoY in Q3 FY26 to 32,680 units, with revenue crashing to Rs 470 crore from Rs 1,045 crore; CY25 totals fell 51% to 199,318 units, market share from 36.7% to 16%. Rivals like TVS (298k units, up 35%) and Bajaj (270k, up 39%) surged ahead.

Future Launches Amid the Mess

Ola plans Gen 3 scooters like S1 Sports and S2 series from mid-2026, promising better range and bikes to rival Bajaj Pulsar rivals. But with declining sales, 80,000 monthly complaints, and rivals like Ather or Bajaj pulling ahead on service, is it too little, too late?

Skip Ola for now—test Ather Rizta or Bajaj Chetak instead, and always scout local service first. India's EV boom is real, but hype can't fix hardware fails or leadership woes. 

This video discusses the challenges Ola Electric faces with its service network and the impact of customer complaints:

What's your take—ridden an Ola? Share below!