Simple ONE First Ride Review

The Simple ONE is the first electric scooter from Bengaluru-based electric vehicle (EV) start-up Simple Energy. The ONE will go on sale in a few months from now, and Simple Energy has big plans from its first product. The design, chassis, motors, battery management system, wheels and electric motor have all be developed in-house by Simple Energy. The Simple ONE intends to offer a good-looking, feature-rich, and relatively affordable option in the premium electric scooter segment as it stands today. We spent some time with a pre-production model of the Simple ONE to get a sense of what it offers, and we have to say, it certainly is a very promising electric scooter.

Also Read: Simple Energy To Build World's Largest EV Two-Wheeler Factory

The Simple ONE looks well-proportioned, and has a sporty stance. With cuts and creases, and good-looking elements, the overall design is quite nice.

Design & Features

The Simple ONE is quite the looker! Yes, it's got a sharp front end, with cuts and creases, with daytime running lights (DRLs) mounted high up on the handlebar, while the apron has a smart-looking LED headlight, with turn indicators incorporated into the sides of the headlight unit. The overall stance and silhouette is quite sporty, and in the "Namma Red" colour option, it looks even better.

Also Read: Simple ONE Electric Scooter Priced At Rs. 1.10 Lakh

The face has a nice, smart-looking vibe to it, and the cuts and creases complement the sporty design.

The instrument console will eventually come with a long list of features, including custom themes, with mobile phone connectivity. It shows remaining battery percentage, access to the four modes, Eco, Ride, Dash and Sonic, with remaining range in each mode, as well as standard tyre pressure monitoring system, which doesn't work at this stage, considering our test scooter isn't production ready.

Also Read: Simple ONE Test Rides Begin In July 2022

Cruise control doesn't work on the pre-production model, as well as several other features like built-in navigation, Bluetooth connectivity and the tyre pressure monitoring system. The company says all these will be offered in the final production model.

Even the built-in navigation, Bluetooth connectivity are features which will eventually work, but unfortunately aren't ready on our pre-production test units.

The touchscreen instrument console is not ready on our pre-production test scooter. Eventually, it promises a long list of features, including built-in navigation, ride statistics, geo-fencing, tyre pressure monitoring system and more. The display information on the left side is just for show, but the range shown works. And with 94 per cent charge, it shows 188 km range, which is pretty impressive.

There's a massive 30 litres of underseat storage, and it offers enough space to store a full-size helmet; something very few scooters can boast of. Overall, the ONE certainly is a good-looking, well-proportioned scooter.

The Simple ONE effortlessly makes the dash to 90 kmph, and claimed top speed is 105 kmph, which it can certainly achieve given a long enough stretch of road.

Performance & Dynamics

Straight from the get-go, the Simple ONE impresses with its smooth and linear performance and quick dash to hit 80 kmph. Acceleration is linear, and throttle response is smooth, without giving any sense of being snatchy or too sensitive. Simple Energy claims a top speed of 105 kmph, and during our test ride in a controlled environment, we could easily touch 90 kmph and beyond, without the scooter losing steam, or composure. Given a longer stretch of road, performance certainly will hit the ton comfortably, but 80 kmph cruising speeds are comfortable and effortless. According to Simple Energy, the ONE has the fastest acceleration time of 0 to 40 kmph in just 2.95 seconds, while maximum speed is claimed at 105 kmph!

The Simple ONE has four riding modes, Eco, Ride, Dash and Sonic. While Sonic offers the maximum performance and torque, even Ride and Dash offer more than enough performance for the average rider.

The ONE comes with four riding modes Eco, Ride, Dash and Sonic, with Eco offering toned down performance, while Sonic offers maximum torque and performance. During our test ride, while Sonic does offer relatively more grunt, for everyday riding, even Eco and Dash will offer enough and more for the average rider. And the best part is, Simple Energy claims that even in Sonic mode, maximum range will be around 80 km, so that's indeed heartening to hear that claimed range in Eco mode, is well over 200 km.

The Simple ONE really impresses with its agility and sharp handling. Combined with the linear power delivery, it's quite a likeable electric scooter.

But what really complements the linear power delivery and quick acceleration is also the handling, which is certainly very good. Show it a corner or two, and the ONE remains planted and stable. Along a slalom test, the Simple ONE retains composure and is ready to be hustled, never for one making the rider feel out of depth or control. In fact, so good is the ONE's cornering abilities, that it's somewhat let down by clearance.

Great dynamics, complemented by very good performance makes the Simple ONE a very promising electric scooter. The claimed range of over 200 km just makes it all the more appealing.

Around a roundabout of our test route, I ended up scraping the underbelly more than once when leaned over, but there was no sign of protest from the balance, handling or even the grip from the tyres. The ByBre brakes, with discs at both ends, don't offer ABS, but the combined braking system (CBS) works well and offers sure-shot stopping power.

The Simple ONE comes with a claimed maximum range of 236 km in ideal conditions. With a second extra removable battery, the price of the scooter goes up to Rs. 1.49 lakh, but maximum claimed range is at 300 km.

Range & Battery

The ONE is powered by a 4.8 kWh lithium ion, IP67-rated battery pack, with a claimed range of 236 km in ideal conditions. The main battery pack is mounted on the floorboard, while there's a smaller removable battery pack in the underseat storage space. While the scooter is priced at Rs. 1.10 lakh (without state subsidies) with the removable battery, with one more extra removable battery, the Simple ONE will cost Rs. 1.49 lakh, extending the claimed maximum range to over 300 km.

Also Read: Simple ONE Range Gets Boost To 300 km With Additional Battery

The Simple ONE will be available across 13 cities when the production model goes on sale, likely in September 2022. There will also be a dedicated charging network, called The Loop, to recharge the scooter on the go.

In fact, customers can keep one removable battery on charge while using the scooter, and can swap out to that charged battery if more range is required. There will of course be a dedicated charging network, called The Loop, which will offer customers peace of mind to charge the scooter while on the go. The Loop is expected to be offered in all the cities where the Simple ONE will be offered on sale.

The Simple ONE is a promising scooter, offering the best of performance, dynamics, features and range. We will look forward to riding the actual production model, and to test the claimed range in actual riding conditions.

Verdict

The Simple One is quick, sporty and can very easily compete to take on the very best premium electric scooters in the segment. Straight line performance is very impressive, and the dynamics are well-sorted, with sharp handling and agility. As the first electric scooter from a start-up, the Simple ONE indeed is a very promising product. How it is finally introduced in production form, and if it lives up to the claimed range, features and performance, will be key to its success and acceptability.

The Simple ONE has all the qualities to take on the very best electric scooters in the segment. A few details like panel gaps, connectivity features, and seat padding and riding position need to be ironed out. And once it's ready, the ONE can certainly take the fight to the very best in the segment.

There are a few misses, like the panel gaps and minor quality issues, which Simple Energy says will be addressed and ironed out before the ONE goes on sale. The only downside is the seat padding for me, which could have been better and offered better ergonomics. Under hard braking, the design of the seat makes the rider slip along the seat to the front, and the height makes the riding position a tad uneasy, but not uncomfortable. Half an inch of padding and a minor re-look at the seat padding design certainly will help, and this is something Simple Energy says will be addressed before the production model is rolled out. Overall though, the Simple ONE rides well, handles brilliantly and promises a lot of range, all good qualities to make it one of the top electric scooters you can look forward to buying.

(Photography: Pawan Dagia)