Revolutionizing Urban Mobility: Ather S340

Shantanu Jog's Smart Electric Scooter Redefines Two-Wheeler Experience

Electric two-wheelers have always been associated with negative perceptions of being slow and clunky. Hence the brief for the S340 was to create a sporty yet contemporary scooter. The ground-up approach offered the possibility of looking at high-performance motorcycles when it came to proportions and design details. Keeping the vehicle light was a constant goal. Along with the clean form, the proportions of the vehicle are compact, while still keeping it more usable than existing scooters.

The S340 is an electric scooter which is not based on any existing two-wheeler platform. A ground-up approach offers more design flexibility. Being electric, the S340 had to accommodate and package a 15 kg battery pack and also manage to keep the overall vehicle weight minimal. It features a unique hybrid chassis. The battery pack is also a structural member. This approach keeps weight a lot lesser than other vehicles in the same class with better structural rigidity.

The vehicle has a hybrid Aluminium and Steel chassis that is lighter yet stronger. The cycle parts are made in Aluminium. The body parts use ABS and Polypropylene to get the best finish and durability. The final drive belt is Carbon Fibre, which is noiseless, smooth and light. The design process involved both the traditional design process and the latest prototyping techniques. Selection of the final design theme was carried out with sketches and validated further with a full-scale clay model.

The S340 can be operated like any other gearless motorcycle in the market. A powerful lithium battery pack and a high-power BLDC motor that make urban stop-and-go conditions effortless. Lower weight, optimized front-rear weight, zero lateral offset, rear monoshock suspension and a low centre of gravity offer a huge improvement in ride dynamics compared to other scooters. It has an touchscreen console which offers features like navigation, modes, profiles, diagnostics, updates and phone syncing.

The project started in October 2013 in Chennai,India. It was exhibited at the Surge Conference on Bangalore, India in February 2016. The S340 will be in production by late 2017. One-to-one interviews with EV users and prospective customers were carried out, The group had both male and female participants in a 2:1 ratio from the target audience. The research was conducted across multiple cities in India. The research validated key design aspects of the S340 with positive results. The sleek, clean and futuristic design resonated with the participants.

The S340 and its ecosystem address things like EV trust issues, range anxiety and service. Indian Regulatory norms apply to the S340 as well and care has been taken to design the vehicle to comply with the same. Part availability, technology and cost were constraints in the design of the S340, but not restrictions. The design of the S340 went through updates, for production feasibility and quality control, ensuring usability and good ergonomics, and finally positioning it as a premium product.

The S340 is an electric scooter under development by Ather Energy, based in Bangalore, India. The scooter is powered by a Lithium Ion battery pack, offers a maximum speed of 72 kmph and has a range of upto 60 kms. The entire vehicle has been designed in-house by Ather Energy from scratch. The S340 brings in new proportions and details, and is easier to use and ride than other scooters of similar dimensions. It comes equipped with a touchscreen console. It can be charged using a dedicated charger.

This Design was awarded Golden in A' Vehicle, Mobility and Transportation Design Award in 2017. Golden A' Design Award : Granted to marvelous, outstanding, and trendsetting creations that reflect the designer's prodigy and wisdom. They are venerated products and bright ideas that advance art, science, design, and technology, embodying extraordinary excellence and significantly impacting the world with their desirable characteristics.