Introduction
In India’s rapidly changing electric two-wheeler space, an Ampere Electric Scooter has been fully torn down — wire by wire, screw by screw, part by part. This isn’t simply a teardown video for curiosity and clicks — this is India’s first price analysis based on a teardown of a mass-market budget EV scooter.
This teardown isn’t merely a matter of peering beneath the plastic panels. It’s about EV industry transparency — revealing to the public exactly how much Ampere is investing in parts, how much goes into building, and where profits are being made. In an era when EV customers are being dazzled by terms like “range,” “smart connectivity,” and “LFP batteries,” this teardown clears the air.
It also lays the ground for market benchmarking — can Ampere compete with its peers like Ola S1X, Ather Rizta, or TVS iQube, if you strip them all to nuts and bolts?
- What’s worth the price
- Where the money is being made
- And where Ampere is potentially saving costs, or delivering a shockingly good deal
Teardown Highlights
- Battery: Type, Capacity & Cost Estimate
The battery is the spine of any EV — and in Ampere’s, it’s a Lithium-ion pack with NMC (nickel-manganese-cobalt) chemistry, shared with cost-effective electric scooters. The capacity? Approximately 2.3 kWh, perfect for reported ranges of 80–90 km per charge under normal riding conditions.
- Cell type: 18650 cylindrical cells, probably from China or Korea.
- BMS (Battery Management System): Simple, utilitarian, and probably made in India to reduce cost.
- Estimated battery price: Rs 28,000–Rs 32,000 — the highest individual part on the scooter.
- Waterproofing & thermal protection: Low, suitable for urban use but weather-resistant in harsher climates.
2. Motor Specs & Sourcing
Ampere employs a BLDC hub motor with 1.2–1.5 kW peak output, depending on the model. It’s for city cruising and moderate torque, not high performance. It’s locally assembled but employs imported magnets and windings, keeping costs minimal but potentially inducing long-term durability concerns.
- Max speed attainable: ~50–55 kmph
- Sourcing: Semi-local — controller + motor imported from Indian manufacturers, assembling Chinese kits
- Estimated cost of motor: Rs 6,000–Rs 8,000
- Sufficient for light use, but not for long-term high-load riding due to thermal dissipation.
3. Build Quality: Frame, Suspension & Panels
Ampere has sacrificed ruggedness for cost-effectiveness. The frame is mild steel tubular, painted and not powder-coated — strong enough for short urban commutes, but not designed to be abused.
- Frame welds: Repairable, with evidence of unevenly visible joints
- Panel material: Thin ABS plastic, which will rattle over time
- Estimated price (frame + body): Rs 6,500–Rs 8,500
- Durability rating: Ideal for city use, but not pothole-intensive or off-road areas
4. Digital Instrumentation: Tech or Gimmick
Ampere Electric Scooter feature a minimalist LCD digital display, displaying speed, battery level, and trip meter. No Bluetooth connectivity, navigation, or app connectivity on entry-level models. Some top-end models have limited additional features, such as USB charging or eco-mode lights.
- Tech cost estimate: Rs 800–Rs 1,200
- Value assessment: Practical, clear, but lacks the smart features seen in Ather or Ola models
- Bottom line: Enough for basics — but tech-savvy buyers may find it outdated
Ampere’s Price Tag vs Real Cost
Ampere Electric Scooters look like a dream bargain, particularly for first-time EV purchasers or cost-conscious commuters. But having taken one apart and calculated every rupee spent on its parts, the actual story about the price starts unfolding.
Ampere is in direct competition with TVS iQube base variant, Ola S1X, and Bounce Infinity E1 — but the key difference lies in what you’re getting under the hood.
Actual Manufacturing Cost
On the part-to-part cost estimation from the teardown, Ampere’s actual manufacturing cost probably lies in the following range:
- Battery Pack (2.3 kWh, NMC): Rs 28,000–Rs 32,000
- Motor + Controller: Rs 8,000–Rs 10,000
- Frame + Suspension + Tyres: Rs 7,000–Rs 8,500
- Digital Display + Wiring + Plastics: Rs 3,000–Rs 4,000
- Labour, Paint, QA, Assembly Overheads: Rs 5,000–Rs 6,000
Estimated total manufacturing cost: Rs 51,000–Rs 58,000
This implies a markup of Rs 20,000–Rs 25,000 before subsidy — a pretty normal profit margin in automotive retail once you factor in dealer share, logistics, service networks, and warranty costs.
Battery: The Most Expensive Component
The plastic trim and electronic displays is the actual backbone of any electric scooter — its frame, suspension, and tyres. These three decide how the scooter tackles potholes, loads, and day-to-day wear. Ampere’s teardown puts it all into perspective: the company values light practicality, but compromises in some key areas to remain in the sub-Rs 90K price bracket.
Frame Material & Structural Integrity
The Ampere Electric Scooter is made from mild steel tubing, MIG-welded at strategic stress points. It is not aluminum or high-grade alloy like high-end brands — heavier, sure, but less expensive and easier to fix.
Build Observations:
- Plain powder coating, not anti-rust paint
- Frame tolerances were fine, but not high-end grade
- No internal reinforcements are present in more expensive models
- Advantages: Affordable, repairable in local shops
Tyres: Brand, Grip, and Durability
Ampere Electric Scooter come with standard 10-inch or 12-inch tubeless tyres, depending on the scooter. Most models make use of Ceat, TVS Eurogrip, or Ralco tyres — all Indian-made.
- Grip Performance: Fair for dry roads, but poor on wet roads
- Durability: Average durability of 10,000–12,000 km with regular usage
- Teardown Notes: No alloy strengthening; bottom variants usually have steel rims instead of alloys
- Tyre Cost Estimate (Pair): Rs 2,000–Rs 2,400
- Replacement Availability: Convenient throughout India, with interchangeability of sizes
Motor & Controller — Powertrain Cost Analysis
The powertrain — the motor and controller — is the second most important (and second most costly) component of any electric scooter after the battery. In the case of Ampere Electric Scooter, the teardown gave a closer inspection of how the company harmonizes performance, affordability, and reliability for Indian conditions and climate.
BLDC Hub Motor Teardown Cost
Ampere employs a Brushless DC (BLDC) hub motor, mounted directly in the rear wheel. This eliminates the drivetrain complexity — no chain, no belt, fewer moving parts — which is perfect for low-maintenance city riding.
- Power Rating: ~1.2 kW nominal, ~1.5 kW peak output
- Torque: Good for single riders, but not great for pillion + uphill situations
- Sourcing: Most likely assembled in India with core components (magnets, coils) sourced from China
- Construction: Average insulation, elementary waterproofing, no significant heat management layers
- Estimated Cost (Teardown-based): Rs 6,000–Rs 7,500
Controller Board: Cost & Quality
The motor’s brain — the controller board — is a reasonably straightforward 48V/60V one with simple logic to handle:
- Throttle input
- Power delivery
- Basic regenerative braking
- BMS and LCD dashboard communication
Teardown Observations:
- No dynamic torque curves or advanced ride modes
- Simple FET and capacitor layout, adequate for burst load for short durations
- No high-quality heat sinks, potentially lowering longevity when put under long-term stress
- No waterproof casing — susceptible to water intrusion during monsoons
- Estimated Controller Price: Rs 1,200–Rs 1,800
Thermal Performance & Durability
The Indian climate is harsh, with high temperatures, waterlogging, and dust. And here’s where the teardown reveals a weakness:
- The motor has no active cooling fins or top-grade thermal paste
- The controller exhibits slight signs of overheating stress in long hill climb testing
- Ingress protection is rudimentary at best — not IP67 or higher
During extreme summer riding or prolonged uphill rides, both motor and controller tend to overheat rapidly, causing soft power cuts. Though suitable for city stop-and-go, it’s less than perfect for countryside or hilly rides.
Frame, Suspension & Tyres
Electric scooters are not all about batteries and motors — ride comfort, handling, and long-term longevity all depend on what’s under your feet: the frame, suspension, and tyres. In Ampere’s teardown, a traditional “budget commuter” DNA was revealed — wise decisions in construction, but obvious cost savings in some places.
Steel/Aluminum Frame: Teardown Insights
Ampere Electric Scooter employ a mild steel tubular frame, which is widely used in the budget EV segment. This mild steel build is simpler and less expensive to produce than aluminum or alloy-based frames employed by high-end players such as Ather or Vida.
Frame material: ERW mild steel tubes
- Welding quality: Functional but raw-looking — tack welds are visible, occasional over-welds
- Surface finish: Painted (not powder-coated), which tends to chip and rust quicker in coastal or rain-prone locations
- Structural design: Slim and light, but not designed for aggressive riders or off-road riding
Teardown Verdict:
- Durability: Moderate — good for solo urban commuting, but frame fatigue over time can happen if weighed down regularly
- Estimated cost (frame alone): Rs 2,000–Rs 2,800
- Dry road grip is adequate
- Wet performance is decent, not suited for heavy rains
- Sidewall thickness is low, and the puncture risk on bad roads is enhanced
- Estimated tyre set price: Rs 1,800–Rs 2,200
Digital Features & Electronics
Ampere Electric Scooter in current EV world is “smart” buzzword — but in affordable scooters such as Ampere, the divide between practical digital features and mere gimmicks comes sharply into focus once you lift the panel.
The disassembly exposed an extremely minimalist, no-frills electronics strategy — just enough technology to get by, but by no means the connected experience of the likes of Ather or Ola.
Smart Display: Cost vs Capability
Ampere employs a simple LCD digital display across the majority of its models — monochrome, non-touch, and dedicated to riding statistics alone. It displays:
- Speedometer
- Battery percentage
- Odometer / Trip meter
- Mode indicator (Eco/Power)
There’s no animation, no colored screen, no adjustability for brightness, and no smartphone sync. Yet, the screen is readable under sunlight, and the refresh rate is good enough for live tracking.
- Estimated cost (teardown-based): Rs 800–Rs 1,200
- Weatherproofing: Limited — exposed LCD without high-end sealing
- Durability: Functional, but liable to fogging due to moisture over time
- Comparison: Light years behind Ather’s 7-inch touchscreen or Ola’s TFT display — but also significantly less expensive
Ampere isn’t charging you for “smart” features — because they plain don’t exist in most models. And that’s great news for buyers who don’t need to shell out more for gimmicks they’ll never get around to using.
- No app = No bloatware
- No touchscreen = No fragility
- No internet = No privacy risk or cloud dependency
However, this also means:
- No software upgrades
- No advanced diagnostics
- No personalization
What’s inflating the price then?
It’s the battery + motor + FAME-II compliance costs — not the electronics. While Ola and Ather push flashy tech (and charge for it), Ampere sticks to essentials — and keeps the price down.
Labour, Assembly, Logistics: The Unseen Cost
Ampere Electric Scooter tend to be obsessed with visible parts — battery, motor, display, tyres. What, however, the Ampere teardown uncovered is that much of the scooter’s cost is linked to everything that goes on in the background — factories, shipping trucks, dealer showrooms.
Import Charges on Battery Cells & Motors
- Battery cells (NMC chemistry): Liable for ~5–10% base customs duty
- Motor components: Varying charges based on HS code classification (~10% average)
- Logistics & customs clearance per unit: Rs 1,500–Rs 2,000
Dealer Margin & Distribution Expenses
- Dealer margin: Rs 6,000–Rs 8,000 per unit (variant and location-dependent)
- Factory-to-dealer transport: Rs 1,000–Rs 1,500
- PDI (Pre-Delivery Inspection) & vehicle preparation: Rs 500–Rs 1,000
- GST on services and logistics: Contributes another Rs 500–Rs 800 indirectly
Even if you believe you’re paying only for the product, almost Rs 10,000–Rs 12,000 of the end cost is linked to dealer commissions and goods movement — a required evil for countrywide availability and service.
Is Ampere Overcharging or Undervalued?
The Ampere scooter and did a cost-benefit analysis from battery to screws, the question on everyone’s minds is: Is Ampere providing you with genuine value, or overcharging? Value-for-Money Rating
Ampere Electric Scooter aren’t wowing with cutting-edge technology or premium ride quality — but that’s not what they aim for. They have one purpose: simple, reliable urban transport at the cheapest price.
- Battery quality: Average
- Motor & controller: Thrifty but lacking in power
- Fade & tyres: Functional, not hardwearing
- Smart features: Virtually none
- Ride comfort: Adequate for use in towns
Price Competitiveness vs Rivals
| Scooter | Ex-showroom Price (Rs ) | Battery Size | Range (Claimed) | Smart Features | Torque/Performance | Value Score (/10) |
| Ampere Magnus EX | Rs 1.04L → Rs 75–78K (with subsidy) | 2.3 kWh | 80–90 km | Basic LCD only | Low–Moderate | 7.5 |
| Ola S1X (2 kWh) | Rs 89,999 → Rs 75K (subsidized) | 2.0 kWh | 95 km | TFT + app | Moderate | 8.0 |
| Ather Rizta S | Rs 1.09L → Rs 85–90K | 2.9 kWh | 123 km | Touchscreen + App | High | 8.2 |
| TVS iQube Base | Rs 1.25L → Rs 95–98K | 3.0 kWh | 100–110 km | SmartXonnect | Moderate | 8.0 |
Conclusion
India’s first thorough teardown of an Ampere electric scooter, the verdict is now clearer than ever: Ampere Electric Scooter isn’t a showy brand, but it offers genuine value for money. The internal components of the scooter — ranging from its mid-range lithium-ion battery to its smooth yet unflashy motor — all point to a cost-cutting strategy rather than cutting-edge innovation.
The teardown-backed recommendation is straightforward: If you’re looking for a simple, practical, no-nonsense electric scooter for daily commuting within the city — especially in the 20–30 km/day range — Ampere is a sensible choice. It isn’t trying to be a tech gadget on wheels. Instead, it focuses on the fundamentals: usable range, decent ride comfort, and low maintenance.
Who should purchase Ampere in 2025?
Urban drivers, students, small businesspeople, and first-time EV purchasers who value savings over functionality. If you want to go electric from petrol for functional purposes, this is a good starting point.
Who should stay away?
Tech-literate users who want connected features, fast rides, or extended mileage. Riders based in hilly areas or monsoon-ridden areas might also be interested in seeking out better-sealed, high-powered options like the TVS iQube or Ather Rizta.
FAQs
- What is the actual cost of the Ampere Electric Scooter after teardown?
Manufacturing cost of an Ampere electric scooter is put between Rs 58,000 to Rs 69,000. This entails battery, motor, controller, frame, tyres, electronics, and labor. After subsidies, the ex-showroom price to consumers would be between Rs 75,000 to Rs 90,000, leaving a reasonable margin for dealer distribution and warranty support.
- Is the Ampere Electric Scooter battery Indian or imported?
Ampere employs lithium-ion battery packs that are mostly assembled in India, but the battery cells are generally imported, either from China or South Korea. The BMS and pack housing tend to be localized to comply with FAME-II subsidy conditions.
- Is the Ampere Electric Scooter value for money in 2025?
Ampere Electric Scooter are value for money in 2025, particularly for price-sensitive city riders. They lack high-tech features, but the central parts — battery, motor, and build — are reasonably priced. The teardown verified that the cost-to-price ratio is satisfactory when compared with competitors.
- Which Ampere Electric Scooter model provides the best cost-to-performance ratio?
The Ampere Magnus EX still gives the best cost-to-performance ratio in 2025. With a 2.3 kWh battery, a maximum range of 90 km, and an acceptable ride quality at a post-subsidy price of approximately Rs 75,000–Rs 78,000, it’s perfect for daily city usage without burning a hole in one’s pocket on smart features.
- How does Ampere Electric Scooter fare against Ola and Ather in terms of component cost?
Ampere’s component quality is less elegant and more functional compared to Ola or Ather. While Ampere emphasizes affordability with standard batteries and BLDC motors, Ola and Ather utilize improved materials, better screens, and sophisticated controllers. Consequently, Ampere’s teardown price is 15–25% lower, but that also translates to fewer features and less performance.