Simple Energy One

Simple Energy One

Simple Energy One is a unique proposition as an EV. But how does it measure up to expectations? Here’s taking a closer look.

How is the Design?

It seems to have become accepted practice that newer models of electric vehicles (EVs) that are produced by two-wheeler start-ups are not even close to being ready when they are introduced to the public. August 2021 was the month that Bengaluru-based Simple Energy 'launched' their One electric scooter; however, at the time, the scooter was still very much in the prototype stage. After waiting for what feels like an eternity, we are finally going to be able to ride this much anticipated electric scooter.

The start-up company based in Bengaluru is in the business of constructing electric two-wheelers from the ground up. The company develops full in-house goods that are made in India, beginning with the design of its surface, continuing with the design of its chassis and moving on to the creation of its batteries, and culminating with the development of its motors. Nevertheless, the trip has not been without of its share of difficulties along the way.

In the traditional approach to automotive design, the process begins with the creation of concept sketches, moves on to physical modelling, then moves on to reverse-engineering the physical model, visualization, and finally, physical and digital prototyping. Each phase of the process utilizes a unique piece of software and a unique set of methods, and as a result, the entire process can take a significant amount of time. ALIAS Surface was utilized by Simple Energy in order to construct three-dimensional models that had a realistic appearance and were derived from product sketches. Alias has enabled them to eliminate the physical and clay modelling process from their workflow, which has resulted in significant time savings. This has given them the confidence to move forward with the development of production-level surface data. The overall size of the file is not particularly large, which means that it is simple to transfer among teams and open in fewer configurations on different platforms. Alias features some of the greatest modules for importing and exporting files, which makes managing files a lot easier for designers. It also allows reverse engineering, which enables our team to quickly transition from mesh data obtained from vendors or suppliers to high-quality Class-A surfaces that are ready for engineering detail design.

How does it perform?

The manufacturer, Simple Energy, asserts that once it goes on sale, this electric scooter will be the one that can cover the most ground the quickest, and the technical parameters clearly support that assertion. The in-house developed motor generates power ratings that are comparable to those of the Ola S1 Pro (4.5kW continuous/8.5kW peak), but the 72Nm torque figure is unrivalled in the e-scooter sector. The manufacturer asserts that its product has an industry-leading acceleration time of 2.77 seconds from 0 to 40 kilometers per hour and a maximum speed of 105 kilometers per hour. These numbers are amazing, but what really jumped out to me was how smooth, predictable, and simple it was to utilize the accelerator in each of the four riding modes. This was the aspect that impressed the most. Having said that, the top two modes did exhibit a tiny overrun, which is a phenomenon in which the scooter continues to pick up speed for a fraction of a second after you have removed your foot from the accelerator. To their credit, a well-tuned accelerator response is something that many electric vehicles appear to struggle with, and the Simple One is already considerably better than the majority of the electric vehicles that we have tested. The manufacturer has assured the public that all of these issues would be resolved before they begin mass production of the scooters.

Even though we were restricted in the amount of space we were able to ride in, the scooter was still able to quickly surpass the estimated speed of 80 kilometers per hour when it was set to its highest Sonic setting. The total performance seems just as swift as an Ola S1 Pro in hyper mode, which suggests that this should be among the fastest scooters in the country. However, the Simple One's range is where it truly shines as a competitive advantage.

What's the range?

The battery will be a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 4.8 kWh. It is expected to have a top speed of 100 kilometers per hour, a range of 240 kilometers when operating in the Eco mode, and an acceleration time of 3.6 seconds when going from 0 to 50 kilometers per hour. In addition, the mileage that can be achieved on a single charge with the Simple Energy One is 300 kilometers. This is the ARAI mileage that is reported to be achieved by all trim levels of the One.

Additionally, the bike is equipped with a front and rear brake, making it easy to control while on the go. The bike also has a Shimano 7 speed gear system that makes riding easy and comfortable.

How is the riding experience?

The Simple Energy One bike is a great way to get around town. It's easy to ride, and it's got a comfortable seat. Plus, the bike has a lot of features that will make your commute easier.

The bike has an automatic gear system that will help you pedal to your pace. And the frame is made from lightweight aluminium, so it's easy to manoeuvre. The Simple Energy One Electric Bike has been in the market for a while now, but it is still a little rough around the edges. There are a few quality control issues, including some gaps in the panels. However, Simple Energy has promised to fix these before selling the bike to the public. There is also a problem with the ergonomics of the seat. It could use a half-inch more padding, or a slight redesign.

The Simple Energy One Electric Bike has two battery packs. The combined range in Eco mode is 236km under IDC conditions. The internal testing reveals a higher mileage, but the battery range drops to 38 per cent after 40km. Despite this, the Simple Energy One offers a great riding experience and is an excellent alternative to riding a conventional bike. The Simple One offers four ride modes. In Sonic mode, you can accelerate to 105 km/h. In Dash mode, you can accelerate to 90 km/h. Simple Energy plans to sell the Simple One with 100-section front and 110-section rear tyres. The Simple One weighs 110kg and has a 775mm seat height.

Overall, the Simple Energy One bike is an excellent choice for anyone who wants an easy ride at a reasonable price.

Tech and features

Simple Energy One bike is a pedal-assist electric bike that has been designed with an emphasis on affordability. It comes with a range of features that makes it one of the most affordable e-bikes on the market. The bike also comes with a built-in display that lets you track your riding stats and monitor your battery life. Additionally, Simple Energy One bike has been designed with an intuitive touch screen interface that makes it easy to operate.

The Simple Energy One Electric Bike comes with two versions: the regular and the eco. Both versions feature a 4.8 kWh Lithium-ion battery and an 8.5 kW motor. They also have a touchscreen instrument console, Bluetooth connectivity, OTA updates, TPMS, and a 30 litre boot. Simple Energy aims to manufacture 12.5 million units every year, making it the world's largest two-wheeler manufacturer. It also promises to release a new model with additional features in the next few weeks.

The smartphone software developed by Simple is also not yet ready to be released, and when the scooter finally goes on sale, the 7-inch TFT display may have a slightly different layout, with larger icons representing the various ride modes. The display software itself was still in the beta testing phase, so a number of the capabilities, including Bluetooth, cruise control, and some of the more fundamental touch functionality, were not operational on our scooter. The battery charge indicator was also fairly faulty, and it would unexpectedly return to its full display of 100 percent at random intervals. It has a top speed of 105 km/h and can accelerate from 0 to 40 kph in 2.95 seconds. It can also travel up to 240 kilometers on a single charge.

It also has an impressive under-seat storage capacity of 30 liters, with a large enough space for a full-face helmet. Simple Energy designed and developed the Simple One electric bike in-house, allowing it to quickly bring a revolutionary scooter to market. The team used Dassault Systems' SOLIDWORKS for Entrepreneurs program and SOLIDWORKS applications to create the first prototype. The team also used 3DEXPERIENCE, a cloud-based platform, to develop the battery management system and software for the Simple One.

Battery Capacity and Electric Motors

The Simple electric two-wheeler has a battery that has 4.8 kWh of capacity, making it far more powerful than any other two-wheeler electric vehicle currently on the market. However, this is not the only enticing feature of the vehicle; the manufacturer asserts that it has a real-world range of more than 200 kilometers in the Eco mode with the fuel economy set to its minimum. Simple has also developed a solution in which the battery capacity is divided between a fixed battery of 3.3 kWh located beneath the floorboard and a removable battery of 1.5 kWh that can be inserted under the seat. This will help alleviate charging anxiety issues to some degree, and it also means that the business will be able to easily provide a cheaper version of the scooter in the future that does not include a removable battery pack. Although what Simple has done is quite ingenious, there is an important point to keep in mind about it. Because of how this 7-kilogram removable pack is constructed, it does not have the same heat management capabilities as the main pack, and as a result, it can only be used to power the scooter in the Eco mode that is the slowest possible setting. Because of this, the maximum speed will be capped at 45 kilometers per hour and the Eco mode will be required to be used for around 30 percent of the total available driving range.

When it comes to the amount of time needed to charge the scooter, the manufacturer estimates that it will take approximately four and a half hours for the conventional home charger to bring the battery from zero to one hundred percent. A first for the market, Simple has announced that it will sell an additional fast charger with a price tag of Rs 15,499. This charger will effectively double the rate at which a home battery can be charged, hence reducing the amount of time needed to charge to approximately two and a half hours. It is important to keep in mind that the secondary, detachable battery won't begin charging until the primary, built-in battery has reached an 80 percent charge level.

Safety Equipment

Electric bikes are becoming more popular, with many people looking for an environmentally friendly way to get around. While there are a few things you'll need to consider before purchasing your electric bike, the most important thing is safety.

What's the warranty on battery?

The most basic one is providing a warranty that lasts for three years on the automobile, the batteries, and the charger.

Which two-wheelers compete in this segment?

The two-wheelers that compete in this segment of Simple Energy One Bike are the electric scooter and the electric bike. The electric scooter is powered by a battery, while the electric bike is powered by a motor.

Simple Energy Scooters Simple One's primary competitors include products such as the TVS iQube Electric, Ather 450X, Revolt RV 400, Ola S1, and many others.

Verdict (Is it Value for Money?)

Consequently, the performance is very good, and Simple offers levels of range that are industry-leading. The chassis is another feature that catches one's attention as being pretty impressive in most areas. This tubular steel chassis is also an in-house design by Simple, and the business has done a superb job in both the suspension and braking sections of the vehicle. Although the brakes are robust and easy to modulate, we did detect quite a bit of chassis flex at the steering headstock when applying heavy pressure to the brakes. According to the corporation, this issue will be resolved prior to the beginning of manufacturing of the scooters.

On the bright side, Simple claims that despite severe supply issues, it is maintaining its first quoted price of Rs. 1.45 lakh, ex-showroom, and that the first buyers would get the scooter at that same price. When you consider the degree of performance and range that is offered, it is a terrific bargain. When it is finally available, the Simple One will be sold at a price that is lower than that of its competitors for as long as the company can manage the financial burden of doing so.