Ather Energy has expanded its electric scooter range with the launch of the new Ather Konarc, a more affordable, family-focused electric scooter designed to bring the brand to a wider group of buyers. The Konarc was unveiled on August 29, 2026, at Ather Community Day 2026 in Bengaluru, with prices starting at Rs 99,999 (ex-showroom, Bengaluru).
The Konarc is especially important for Ather because it is the first production scooter based on the company’s new EL platform. Instead of focusing mainly on sporty performance like the Ather 450 series, the new model places greater emphasis on comfort, storage, easier charging, lower ownership costs and everyday family use.
At launch, prices were announced for three Konarc S variants offering claimed IDC ranges of 100 km, 125 km and 161 km. A longer-range 200 km version and more feature-rich Konarc Z models are also part of Ather’s planned six-variant Konarc family.
Ather Konarc Price and Variants
The Konarc S range starts just below the Rs 1 lakh mark.
| Variant | Battery | IDC Range | Ather TrueRange | Ex-showroom Price |
| Ather Konarc S 100 | 2.1 kWh | 100 km | 80 km | Rs 99,999 |
| Ather Konarc S 125 | 2.7 kWh | 125 km | 100 km | Rs 1,21,999 |
| Ather Konarc S 161 | 3.5 kWh | 161 km | 130 km | Rs 1,44,999 |
These prices are ex-showroom Bengaluru. Ather has also announced plans for an S 200, along with Z 125 and Z 161 versions. Pricing for these models had not been announced at launch.
The naming system is straightforward. For example, the “161” in Konarc S 161 refers to its claimed 161 km IDC range.
New EL Platform Makes Its Production Debut
One of the biggest developments with the Konarc is underneath the bodywork. It is the first production scooter to use Ather’s EL platform, which was developed as a flexible architecture for different types of electric scooters.
Ather says the platform was developed using data gathered over around 26 lakh kilometres of real-world operation. The architecture includes a redesigned chassis, electrical system and powertrain layout while reducing the number of components required.
The simpler construction is intended to improve manufacturing efficiency and make servicing quicker. Ather says assembly can be around 15 percent faster, while some servicing procedures can take substantially less time than before.
Family-Oriented Design and Metal Body
The Konarc has a more conventional scooter shape than Ather’s sporty 450 range. It uses a steel unibody chassis and metal body, giving it the familiar proportions expected from a practical Indian family scooter.
At the front is a large apron with integrated lighting, while the scooter gets a broad floorboard and a long, relatively flat seat intended to make two-up riding easier.
Ather has also chosen different wheel sizes at the two ends. The Konarc rides on a 14-inch front alloy wheel and 12-inch rear alloy wheel. It has 90 mm of front suspension travel and 100 mm at the rear.
Its 1,352 mm wheelbase is longer than that of Ather’s previous scooters and is intended to contribute to greater stability and passenger comfort.
31-Litre Boot and Practical Storage
Practicality has clearly been one of Ather’s main priorities.
All three Konarc S versions provide 31 litres of under-seat storage. There is also a 2-litre front storage area/mobile holder, while an 18W USB Type-C charging facility is available as an accessory.
For everyday family use, the bigger floorboard, padded grab rail on the higher S models and optional pillion backrest should also be useful.
A reverse Park Assist function is standard across the S range, allowing the motor to help move the scooter backwards in tight parking spaces.
Battery, Range and Performance
The entry-level Konarc S 100 gets a 2.1 kWh battery, while the S 125 uses a 2.7 kWh unit. The S 161 receives the largest of the currently priced batteries at 3.5 kWh. All three battery packs carry IP67 protection and are enclosed in aluminium casings.
The S 100 produces peak power of 4 kW, while the S 125 and S 161 produce 4.7 kW. Maximum torque is 16 Nm across all three.
Ather quotes:
- S 100: 0-40 km/h in 5 seconds
- S 125: 0-40 km/h in 4.7 seconds
- S 161: 0-40 km/h in 4.7 seconds
All three currently announced S versions have a 70 km/h claimed top speed and offer SmartEco, Eco and Power riding modes.
The future Konarc Z range is expected to place slightly greater emphasis on performance, with launch information indicating a top speed of up to 80 km/h.
Charging Gets More Flexible
Ather has equipped the Konarc S with a 450W onboard charger as standard.
With this setup, claimed 0-80 percent home charging times are:
- S 100 – 4 hours
- S 125 – 4 hours 30 minutes
- S 161 – 5 hours 40 minutes
Ather’s new combined-charging system can add another charging source to reduce the time significantly. Using the combined setup, the respective 0-80 percent times fall to approximately 2 hours, 2 hours 25 minutes and 3 hours 10 minutes.
The company also claims Ather Grid charging can add around 13 km in 10 minutes on the S 100, and about 15 km in 10 minutes on the S 125 and S 161.
Digital Display and Connected Features
The equipment level varies considerably depending on the variant.
The S 100 gets a 4.2-inch DeepView display, while the S 125 and S 161 receive a larger 7-inch DeepView display.
The S 125 and S 161 add features including:
- AirWalk
- AutoHold
- FallSafe
- Call and music controls
- 4G LTE/GNSS connectivity
- Find My Scooter
- Theft and tow notifications
- Remote charging status
- Ride Stories
- OTA software updates
Ather Connect is complimentary for three years on the S 125 and S 161 according to the company’s specification sheet.
The upcoming Konarc Z takes the technology further. Features announced for the Z range include MagicKey, an app-based boot unlocking function, while the Z 161 is expected to combine it with AutoPop to automatically open the boot. The higher-end versions are also expected to offer features such as Google Maps and additional connected functions on the dashboard.
New Advanced Electronic Braking System
Another major technological development introduced with the Konarc family is Ather’s Advanced Electronic Braking System, or AeBS.
The system electronically manages braking to improve stability during hard braking and reduce rear-wheel lock-up. Ather says it can provide more controlled stopping across varying road conditions.
On the current S range, the S 100 uses drum brakes at both ends, while the S 125 and S 161 get a 220 mm front disc and 130 mm rear drum. The more advanced AeBS technology is associated with the upcoming Z range.
Longer Service Intervals and Battery Warranty
Ather has also worked on reducing routine maintenance requirements. The Konarc’s scheduled service interval is once every 10,000 km or one year, whichever comes first.
The standard vehicle and battery warranty is three years or 30,000 km. Ather also lists longer battery coverage options, including five-year/60,000 km, eight-year/80,000 km and up to 10 years/1,00,000 km, depending on the applicable warranty plan.
The 10-year battery programme is particularly significant in a segment where concerns about long-term battery replacement costs can influence purchasing decisions.
When Will Ather Konarc Deliveries Start?
The rollout will happen in stages rather than all six versions reaching showrooms together.
The Konarc S 125 and S 161 are scheduled to begin reaching customers from September 2026, initially in selected markets. The entry-level S 100 is expected in the first quarter of 2027.
The Konarc Z 125 and Z 161 are planned for Q2 2027, while the long-range S 200 is expected later, around Q3 2027, according to the launch information available so far.
Why the Ather Konarc Matters
The Konarc takes Ather into a price segment where the company previously had limited presence. Ather co-founder and CEO Tarun Mehta said at the launch that a large part of India’s electric scooter market lies roughly in the Rs 1 lakh-Rs 1.2 lakh price band, which helps explain why the company has developed a more accessible model below its existing range.
With a starting price of Rs 99,999, multiple battery sizes, up to 161 km of range in the initially priced versions, a 31-litre boot, larger wheels and substantially longer warranty options, the Konarc is designed more as an everyday household scooter than a performance EV.
The future 200 km and Z versions should make the range even broader. For Ather, the Konarc could therefore become one of its most important products as competition in India’s mainstream electric scooter market continues to grow.
Satyakam is a seasoned professional content writer with over 15 years of experience in creating high-quality, research-driven content for digital platforms. He specialises in business, finance, banking, law, technology, and informational blogs.
