Spent a full day ripping around on the newly launched Simple One Gen 2 electric scooter from Simple Energy. Wow, what a ride! As a petrol-head motorcycle enthusiast, I needed some time to adjust to this silent EV. Still, it quickly won me over with its thrilling performance and smart features. Here’s my honest, no-BS take from pounding Bangalore’s city streets, highways, and off-road trails.

First Impressions: Silent Powerhouse

The silence hits hard! No engine roar, just pure electric whoosh. I grabbed the punchy 5 kWh variant (265 km IDC range, 115 kmph top speed, 0-40 kmph in 2.55 seconds), charged to 90%, and squeezed out 90+ km mixing Eco, Ride, Air, Sonic, and even Sonic X modes without easing off the throttle. Sonic X acceleration? Insane instant torque (up to 72 Nm peak) that nails overtakes. Didn’t track range until it dipped below 20%, classic petrol-head learning the EV ropes.

City & Off-Road Thrills

Ride and Air modes shine in traffic, efficient for puttering, punchy enough for city zips. Ride mode hits the sweet spot: balanced power, decent range, addictive pull without killing the battery. Off-road on bumpy dirt? It felt solid at 129 kg kerb weight, which is 8 kg lighter than Gen 1. The CBS disc brakes provide excellent control. Traction control, which even has a rally mode, helps maintain stability. The 4-level regen braking helps recharge while keeping it planted. The 780 mm seat height suits long commutes. The 35L underseat storage devours backpacks. There is also a handy 1L glove box for a phone or small gear.

Futuristic Features

The UI provides a smartphone-like experience. It features a 7-inch touchscreen and runs on Android 12. It includes a 5G e-SIM for Bluetooth calls. You also get OTA updates, cruise control, and TPMS. Find My Vehicle and Park Assist make reversing easy. Six modes (Eco X, Eco, Ride, Air, Sonic, Sonic X) dial in your vibe perfectly. Portable 750W home charger is plug-and-play; public fast chargers hit 0-80% in ~2 hours 15 mins. An industry-leading 8-year motor/battery warranty, plus a 3-year/30,000 km vehicle warranty, screams reliability.

Honest Cons & Learning Curve

Range anxiety lingers for petrol-heads, but 200+ km real-world on Gen 2 eases it fast. MapMyIndia’s navigation lags with inaccurate spots (Mappls glitch). Google Maps integration would have helped. The display washes out in bright sun (worse with shades); brighter screen settings are much needed. Menus pack features but lack enough shortcuts. It does take a couple of rides to master the UI. The seat is comfy and the right height for shorter riders is perfect. It does slope awkwardly for tall folks (over 5’8″). This limits you if you would like to sit a little towards the back of the seat.

Pricing & Lineup

Simple Energy’s Gen 2 portfolio sets benchmarks:

• Simple One Gen 2 (4.5 kWh): 236 km IDC, 90 kmph top speed, 0-40 kmph in 3.3s – ₹1,69,999 ex-Bengaluru.
• Simple One Gen 2 (5 kWh): 265 km IDC, 115 kmph, 0-40 in 2.55s – ₹1,77,999 ex-Bengaluru.
• Simple OneS Gen 2 (3.7 kWh): 190 km IDC (up from 181 km) – ₹1,49,999 ex-Bengaluru (intro ₹1,39,999!).
• Simple Ultra (6.5 kWh): India’s first 400 km IDC range, 115 kmph, 0-40 in 2.77s – coming soon.