KATHMANDU: The price of Ather electric scooters is set to drop by up to 40% after the Indian electric two-wheeler maker, Ather Energy, announced its new ‘Battery as a Service’ (BaaS) model.
The company made the announcement a few days after it unveiled plans to celebrate Ather Community Day in August 2025.
Ather’s Chief Business Officer, Ranveet Pokela, confirmed that the company is preparing to roll out the BaaS model, which will provide customers with an option to rent the battery instead of purchasing it outright. He added that Ather, however, will continue to offer customers the choice of full battery ownership if they prefer.
The BaaS model reduces the upfront cost of purchasing a scooter by up to 40%, according to the company. Buyers, however, will have to pay a specific monthly fee to use the battery. A similar model is already in use by MG for its electric car Comet in India and by Gogoro in Nepal.
Since the battery typically accounts for nearly half the total cost of an electric vehicle, renting it lowers the initial purchase price substantially. Customers will have to pay only for the scooter’s hardware upfront and cover battery usage through a subscription plan.
Honda and Hero are also offering scooters under the BaaS model in India.
During Community Day, Ather Energy is expected to unveil a new, more affordable scooter built on its new EL platform shortly. The scooter is expected to be priced below the Ather Rizta.
Ather scooters are among the best-selling electric two-wheelers in Nepal. However, it is still unclear whether the BaaS model will be introduced in the Nepali market as well.
Vaidya Energy represents Ather in Nepal.
