Ampere Primus review, first ride

By Rahul GhoshNot many of you might have heard of Ampere, which is a part of Greaves Electric Mobility. The company made quite a splash at the 2023 Auto Expo and made one thing clear, that they are a company ready to offer good quality products. Going by the same, they have launched the Ampere Primus, which is their flagship electric scooter. Priced at Rs 1.09 lakh ex-showroom, Delhi, the Primus takes on all the established players. So is it ready for the fight? Let’s find out.

Ampere PrimusDesign and features

When we talk of design, Ampere has delved a simple and straightforward way. The Primus looks like your everyday machine and comes complete with a sleek front apron that houses indicators and some chrome embellishments. The front mudguard too is designed to do a job that it does well. Front suspension duties are taken care of by telescopic forks and then there are the 12in alloy wheels which look good. Surprisingly, there are no disc brakes offered with the Primus. The handlebar houses the headlamp and right below sits the LED DRL. The good thing is that Ampere has not omitted the headlight on/off switch. So one can rightfully use the DRL and conserve as much energy as possible by switching off the headlamps during the day. In profile too, the design is nothing to write about. But it is apt to mention that it looks smart and so do the large tail light panels. It is also apt to mention that the Primus comes with twin rear shock absorbers at the back.

Where the Primus could have done better is in the instrument panel department. They have resorted to a simple LCD display which looks old school. However, it offers ample info in a simple way. It also offers Bluetooth connectivity as well. On the downside, there is no proper trip computer as the trip offered resets every time the scooter is switched off.

Ampere PrimusRiding position, seat, storage

The battery on the Primus sits under the floor thus increasing the width of the floor. The seat though is large and offers ample space for two. The handlebar too falls to hand comfortably. However, as far as the rider’s triangle is concerned, it is a bit knee up yet remains relatively comfortable. As far as storage is concerned, the Primus comes with a cubby on the front shield which is large enough to house a mobile phone. It also gets a USB charger located conveniently there. Under the seat, the Primus offers a 22-litre boot and it comes with a LED light as well. One also gets a luggage tray behind the seat which is sure convenient.

Ampere PrimusBattery, motor, charging, range, ride modes

The Primus uses a 3kWh battery which powers a 4kw electric motor that sends power to the rear wheel via a belt. The company claims a charge time of five hours and fast charging comes as an optional extra. As far as the range in concerned, the Primus has an ARAI claimed range of 107km.

The Primus comes with three riding modes, Eco, City and Power. While top speed in Eco mode is a claimed 35kmph, in City it can go up to 55kmph. In Power mode, that number increases to 80kmph.

Ampere PrimusHow is it to ride

On the go the scooter feels light and nimble and this makes it a perfect city tool. The three modes Eco, City and Power offer three different top speeds. However, the acceleration is not blistering fast. In fact the power comes in a rather linear fashion which does not startle riders. The scooter also feels stable at top speeds. The Primus uses a telescopic setup up front and twin shocks at the back. The ride is on the stiffer side and at the same time is not uncomfortable. Around corners, the Primus is fun to ride as one can tip the scooter in confidently. Unlike the competition, the Primus makes do with drum brakes at both ends. But we are happy to report that units offer a good bite and hauling the scooter down from top speeds is not a concern.