Ampere Magnus Pro: Road Test Review In Images

The Ampere Magnus Pro, at Rs 73,990 (ex-showroom Bengaluru), costs about the same as a Suzuki Access or Honda Activa 125. Its 55kmph top speed, though not quite as high as something like the Ather 450X, should still make it fairly usable in the city; and the claimed range figure of 75km sounds like enough to get the job of commuting done. So, can this e-scooter strike a balance between affordability and genuine usability?

The Magnus certainly looks more conventional than some of the other electrics from non-mainstream manufacturers. Sure, it isn’t the prettiest or most attractive scooter out there, but it isn’t shooting itself in the foot by overdoing things either. The lights are all simple and straightforward, there’s an acceptable amount of chrome garnish on the apron, the side panels are lightly creased and the Magnus Pro features pretty clean lines overall.

In terms of build quality and finish levels, the Ampere isn’t excellent but still feels nearly on par with something like the Hero Maestro Edge. Panel gaps are fairly tight and consistent, and plastic quality, at least in the areas that are frequently touched and felt, is decent enough.

The feeling of quality takes a hit when you pop open the seat, with the plastics and metal battery cover feeling pretty crude. On the upside, storage space is decent and Ampere has thrown in a boot light as well.

The battery itself is a 1.8kWh lithium-ion unit that can be removed (somewhat painfully) through the underseat storage compartment for charging. The easier alternative is to charge it in the scooter itself, using the port underneath the seat hinge.

Ampere claims a range of 75km on a full charge, give or take 5km. In our range test, we actually managed 83km, so the manufacturer’s claims are pretty accurate, if slightly on the conservative side. 

That respectable range figure is partly thanks to the Magnus’ fairly insipid performance. Ampere claims 55kmph but our trusty old VBox told us a true top speed of 51.33kmph. Getting there is a fairly laid back affair too, with a leisurely 0-50kmph time of 13.7 seconds.

In the quicker of its two riding modes, the Magnus’ 1.2kW motor does a decent enough job of hauling the scooter around, and throttle feel and calibration is pretty good too, which is something of a rarity on these less-recognised e-scooters.

The riding position on the Magnus is a bit knees-up. The seat is pretty long and should comfortably accommodate two, but the low handlebar and high floorboard rob you of a feeling of roominess. 

As a result of its exceptionally light weight, the Magnus needs some pretty soft springs, which almost completely run out of travel with a heavy rider on board. What this means is a pretty jarring ride, with most road imperfections coming through almost unfiltered to your backside and palms. 

This scooter has to make do with 130mm drum brakes at both ends, which begin to feel a little inadequate when you need to stop quickly from its top speed.

In terms of price, the Ampere Magnus Pro is comparable to a 125cc petrol-powered scooter. In terms of experience, it is not. So if you’re torn between an e-scooter and a combustion scooter at this price, it’s a no-brainer - go for the oil burner. But if you’ve made up your mind to go green, and want to do so without breaking the bank, the Magnus Pro is a reasonably good choice. We recommend it, not because it’s an exceptionally good vehicle, but because it’s as close to good as you can get with an e-scooter at this price point, and there is a lack of any serious competition.