2024 Bengaluru EV Festival recap: An action-packed weekend with Ather scooters ripping it up on the track

I’ll be honest, I didn’t expect to have so much fun watching electric scooters race, but the Bengaluru EV Festival certainly delivered. The brainchild of the Evotron Motorsports team, spearheaded by multiple national rally champion Deepak Chinnappa and Arjun Gurudev, it was the first-ever electric two-wheeler racing festival held in India. After witnessing proper hardcore racing, I sincerely hope it returns next year with the same amount of—no pun intended—charge.

evo India wasn’t just invited to cover the event but also to race—and guess who the Ed assigned for the job! Now, I’ve raced before and even bagged a few podiums, including a win, but this time I would be competing in the ‘Pro’ category against trained racers, some of whom are multiple-time national champions. Let’s just say I was, well, a tad nervous.

What would I be racing? The Ather 450X—arguably the most fun-to-ride electric scooter on sale in the country today. So, at the very least, I knew I was going to have a tonne of fun out on the track.

Day one began with the selection of the Amateurs, over 60 of whom turned up. While a few had some track experience, most were complete novices. That’s where Anand Dharamraj from Indimotard’s Throttle Wide Open (T.W.O) track riding school stepped in to train the participants. After a basic briefing session, which covered the ABCs of track riding and proper manners to follow, the amateur riders were let loose on the track for a 10-minute practice session. And you know what? I was surprised to see just how fast these amateurs were! By the end of the day, many riders—including some existing Ather 450 owners—were thrilled to report they’d had an incredible time. The crowd in attendance was also having a ball with stunt shows, food stalls, and even INRacing simulators set up for their enjoyment! The following day, there was a supercar and superbike display, and a few Ultraviolette F77 owners were invited to experience their bikes on track between the races.

The next day began with the Pro category’s practice session, and yours truly was all kitted up for the action. As we were flagged off, it only took the first corner to realise I was way out of my league. Watching Lani Xena Fernandes—one of our trainers and a Pro racer—effortlessly go knee-down, I knew I had no chance of making it to the starting grid of the main race. Corner after corner, I was overtaken, but I kept it tidy and tried to stay close to the rider ahead to observe their lines. Everyone on the grid lapped me during the practice session, which says all you need to know about just how good these folks are—they’re in a different league altogether!

What was also exceptionally good was the Ather 450X itself. It felt nimble, had an incredible chassis that turned in beautifully, and, thanks to the readily available torque from its electric motor, didn’t feel slow by any means. All the 450X scooters were bone-stock and ridden in the performance-focused ‘Warp’ mode. After practice, it was time for qualifying. Each rider went out alone to set a flying lap, and the top eight riders in both categories qualified for the main eight-lap race.

The Amateurs raced first, with a ‘Le Mans’ style start. For those unfamiliar, up until 1970 the drivers in the famed endurance race would run to their cars, belt up, and start. Here, participants had to sprint to their scooters, start them up quickly, and set off without blocking others—a sight that was as chaotic as it was entertaining.

After swapping places multiple times, Mohammed Zubair Ali clinched P1, followed by Rohit Balaji and Hemanth Gowda in the Amateur category. It was some of the most exciting racing I’ve ever witnessed—proper old-school neck-and-neck action!

Then came the Pro race, which was an even more thrilling spectacle. Savion Sabu took the win, with Rakshita Dave and Rushabh Shah close behind in P2 and P3. Lani Xena Fernandes, who had taken an early lead, was locked in a fierce battle with Savion until the penultimate lap. Unfortunately, she crashed, allowing Savion to claim the top spot and hold it until the chequered flag.

The Bengaluru EV Festival was a delightful surprise that showcased the untapped potential of EVs on track. It proved that electric mobility isn’t just about sustainability—it’s also about adrenaline-fuelled fun and that’s exactly what the Evotron Motorsports team set out to achieve. Here’s hoping this festival becomes an annual affair.