Keep it Simple, Simple

The Simple One Gen 2 is undoubtedly the most “unminimalistic” scooter we have ridden in ages. And we liked it

- Story: Anvay Mahajan

MINIMALISM IS THE GLOBAL DESIGN OBSESSION today. Brands across industries are chasing the Apple-Tesla philosophy, sanding away character in favour of clean lines and standardization. It almost feels like chaos is being engineered out of our lives. And then comes Simple Energy, doing exactly the opposite with the new Simple One Gen 2. Despite its name, there's nothing “simple” about this scooter. Especially when it comes to design, tech, and many other things.

Let's start with the design. The scooter is clearly youth-focused, sharp, and packed with aerodynamic elements. Ducts, vents, and flowing curves dominate the bodywork, giving the impression that someone like Adrian Newey had a say in the process. Highlights include vents designed to cool the instrument console and an apron-mounted air duct that adds both visual drama and aerodynamic intent. Build quality is impressive, with no cheap-looking plastics or noticeable panel gaps anywhere. That said, the toggle switches require a firm press to operate, which feels slightly out of character in an otherwise well-finished scooter. More on that later. Practicality hasn't been overlooked either. The 35-litre underseat storage is generously sized and easily accommodates a half-face helmet. A small full-face helmet may fit, but anything larger prevents the seat from latching properly.

The Simple One Gen 2 is offered in three variants. The entry-level Simple OneS comes with a 3.7-kWh battery pack and does without a touchscreen. Sitting above it are the 4.5-kWh and five-kWh variants, both of which feature a touchscreen interface. We got our riding time on the five-kWh version. Above all these sits the Simple Ultra, which packs a massive 6.5-kWh battery. Essentially, it is the five-kWh scooter with an additional 1.5-kWh battery, resulting in a claimed IDC range of an astonishing 400 kilometres.