Consumer court orders ₹1.63 lakh refund for Ola Electric scooter owner

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Ranga Reddy, Telangana recently ordered Ola Electric to refund ₹1,63,986 to a Hyderabad resident after repeated issues with his Ola S1 Pro electric scooter. [K Sunil Chowdary v Ola Electric]

President Chitneni Latha Kumari and members PVTR Jawahar Babu and J Shyamala observed that the complainant faced several issues within the warranty period, with Ola failing to rectify them.

"The above said documentary evidence submitted by the complainant makes it abundantly clear that within the warranty period, complainant faced several problems with the newly purchased electric two wheeler and as the Opposite Party failed to rectify the problems, it is in the custody of the Opposite Party since August 2023," the order dated October 28 stated.

The complainant, K Sunil Chowdary, moved the Commission after repeated issues with his Ola S1 Pro electric scooter.

He submitted that he purchased the scooter on June 26, 2022, paying ₹1,63,986 in total, which included additional services. These included a five-year extended warranty, a one-year Ola Care Plan, and a hypercharger for home installation.

However, from the date of purchase, the scooter's charger was defective, and although it was replaced within 10 days, ongoing battery issues persisted.

Chowdary stated that he faced continual challenges due to the battery’s malfunction, which caused frequent and prolonged vehicle downtime. He alleged that Ola Electric, instead of promptly resolving the issue, was unresponsive and ineffective in addressing the malfunction, leaving him with a non-functional scooter.

Ola Electric did not appear before the forum or file a written response. Despite being served a notice on January 24, 2024, the company neither contested the complaint nor submitted any rebuttal within the 45-day deadline. This absence was noted by the Commission, which proceeded to decide the case ex parte.

Based on the documentary evidence presented, including legal notices, invoices and correspondence, the Commission determined that Ola Electric’s actions amounted to unfair trade practice and deficiency in service.

It emphasised that within the warranty period, the complainant faced significant unresolved issues that rendered the vehicle unusable.

Additionally, Ola’s lack of response to legal notices and its failure to fulfill warranty commitments further substantiated the claim.

Consequently, the Commission directed Ola Electric to refund ₹1,63,986 to Chowdary, with interest at 9% per annum from August 2023 until the refund is realised.

Recognising the mental and physical distress caused by Ola’s actions, the Commission awarded Chowdary ₹10,000 as compensation, as well as an additional ₹10,000 to cover litigation costs.

The complainant was represented by Advocate T Vaishnavi.

[Read Order]