Bajaj Showcases Chetak e-Scooter

This makes Bajaj the first major two-wheeler manufacturer to foray into the electric segment

While the electric mobility space in India has so far been populated by startups and non-conventional two-wheeler manufacturers. Bajaj is now the first of the established two-wheel makers to make its foray into the electric space, via its Urbanite electric division.

The first product under this division, the Chetak electric scooter has been showcased today with an official launch expected around mid-November to early December. Production will be limited to begin with, but will be ramped up in the future, and Bajaj has already started producing the Chetak at its Chakan plant. Deliveries are slated to begin from January onwards, with Pune and Bengaluru first on the list. The Chetak will be sold via Bajaj's Pro-Biking dealership network. As part of the unveiling, a fleet of 20 scooters will be flagged off from Delhi today and undertake the Chetak Electric Yatra to Pune via Goa. 

The styling on the scooter is European-esque, with curvaceous sheet metal body panels and a bulbous look. This is also a result of the fact that Bajaj has drawn inspiration from its original Chetak, and reimagined what the scooter would look like if it were built today. The Chetak is a well-equipped scooter with a handlebar-mounted LED headlight, LED turn signals and a fully digital LCD instrument cluster. Bluetooth phone connectivity is also on offer, as is geo-fencing, location tracking, music and telephone controls. The floorboard on the Chetak is completely flat, while practicality is further boosted by 19 litres of underseat storage capacity as well as further storage space on the back of the apron.

The Chetak rolls on 12-inch alloy wheels, with a disc brake at the front and drum at the rear. A distinctive feature is the single-sided telescopic fork up front, while the rear swingarm is a cast aluminium unit.. German electronics giant Bosch has helped out with the powertrain, and it seems to have paid off handsomely. The scooter is powered by a 4kW motor and gets a claimed range of 95km in Eco mode from its lithium-ion battery pack.

Bajaj has a reputation for pricing its products well, and we hope that this has will continue with the Chetak too. Bajaj has said it will price the scooter aggressively, and we expect a price of around Rs 1 lakh (ex-showroom). This will allow the Chetak to undercut its biggest competitor, the Ather 450, by a fair margin. Will Bajaj be a trendsetter in the electric space and force others to follow suit, or has it jumped the gun and played its hand too early? Only time will tell.