Convert Your Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 Into An Electric Bike

With the same underpinnings and looks, is this the best way to save the environment and satisfy your cafe-racer thirst?

• UK-based Saietta group has transformed a Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 into an electric bike.
• The bike uses a 52V electric motor instead of the twin-cylinder 650cc engine.
• The bike remains visually unchanged.

The EV revolution has well and truly begun, and we see more and more brands introducing new electric two-wheelers on a regular basis. However, UK-based Saietta group has opted for a different approach, and transformed the existing Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 into an electric bike!

What Saietta has basically done is swapped the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650’s twin-cylinder engine with a 52V electric motor, featuring Saietta’s Axial Flux Technology. Consequently, the company also replaced the dysfunctional clutch lever with an electric brake. When used, this brake sheds speed while recharging the onboard battery.

Surprisingly, all this has been achieved without hindering the underpinnings or the design of the Continental GT 650. The double-cradle frame, clip-on handlebar, and fuel tank have remained as is, while accommodating the new motor, which shows how potent Saietta’s AFT is.

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And the best part is that all this could soon be available in India. In March 2021, Saietta group had joined hands with India’s leading OEM supplier, Padmini VNA, to take on India’s electric two-wheeler market. Padmini VNA’s customer base already includes Royal Enfield, which is why Saietta chose the Continental GT 650 for the trial. However, the brand’s clientele also includes other prominent names like Hero MotoCorp, TVS, and Bajaj Auto.

All said and done, the project is still far from reaching Indian markets anytime soon. Not to forget, there’s no news on the performance figures and range of the electric bike, something which usually plays a key role in luring in customers. And if Saietta manages to churn out the same power (47PS and 52Nm) as the petrol-powered GT 650, who wouldn’t mind going electric?