Royal Enfield Electric Bike India Launch On Track

Royal Enfield has reportedly made a few prototypes and is said to be evaluating the segments it wants to compete in

• Royal Enfield has been working on the electric motorcycle platform since 2018.
• The launch of the production version is still some time away.
• Revolt’s RV 300 and RV 400 are the only two electric motorcycles available in the country at the moment.

Royal Enfield has been working on an electric motorcycle platform since 2018, and the brand’s plans seem to be right on track as per recent reports. Speaking to a publication, Royal Enfield’s Chief Executive Officer Vinod K. Dasari has revealed that the brand has made some prototypes and is currently evaluating the right segment in which it can debut the electric bike.

Dasari added that it’s just a matter of time for the electric revolution to truly kick in. “It is not about whether electric (mobility) will come or not but it’s a question of ‘when’. We did make some prototypes, we have looked at several segments and we will be adding to the team in the near future,” he said. He also stated that going by the bookings trend in July 2020, the demand has gone back to pre-pandemic levels, and that the situation isn’t like how it was in June.

In November 2019, the company announced a new Royal Enfield 2.0 strategy that includes electric mobility. So far, nothing concrete regarding the motorcycle or its pictures have surfaced online. That said, we believe it is likely to be a motorcycle that looks retro but packs a modern electric powertrain. A triple digit range with the option to quick charge or swap batteries will be essential if the brand wants to make a mark in the electric segment. The biggest drawback of electric vehicles is the down time between charging, and quick-charging or battery swapping technology should solve this issue. 

The Indian electric segment is still at its nascent stage and the Revolt RV 400 and RV 300 are the only electric motorcycles on sale at the moment. While they represent the more affordable end of the segment, Bengaluru-based Ultraviolette Automotive is looking to cash in on the Rs 3 lakh segment with its upcoming motorcycle, the F77. 

Also Read: Buy Or Hold: Bajaj Dominar 250 vs Royal Enfield Meteor 350

Currently, the brand is prioritising the launch of the Meteor 350 that will herald a new direction for the brand. It was expected to be launched earlier this year, but the ongoing pandemic has delayed proceedings. Other models from the new J-platform are likely to follow soon. With these developments in place, it is a little too early to speculate about the launch timeline or expected pricing of Royal Enfield’s electric motorcycle. Only time will tell what Royal Enfield has in store in terms of electric mobility. Until then, stay tuned.

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