Who can forget ‘Hamara Bajaj’, the iconic two-wheeler named after the legendary horse of warrior Rana Pratap Singh? For millions of Indians the Chetak was an affordable means of transport during the seventies and eighties until the Maruti Suzuki 800 and new generation motorbikes edged it out of the roads and by lanes of the country.
Based on Vespa Sprint, Bajaj Auto made its fortunes on the back of this all weather motorised two-wheeler that was discontinued in 2005.
Tapping on its brand recall value, Bajaj Auto, on October 16, 2019, unveiled the all-new Bajaj Chetak electric scooter under its new electric vehicle division, Urbanite. The scooter will be launched in January 2020, in phased manner, starting with Pune, and Bangalore.
The smooth, well-sculpted lines complement the scooter’s distinctive, yet elegantly flowing curves. Bajaj Chetak’s timeless style flows sleekly through every detail of this state-of-the-art scooter.
The Chetak will also be a fully-connected and will be embedded with mobility solution like data communication, security and user authentication. The rider can access all the information he/she needs in one simple touch. It can locate the scooter, protect it from theft and the rider can receive notifications in case of an accident or unauthorised access. He/she can set his/her music and read helpful riding tips from their connected device.
Another important selling point for the scooter is the zero downtime. The manufacturer claims that they have made a powertrain that never needs attention from the user. Advanced algorithms with edge computing continuously evolve and optimise everything from throttle response to battery charging to extract maximum life from every electric, mechanical and chemical part of the powertrain.
Visually, the scooter comes with a retro-style design with smooth lines and curvy profile. The Chetak also comes with good fit and finish which is extenuated by premium details like chrome bezel for the headlamp with an LED daytime running lamp ring and LED headlamp.
The scooter is also claimed to get feather touch-activated electronic switches and sequential scrolling LED. The scooter also comes with a single-piece seat, larger silver grab rails, and multispoke alloy wheels. The company will offer the Chetak electric scooter in six colours.
Powered by an IP67 rated high-tech Lithium-Ion battery with NCA cells, the scooter can be charged using a standard 5-15 amp electrical outlet, and will have an in-city range of 100 km. It is expected to be priced under Rs. 1.5 lakh.
The scooter will come under the company’s Pro-Biking network, which includes the KTM brand, and distribution will be broadened depending on the response to the ecosystem. The 500 KTM dealers across the country will cater to the electric scooter.
The electric two-wheeler will be manufactured at the Chakan plant of the company. It will be the first of the many electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers to be introduced under the Urbanite brand.
Even though detailed specifications haven’t been revealed, the Chetak will come with an Intelligent Battery Management System that controls the charge and discharge seamlessly. The electric scooter comes with two driving modes – Eco and Sport, along with a reverse assist mode for more convenience. The scooter also gets regenerative braking, which converts braking heat into kinetic energy to maximise range.
After its launch in the country, the company plans to export the electric scooter to relevant markets in Europe.
