Bajaj Chetak e-scooter is expected to make a big breakthrough in the electric scooter space and could be priced around Rs. 1.25 lakh (on-road)
If you have little memories of Bajaj’s last scooter, it is because the Kristal wasn’t that exciting a product. Bajaj quit making scooters altogether following the Kristal’s dismal show and it’s been nearly a decade since the segment was touched by the homegrown auto major. Harking back to the past, the Chetak and its ‘Hamara Bajaj’ tagline won over the hearts of Indian consumers for years.
It defined a generation of scooters by being a household name. After years of being gloom-ridden about the scooter space despite its surge in volumes, Bajaj Auto is finally back to carve a niche on its own with a firm eye towards the future.
Excitingly, the Chetak moniker is back that shows the way for the Bajaj’s future. The Chetak zero-emission scooter has a retro design package reminiscing the past with smooth flowing body panels.
The new Chetak is said to be a tribute to the brand’s glorious past as the iconic old model found more than 1.3 crore customers domestically. The e-scooter aims to replicate its success in the EV space and it will be priced aggressively according to the brand at around Rs. 1.25 lakh (on-road). The all-important powertrain is an IP67 (dust and water resistance) certified Li-ion battery with NCA cells.
It can be charged using 5-15 Amp household standard charger and it comprises of IBMS (Intelligent Battery Management System) that controls charging and discharging seamlessly stated Bajaj. At an additional cost, a home charging station will also be made available. The 2020 Bajaj Chetak Electric also features Eco and Sport riding modes.
Regenerative braking system to maximise range and reverse assistance mode are other main highlights while it is said to offer full-connective riding experience. The Chetak smartphone application will ensure high-level security, diagnostics and seamless ownership experience. The eco-friendly scooter is made of rigid frame clad with sheet metal body panels.
A unique single-sided cast aluminium swingarm houses the traction motor that is connected to the wheel via an automatic transmission. It also gets 12-inch multi-spoke black alloy wheels and tubeless tyres besides an all-digital instrument console. The suspension duties are performed by telescopic forks up front and a tubular single-sided shock absorber at the rear. The front end gets spherical headlamp with a stylish LED ring treatment.
The front apron has LED turn indicators and the black middle element is housed inside an anchor-like shape. Showcased in white and light brown colours as part of a palette containing six paint jobs, the Chetak gets a black seat that looks to be wide and comfortable.
The compact rear end features single-piece tail grab rail as well complementing the sleek rear-view mirrors. The production of the Chetak electric scooter has begun on September 25, 2019 at Bajaj’s plant in Chakan and more details will be announced in the due course. The new Chetak will be exported to global markets including Europe from 2020.
The Eco mode is capable of 95 km range while the Sport mode is claimed capable of 85 km. The scooter does not have Bajaj logo anywhere as well. The new Chetak is in for the long haul and more products could be in the pipeline.
The new Chetak will be retailed from Probiking showrooms and deliveries will commence from January 2020 onwards. Hero Electric, Ampere Electric Scooters, Okinawa Autotech, Ather Energy, Twenty Two Motors and the upcoming Tork Motorcycles, as well as Ultraviolette, has indeed received a firm competitor in the form of the new electrified Chetak.
Bajaj Urbanite Chetak Images
