The electric vehicle segment in the country is slowly gaining momentum. And so, more and more players are gearing up to join the EV bandwagon, including the Eicher Motors-owned Royal Enfield. In fact, it has been working on its electric portfolio since 2018, and as per the recent reports, the brand’s plans seem to be going in a positive direction.
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Announcing the Annual Report for 2020-21, Royal Enfield’s Managing Director Siddhartha Lal had revealed that the bikemaker is developing a premium range of electric vehicles alongside the internal combustion engine (ICE) offerings. He has also stated that these electric two-wheelers will adhere to RE’s distinctive modern classic styling like the Meteor 350.
While we haven't seen any of RE's electric products yet, we can take a fair idea of their design from the Classic 350-based Photon (manufactured by Electric Classic Cars in the UK). In fact, this bike sticks to the basic principles of the Royal Enfield, and Siddhartha Lal & his team of engineers were also impressed with the modification when it was shown to them.
While the official hasn't revealed much about the brand's electrification plan, it will be a part of the brand’s 2.0 strategy. They will be based on a new electric platform, which is being developed at the brand’s UK-based R&D center. We believe they are likely to offer a triple-digit range with maintaining RE's traditional capabilities. Since there are range limitations associated with electric vehicles, we believe they could be more commuter-oriented than full-fledged tourers.
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It has been expected that Royal Enfield’s first electric bike concept will make its debut at the 2021 EICMA Motor Show (Milan Motorcycle Shows). However, its India launch could happen sometime in 2023.
