Royal Enfield electric bike is in rapid development… but the launch is still a ways away as the company don’t wat to rush it…
So, it appears that Royal Enfield is not unaffected by the increasing adoption and expanding market of EVs in our country. One of the world’s oldest companies, RE, are developing their own products powered by the electric powertrain.
Royal Enfield’s upcoming Electrically powered Motorcycles
Royal Enfield have been working on their EV models since 2018. Their then president, while interacting with a news portal, shared the news and his experience of riding the electrically powered prototype based on their existing motorcycle. This prototype was being developed and tested at the company’s R&D center based in the UK.
Coming to the present, Royal Enfield and their parent company Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles (VECV) have announced that together they are going to invest Rs. 1,000 – Rs. 1,100/- Core in FY23. In this investment, Royal Enfield’s share will be Rs. 550 – Rs. 600/- Crore, planned to be spent in FY23.
Also read: Spied: Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 & Probable Scram 450 Snapped Together
According to Mr. Siddhartha Lal (MD, Eicher Motors) shared that Royal Enfield is currently primarily focussing on the International Market. And one of their strategies for the International markets is their development of EVs. “The engineering work is on but we have a super long product cycle and right now the non-commuter EV segment is a few years out” shared Mr. Lal.
In 2018 when the news broke that RE have developed a prototype, it wasn’t shared which existing bike was converted into an electric bike. However, the media was all on top of it and it was heavily rumoured that the Royal Enfield Classic model was converted into an electrically propelled bike.
Mr. Lal further shared that presently there is a full dedicated team which is tasked to study & understand the EV market and further design & develop prototypes and test-bikes. These prototypes & test-bikes are being used to understand & develop the EV products of the future.
Finally, Mr. Lal hinted that the company is preparing to showcase some concepts in the future but said nothing further about the timeline and event at which it could occur.
There is still a long time before we can see an electrically powered RE on our roads. The company is taking its time to better understand the technology and create a reliable product. A production Royal Enfield Electric bike might make its debut not before 2024.
