Royal Enfield’s Electric Ambitions Ignited

“Electric is something we take very seriously. It is not about whether electric (mobility) will come or not but it’s a question of ‘when’.” These words from Royal Enfield’s Vinod Dasari are a delight to our ears. Signalling a greener future for the classic bikemaker, Dasari stated that Royal Enfield has built a couple of prototypes and is currently identifying the right segments (note segments and not segment) for electric mobility.

To begin with, we do not expect Royal Enfield to deviate much from its core identity. The first electric motorcycle to arrive will definitely scream retro. We hope it isn’t just a straight swap for the thumper mill with batteries and a motor. So as much as we loved the idea of the Royal Enfield Photon (click here to read all about it), we do not quite think it will be as straightforward.

Going forward though, expect more diverse motorcycles from Royal Enfield. Electric will give RE the perfect platform to launch motorcycles that are more from the 21st century. There are modern elements woven into the current RE bikes but nothing that tickles your sci-fi nerdiness. Maybe an electric Himalayan? Think of the capability of that bike with two-thirds the weight of the current Himalayan and as much capability.

Details regarding battery architecture, charging infrastructure, drivetrain and various other electric vehicle-related bits remains pretty vague at the moment. Given the current market, which is still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, we could hear more from Royal Enfield on the electric bike project by 2022. For now, the J-platform bikes take precedence as the Meteor 350 nears its launch.

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Main image: Bennetts BikeSocial