Revisiting The Kinetic Luna Before It Returns In An Electric Avatar

Mrs Massey was one of my teachers in school. Every morning as the boys rushed into our school gates, she would potter in on a tiny little moped that sputtered and spewed small grey clouds of two-stroke nostalgia. The fun bit was that while she rode into school, within the school grounds, she would pedal her way to the parking lot on this mini motor vehicle. 

That’s my most vivid memory of the Kinetic Luna, a pint-sized moped in its truest sense that mobilised teachers, housemakers and other masses who couldn’t hop on to motorcycles or found scooters bulky and not as convenient as they are now.

What Was The Luna?

Back in the 1970s, when Pune-based Kinetic Engineering took out a license to recreate Piaggio’s Ciao moped, the Indian firm thought to give its version a celestial name. Was it a bit loony to call it Luna? Maybe. But it stuck. Like the Activa, Scooty, Xerox, Aquaguard and Colgate, the Luna was the eponymous moped of India, or at least for those who lived in the western quadrant of our country.

It barely made enough power from its 50cc two-stroke mill to thrill. But what the Luna offered was honest performance that kept its intended audience happy. If the rider ran its 4-something litre fuel tank dry, you could pedal your way to the closest petrol bunk. And if the motor couldn’t soldier up a small incline, you could give the Luna a small pedal-assist to make the climb. 

Its petite build, easy riding characteristics and accessible ergonomics sure found it a lot of homes that appreciated cheap mobility. The Bajaj scooters of the era were big, bulky and had gears. The motorcycle didn’t offer any storage options. Hence, the Luna, and a few other mopeds, did quite well. 

Why The Buzz Now?

The internet goes gaga whenever it gets the hint of a revival story. So, this time around, Kinetic Green – yes, the same firm that made the original Luna – has sort of shared an inclination to revive the Luna, in an electric avatar. Going electric was obvious as the original Luna was sort of like a modern-day e-bike but with floor space for storage. 

However, even if the e-Luna took shape, it would first cater to the B2B segment. The popularity of last-mile delivery services has grown tenfold in the last few years. Having such a low-cost mobility solution in the age of skyrocketing fuel prices makes the choice easier for small-scale business owners. 

For personal mobility, though, the e-Luna might not be as widely accepted or received with as much adoration as its ICE version was. The electric space has loads of good scooters that cater to a variety of audiences. The few nutters, this writer included, would love to have one for its sheer quirkiness. 

So, while the e-Luna’s arrival is something to look forward to, it might not be as commercially successful as it was ages ago.

Image credits: Wiki, respective owners