Bajaj Auto has entered the booming electric scooter segment of the country through its new sub-division called Urbanite. Under this new brand, Bajaj has unveiled its first all-electric scooter, called the Chetak.
This marks the re-entry of the Chetak moniker in the Indian market after over 14 years. For those who aren’t aware, the Bajaj Chetak used to be India’s most popular scooter in the 1980s and 1990s. However, it went obsolete after the customer interest moved towards motorcycles.
Here’s everything that we know about the Bajaj Chetak Electric:
Bajaj Chetak Electric Price and Deliveries
It is worth noting that Bajaj has only unveiled the Chetak electric scooter as of now. As a result, we just know how the scooter looks and a few specifications of the same. However, an official launch is scheduled for January 2020, when the price of Bajaj Chetak electric will be revealed.
However, Rajiv Bajaj, MD of Bajaj Auto, has mentioned that the new Chetak electric will be launched below the Rs. 1.5 lakh mark. It is also important to note that the new Bajaj Chetak electric will be rolled out in a phased manner. As a result, the scooter will first launch in Pune, followed by Bangalore and other major cities. Deliveries of the Chetak electric are expected to commence from February 2020. Bajaj has already started production of the scooter. The first batch is expected to be used for testing, media reviews and test ride units.
Bajaj Chetak Specifications – Range and Power
Bajaj has revealed specifications of the new Chetak electric. The scooter will draw power from a 4kW electric motor. However, the size of battery hasn’t yet been revealed. What has been mentioned is the presence of two riding modes – Sport and Eco, reverse assist feature, and a water proof IP-67 rated battery pack.
The driving range of the Bajaj Chetak electric is 85 km in the Sport Mode and 95 Km in the Eco mode. It is worth noting that Bajaj claim to have a recorded these figures during real-world road tests in Pune. As a result, the company is hoping for a much higher ARAI certified range figure.
As far as charging the Chetak electric is concerned, Bajaj has made sure that it is as convenient as possible. As a result, the scooter gets an in-built charger and can be charged using a regular 5-ampere home socket. Charging the battery pack of the Chetak electric will take around 5 hours. Sadly, there’s no fast charging option for the new Chetak.
Bajaj will also be selling a home charging station to buyers of the Chetak electric at an additional cost. This charger will have an indicator to show the amount of energy consumer for charging the scooter.
New Chetak electric design & looks
The new Chetak is a comibination of retro and modern in the looks department. While the body panels have been shaped to give a retro classic vibe, the scooter gets a fair share of modern technology to appeal to the younger audience.
The 2020 Bajaj Chetak comes with a circular LED headlamp with DRLs, curvy front apron and side panels, multi-spoke alloy wheels, and elongated taillights with progressive turn indicators. Features on offer include a front glove box, keyless start function, fully digital instrument cluster, and connected features like parameter monitoring, on-board diagnostics, etc.
Braking and Suspension
The new Chetak electric comes with a unique motor arrangement as Bajaj designers have mounted the motor on the swingarm. Suspension setup includes a single-sided trailing arm with a coilover at the front and a monoshock at the rear. Braking duties are handled by a disc brake at the front and a drum brake at the rear. The electric scooter will also come with regenerative braking.
Bajaj Chetak Electric – Other minor details
Bajaj has announced that the Chetak electric will be available in 6 colours. There are no graphics or decals on the scooter’s body to maintain the retro look. Also, Bajaj has used metal body panels on the new Chetak, rather than plastic or fibre panels that are seen on most other two-wheelers in the country.
Once launched, the Bajaj Chetak electric scooter will be sold through the company’s exisitng network of dealerships. There won’t be an electric-exclusive dealership network.