Bajaj Chetak makes a comeback as an electric scooter

Bajaj has officially entered the electric two-wheeler segment today by resurrecting the iconic Chetak nameplate.  

Bajaj Auto Ltd. has unveiled its first-ever electric two-wheeler today and we're not surprised by the fact that the homegrown manufacturer has decided to stick to a very familiar name for it. Yes, Bajaj has resurrected perhaps its most successful & iconic nameplate, the Chetak. However, this time around, the scooter has taken the electric route. While the all-new Chetak has only been revealed as of now, the e-scooter will go on sale from January 2020 in Pune & will be available at Bajaj ProBiking outlets. After Pune, the sales ops will begin in Bengaluru. The new Chetak also represents a significant social cause for Bajaj as its assembly line comprises of an 80 per cent female workforce.

The Chetak e-scooter, apart from a thoroughly modern makeover, gets modern equipment too. The list includes bits like an LED headlamp (with DRLs), digital instrument cluster, disc brakes on either wheel, a monoshock at the rear, single-arm front suspension, alloy wheels, tubeless tyres, etc. To give the product a premium feel, the Chetak e-scooter gets a handful of upmarket features as well, like feather-touch activated switchgear, sequential scrolling LED blinkers, soft-closing glove box & a dampened seat closing mechanism. To maximise longevity, the new Chetak also gets a full steel body.

Coming to the powertrain, the Chetak e-scooter is powered by an IP67-rated fixed Li-ion battery (not swappable) that drives a 4kW motor. It can be easily charged with a standard 5/15A household socket & Bajaj will also offer an attractively-priced home-charging station for it. While the detailed power figures & specs are yet to be revealed, the Chetak e-scooter has been designed keeping performance in mind, as it offers two riding modes (Eco & Sport). Thanks to energy recovery measures like an onboard regenerative braking system (braking energy used to recharge the battery), Bajaj claims the Chetak e-scooter can travel up to 100km (approx.) on a single charge.

The prices for the new Chetak e-scooter will be announced closer to the launch date.

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