KTM, Husqvarna to develop Bajaj Chetak-based electric scooters
Bajaj Auto recently concluded the Chetak Electric Yatra. The two-wheeler brand held a press conference in Pune, where Rajiv Bajaj, managing director, Bajaj Auto confirmed that the Chetak’s platform will be used by KTM and Husqvarna to produce their respective performance-spec electric scooters.
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The KTM and Husqvarna branded electric scooters are currently being discussed and the development process should start soon. The final vehicles should take a while to arrive, and we do not expect to see a production-ready model for at least another two years. Needless to say, these scooters will feature completely different styling.
Sharing platforms for creating their respective products is not a new strategy for KTM and Husqvarna. The Husqvarna 401 models, for example, share their underpinnings and engine with the KTM 390 Duke. The recently unveiled Norden 901 Concept motorcycle features a low-slung fuel tank that we have already seen on the 790 Adventure. The Swedish brand will also introduce its 1301 range that will be based on KTM’s 1290 series.
Bajaj-KTM’s plans to introduce performance electric two-wheelers is not a new development. In fact, KTM Industries AG had confirmed the plans in September this year. It stated that the Indo-Austrian partnership will launch performance electric two-wheelers by 2022. These vehicles will be produced by Bajaj Auto in India. The Austrian company already has a decent experience in the electric motorcycle segment.
While the KTM and Husqvarna performance electric scooters are still some time away, Bajaj Auto is expected to launch the new Chetak in select cities very soon. The Chetak electric scooter will be introduced in Pune and Bengaluru in the initial phase. As reported in the unveiling report, the new Chetak will be introduced in January 2020.
To give you a quick recap, the new Bajaj Chetak boasts styling features such as hypnotic horseshoe-shaped LED headlight with DRL, sequential scrolling LED blinkers, backlit switchgear and a fully digital instrument console with Bluetooth connectivity. A Chetak smartphone app is also part of the package. The retro looks lend the Chetak a subtle, yet stylish persona.
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The electric scooter boasts an IP67 rated battery pack that claims to deliver 100 km in Eco mode and 80 km in the Sport mode. The regenerative braking system contributes to the range. An Intelligent Battery Management System handles the charge and discharge tasks. Engine specifications include a 4 kW motor.