Royal Enfield e-Bike Says “I'm Built Different”
- by Ishan Lee
- May 22, 2023
- | Views: 5986
With massive funding in place, e-bike development seems on track
Since the official announcement last year, news of the upcoming Royal Enfield e-bike story has been gradually unfolding. Only a few days earlier, in an interview with Autocar Professional, details of the e-bike were underlined. More recently, however, Royal Enfield CEO B Govindarajan said that the e-bike will be unlike the run-of-the-mill electric bikes we see today.
While there isn’t much clarity on what Royal Enfield’s first electric motorcycle will look like, it’s highly likely the Chennai-based brand will stick to its retro and ‘classic’ theme. Besides, for the current fiscal year, Eicher Motors – the parent company of Royal Enfield – has announced an investment of Rs 1,000 crore with a focus on areas like EV manufacturing and product development.
Not too long ago, Royal Enfield confirmed that the first prototype of its e-bike will be showcased in 2023. Two platforms are being developed by Royal Enfield: one is an internal project with the codename "L1A," the other a partnership with the Spanish electric vehicle startup Stark Motorcycle.
Additionally, the brand's first electric vehicle will be created at its current Vallam Vadagal plant, with a dedicated assembly line for the L1A platform. Enfield has also purchased a 60-acre plot of land in Cheyyar (near Chennai), for a new plant that the bikemaker says will be operational by 2025. The e-bike will likely cost around Rs 2.5 lakh (not including subsidies) and will be showcased at EICMA 2025.