Premium Electric Royal Enfields On The Horizon

In his note for the company’s shareholders, Royal Enfield’s top boss Sid Lal has confirmed that the bikemaker is working on developing “a complete range of premium electric vehicles.” These new electric Royal Enfields will be built as per the same standards as the Interceptor 650, Continental GT 650 and Meteor 350 meet, so that they can be exported to established markets across the world.

Sid Lal said, “The electric vehicles segment is gaining momentum with positive policy action. With an eye on the future, we are strategically working on developing our future EV products, while we continue to work on our internal combustion engine offerings. We have state-of-the-art capabilities in product development and manufacturing, coupled with a strong brand and an extensive distribution network. We are leveraging all that with our keen understanding of consumers to develop a complete range of premium electric vehicles and services for global markets, in our inimitable style of modern classic motorcycles.”

So, even when it goes electric, Royal Enfield will stick to its basics with bikes that offer a simple ride experience while making the rider look super cool. Yeah, the much-loved thump, or in more recent times, the rumble will be difficult to recreate with an electric but that is just one small element of any Royal Enfield bike.

The charm of a Royal Enfield is in its simplicity. So, even when it goes electric, we think the company’s focus would be on retaining that simplicity. We’ve seen some examples of electric conversions done with Royal Enfield bikes -- the Photon, for instance -- which stick to the fundamentals.

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It will be interesting to see how Royal Enfield manages to keep both tourers and adventurers happy with their electrics. For a company renowned for “Getting You Leh’d,” how will it tackle the range anxiety issue? Sid Lal maintains that at RE, all facilities are fully equipped for the revolution. But will the company also equip Leh, its spiritual home, with charging infra? Won’t that be perfect for an electric adventure.

Representative image credits: Bennetts BikeSocial