Bajaj Chetak Electric Scooters Pan India Launch Delayed Due To Covid-19 Pandemic

According to the latest reports, the launch of the electric scooter will be delayed by around four months in other cities such as Delhi and Chennai; among others. The delayed is caused due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown announced in the country.

Like most manufacturers, Bajaj had to temporarily suspend its operations to ensure the safekeeping of its workforce during the pandemic. However, the company has resumed its entire operations after the government announcing relaxations on lockdown earlier this month.

As a result, we expect the electric scooter to launch in other cities soon, but the fact remains that the original launch timelines were affected due to the Covid-19. The company had started delivering Chetak electric scooter in Pune and Bangalore before the nation-wide lockdown came into effect.

The Bajaj Chetak electric scooter is offered is two variants Urbane and Premium and retails at Rs 1 lakh and Rs 1.15 lakh, respectively. Both prices are ex-showroom (Bangalore). The electric scooters are being sold exclusively across all KTM dealerships in both cities.

Speaking about the Bajaj Chetak, the electric scooter features a modern-retro theme and features contoured body panels. It also features LED lighting for the headlamps with integrated DRLs, LED taillights and turn indicators, digital instrument cluster, feather-touch activated switches, and chrome surrounds for the headlamps; among others.

The Chetak electric scooter is powered by a 4kW electric motor coupled to a 3kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The electric powertrain produces a peak torque of 16Nm and offers a maximum riding range of 95km on a single charge. The electric scooter also comes equipped with fast-charging technology, which according to the company will give 25km of range with an hour of charge.

Other cycle parts include includes, a single side tubular suspension at the front, and a mono-shock set up at the rear. The scooter will also feature a single side cast aluminium swing-arm with 12-inch alloy wheels. Braking on the electric scooter will be handled by a disc brake at the front, and drum brakes at the rear.

The Bajaj Chetak electric scooter rival the TVS iQube and the Ather 450 in the Indian market. In comparison, the Chetak's primary rival the TVS iQube features a slightly larger 4.4kW electric motor, paired with a 2.25kWh lithium-ion battery pack. However, the iQube does come with a slightly lower riding range of 75km on a single charge and a top speed of 80km/h.

In related news, the Bajaj Chetak electric has registered 91 units of sales during the month of March in the Indian market. In the same month, TVS managed to sell 18 units of the iQube electric scooter. This means the Chetak electric outsold its primary segment rival in the Indian market.

Thoughts About The Bajaj Chetak Electric Scooter Pan India Launch Getting Delayed

Bajaj was one of the first mainstream manufactures to launch an electric scooter in the Indian market. The company aims to expand its electric scooter network across the country as soon as possible and help the current shift to green mobility happening in India. However, we expect the timeline to get affected due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic in the country.