Bajaj’s once popular scooter Chetak has made a comeback in its electric avatar. Chetak electric was launched today. Chetak electric is Bajaj’s re-entry vehicle in the scooter segment and first impressions reveal that it does have a lot of potential.
With Chetak, Bajaj has also become the first mainstream two-wheeler company to foray into electric scooter segment. As of now, the electric scooter market in India is dominated by startups such as Okinawa, Ather Energy, Ampere Electric and Twenty Two Motors. Bajaj Chetak electric scooter is offered in two model ranges and multiple colour options. The base variant is priced from Rs 1 lakh, while the top variant is priced from Rs 1.15 lakh. All prices are ex-sh. Ex-sh price of Ather 450 without subsidy is Rs 1.33 lakh. But with subsidy, on road price is Rs 1.13 lakh for Ather.
Chetak e-scooter comes with 3 years warranty / 50,000 kms. It gets 3 free services. First one at 1k kms, 2nd after 12k kms and 3rd after next 12k kms. Booking is now open, at an amount of Rs 2,000. Booking can be done at select KTM dealerships in Bangalore and Pune. Only 13 KTM dealers in Pune and Bangalore will accept bookings. You can also book online at www.chetak.com. The select KTM dealers will have display and test ride Chetak electric scooters by the end of this month.
Design and styling: Chetak comes with retro-modern styling, as can be seen with its curvy panels, round headlamp unit with LED light and LED DRLs, nifty LED turn signals, a tie-shaped grille design on the front apron, triangular rear view mirrors, unique seat design with contrast stitching, multi-spoke alloy wheels, and stylish LED tail lamp. Overall design looks classy and refreshing, unlike any other product available in the market.
Premium experience: One of Chetak’s USPs is its focus on providing a premium experience to users. Chetak gets a range of premium equipment such as fully digital instrument cluster, soft-touch buttons, keyless start/lock function, retro-styled glove box with soft-close effect, smoothly operating foot rest and side stand and comfortable seating for two. Chetak looks classy, modern and clutter-free, all at the same time, which gives the scooter its unique character. To ensure that Chetak is perceived as a premium product, ‘Bajaj’ badging has not been used on the scooter. Chetak will be positioned as a standalone brand and it will have its own distinctive identity.
Battery and motor: Chetak will come with a lithium-ion battery pack, which has IP67 rating, one of the highest in terms of performance and durability. Chetak’s battery can be charged from any 5-ampere power socket that is easily available in most homes. A full charge will take around 5 hours. Bajaj will also offer home-charging unit at a discounted price. This charging station will be quite useful, as it will show the total energy consumed for charging the battery. Bajaj will not be offering a fast charging option, as the company feels that Chetak’s range will be adequate for everyday needs.
Chetak will be utilizing a 4kW electric motor that will send power to the rear wheel. The scooter will have a high-efficiency automated gearbox and each gear level will be displayed on the instrument display panel. Chetak offers riding modes of Eco and Sport, with range of 95 km and 85 km, respectively. The scooter comes with regenerative braking, which will improve overall range available on a single charge.
Connected features: Chetak will allow users to connect with the scooter via a smartphone app named Bajaj Chetak app. Users can access various connected features such as real-time vehicle tracking, geo fencing, and theft protection, and get notifications in case of accident or unauthorized access. Information about ride history and other details about scooter usage and performance can also be accessed via the app.
Suspension and braking: Chetak is fitted with single-sided trailing arm suspension at the front and a monoshock unit at the rear. Braking duties are performed by disc brakes at the front and drum brakes at the rear. Chetak rides on 12-inch wheels shod with MRF Zapper-K tyres.
