Bajaj Chetak

The Bajaj Chetak marks the rebirth –in a way– of the iconic petrol-powered Chetak scooter in an electric avatar. The original (petrol-powered) Chetak is a part of India’s history and holds significant importance in providing mobility to many people around the country in its time.

The electric Chetak embodies a modern take on classic Italian design scooters. It features a flowing front apron, sturdy metal side panels, and exposed alloy wheels with single-sided suspension, bringing back the nostalgic heritage. Additionally, it comes with modern elements such as a round LED headlight, sleek indicators, and triangular mirrors, which adds to its neo-retro design language. Notably, the gracefully curved tail extends beyond the seat, creating an elegant sloping design.

Before we rode the Chetak, we were concerned about its top speed being restricted to just 73kmph. This seemed low considering the 4.0kW electric motor's potential (though it typically operates at 3.8kW) which can reach around 120kmph without restrictions. Bajaj's reason for this limitation is to maintain the battery's health and longevity. 

However, in our test, we were able to reach a speed of almost 80kmph on the speedometer, which was a pleasant surprise. While some may consider the top speed relatively slow, the Chetak is designed primarily for city commuting, where such speeds are perfectly suitable. The electric motor's 16Nm of peak torque allows the Chetak to accelerate as quickly as a typical 110cc scooter, making it suitable for city riding. What's important to note is that the overall performance is quite enjoyable and allows you to navigate through traffic effortlessly. 

The Chetak offers two riding modes - Sport and Eco. Sport feels lively and responsive, while Eco is more relaxed. However, you can effectively ride in Eco mode most of the time. When you open the throttle beyond a certain point, the Chetak automatically switches to Sport mode for better acceleration. Ease off the throttle, and it returns to Eco mode. This seamless mode-switching delivers a hassle-free riding experience, eliminating the need to worry about which mode you're in. It's a feature we wish more electric scooters had. Additionally, there's a Reverse mode limited to 3kmph, which can be handy for parking or manoeuvring the Chetak on inclines.

Riding the Chetak electric scooter doesn't feel much different from a regular scooter, which is a good thing. It's well-balanced at 118kg, making it agile in traffic. With 12-inch wheels at both ends, it maintains stability, ideal for city commuting.

The electric scooter delivers a decent ride quality. The rear suspension handles most of the bad patches very well. At slow speeds, the front suspension is comfortable. However, at higher speeds, you'll feel bumps on the road. So, slowing down for speed bumps and potholes is advisable. Notably, the brakes on the Chetak are impressive, providing a strong bite and confidently bringing the scooter to a stop. The combined braking system is effective, and automatically engages the front brake when you use the rear brake lever forcefully.

As soon as you get on the Chetak, it feels familiar right away. Unlike some electric scooters, the floorboard isn't too high because the battery is placed at the back. However, the handlebar is a bit lower, so if you're a tall or hefty rider, it might touch your thighs during tight U-turns. The floorboard has enough space for big riding boots but not for more than a large-sized backpack. 

The seat is well-padded and comfortable; it is narrow in the front and curves down the sides. Short riders can easily touch the ground, and straddling the scooter feels natural at a stop. The seat is mostly rider-focused, with less room for a pillion, but there's a substantial grab rail that's easy to hold onto, especially the top part of the grabrail which has a soft-touch coating.

The Chetak comes with a fully LED lighting setup. It features a colour TFT instrument display, which has a clear layout but is a little difficult to read under harsh sunlight. There's Bluetooth connectivity for smartphone integration, allowing you to locate your scooter, receive accident or theft alerts, and control music playback with a button on the left switchgear. Recent updates have added turn-by-turn navigation, music control, and call/notification alerts via the Chetak app. Connecting your phone to the scooter is quick and hassle-free, and using the features is easy. However, these extras come with the TECPAC packages, which cost extra.

The Chetak's keyless start feature is truly convenient. With the key nearby, you can lock or unlock the handlebar, and start/stop the scooter using a single button located under the handlebar. Even the front apron storage and the seat can be opened with a button on the handlebar. One noteworthy feature is the small luggage hook at the front of the seat. What sets it apart is that it seamlessly integrates into the seat behind a Chetak logo when not in use and can be easily accessed by pressing it.

The Bajaj Chetak impresses with its approachable performance and excellent build quality, making it a great option for urban electric scooter fans. While recent updates have added connectivity and navigation features, they are only available with the TECPAC packages, which cost extra. Overall, the Bajaj Chetak is a fantastic choice for anyone looking for a reliable and well-built e-scooter, and if you're willing to pay a bit more for the TECPAC, you can enjoy the additional features too.