Bajaj Chetak Electric Scooter Launched In India

The electric scooter is priced at Rs 1 lakh (ex-showroom) for the base variant

• There are two variants: Urbane and Premium.
• The Pune-based manufacturer unveiled the scooter in October 2019.
• It comes with a 95km claimed range in Eco mode.
• The battery is capable of charging completely in five hours.

Baja Auto has launch its first EV, the Chetak electric scooter, in India at Rs 1 lakh (ex-showroom Pune and Bengaluru) for the base variant called Urbane. The top-end variant, called Premium, is Rs 15,000 dearer than the Urbane model. Bajaj had unveiled the electric scooter in the country back in October 2019. It primarily competes against the Ather 450, which retails at Rs 1.13 lakh (on-road, Bengaluru). The Chetak is sold online, but one can also buy via dealerships. There are 13 dealerships in Bengaluru and 2 in Pune at the moment, and official bookings will commence from tomorrow onwards for a token amount of Rs 2,000.

The Urbane variant comes with a front drum whereas the Premium version gets a disc brake. Apart from this, the difference is mostly limited to colour and other cosmetic changes. The powertrain remains the same in both the variants. 

The Chetak is powered by a Bosch-developed BLDC motor. It is capable of generating 3.8kW of continuous power, 4.08kW of peak power and 16Nm of torque. The motor is linked to a non-removable IP67-rated 60.3Ah lithium-ion battery. It offers a claimed range of 95km in Eco mode and 85km in Sport mode. There's a Kick Down mode too, which switches from Eco to Sport mode when overtaking (or when the rider accelerates suddenly), for that much-needed boost in performance, and then goes back to Eco. Bajaj has restricted the top speed of the Chetak electric scooter to 60kmph on both modes. For convenience, it even comes with a reverse gear to help the rider take the scooter out of tight parking spaces easily.

The charging system uses a 5A socket and it takes around 5 hours to reach full charge, and one hour to reach 25 per cent. An 80 per cent charge is achieved in 3.5 hours. There’s no fast charging offered even as an option. Bajaj’s reason is that fast charging tends to deteriorate battery cells quickly. That said, the brand offers a home charging station for free with the Premium variant.

The Chetak also gets smartphone connectivity to check the charge status, location and remaining range. It can also notify the owner in case the scooter is tampered with, or if it does not charge properly. Bajaj will offer a one-year data subscription for free.

Other notable features include an all-LED lighting system, LCD instrument cluster, keyless operation, sequential LED indicators (like the ones in high-end cars), feather-touch switchgear and a characteristic linked front suspension just like its namesake forefather. The rear comes with a single shock absorber. Braking duties are handled by a disc/drum up front and a drum unit at the rear. 

According to Bajaj, the battery life has been pegged at 70,000km. The Chetak comes with a 3-year/50,000km warranty, which should ensure peace of mind for prospective buyers. What’s more, it is also built with an all-metal bodywork, which its target audience should find appealing. Even the service interval stands at a generous 1-year/12,000km, with the first three services offered for free.