NE BUSINESS BUREAU
MILAN, NOV 7
Royal Enfield, the global leader in the mid-weight motorcycle segment (250cc-750cc) on Tuesday unveiled its first-ever electric vehicle design concept, the Himalayan electric, at the Exhibition of International Motorcycle and Accessories (EICMA) at Milan, Italy.
The Royal Enfield Himalayan electric testbed was presented along with the global showcase of the new Royal Enfield Himalayan.
- Royal Enfield claims that the Himalayan Electric Testbed have been ridden and tested in its natural habitat and spiritual home, the Himalayas
- Soon to be launched in India, followed by Europe, Asia Pacific region, and the Americas
The electric Himalayan is a blueprint for Royal Enfield’s future products. Hence, it is the window to what to come from the Royal Enfield stable.
“At Royal Enfield, our electric mobility team is powered by the objective of preserving the quintessential Royal Enfield DNA and extending that into our creative ideas and designs for electric motorcycles as well. This electric Himalayan concept motorcycle is an outcome of this pursuit, as purpose and innovation meet distinct Royal Enfield design and character,” said B Govindarajan, CEO, Royal Enfield.
“This motorcycle is only just a part of a much bigger sustainable ecosystem of exploration and adventure that we are working on in the Himalayas. From green charging pit-stops, to our responsible travel initiative, from creating self-sustaining communities to collaboration with UNESCO to preserve the intangible cultural heritage of the Himalayan region, there are a lot of initiatives we are passionately driving,” he added.
The Royal Enfield Himalayan electric testbed has an in-house designed battery box, serving as the main structural element and incorporating new materials like organic flax fibre composite for bodywork.
Royal Enfield claimed that the Himalayan electric testbed have been ridden and tested in its natural habitat and spiritual home, the Himalayas. Additionally, the company has done extensive wind tunnel testing to improve efficiency and ride experience.
According to reports, the electric platform is built by both Royal Enfield and Stark Future. The former invested 50 million Euros in the Spanish company last year which will in turn help Royal Enfield explore and develop electric motorcycles. Based on media reports, the electric Himalayan is based on Stark’s high-performance electric motocross, the Varg.
“When we started this project, we were keen to create something that would be a guiding light for long-term sustainable travel in the Himalayas. More than building a motorcycle for regulations or directive, we saw this as an opportunity to create something unique and to inspire future generations. What began as a capability exercise for our teams, is now this electric adventure motorcycle we are very proud of; a new expression of our love for adventure and the mountains,” said Mario Alvisi, Chief Growth Officer – EV, Royal Enfield.
“The electric Himalayan testbed is much more than a design concept. For us, this is our vision and a glimpse of what to expect from us in the future. There is a much larger electric mobility blueprint that is being brought alive at Royal Enfield as we continue to work on multiple ‘electrifying’ expressions of pure motorcycling,” he added.
