Royal Enfield Electric Motorcycle: You Need To Check This Out!

Imagine riding a Royal Enfield motorcycle that doesn't make the iconic 'dug dug' sound. Seems unimaginable? Criminal? Unfair?

In an era where the automotive industry needs to evolve at an electrifying pace, Royal Enfield is making the unimaginable possible. It has to. With rivals working on greener solutions, RE's soundless (hopefully not soulless) electric motorcycles could bridge a gap to the brand's rich legacy while encouraging the next generation of riders to care for disintegrating polar caps and the perishing Polar Bear. 

Royal Enfield's ‘electrifying’ new chapter will begin on November 4, 2024, at EICMA. As the teasers suggest, it could be a tribute to the brand's iconic Flying Flea from 1943.

Obviously, the most cutting-edge product from a retro brand like Royal Enfiled deserves impeccable stunts to grab attention. While it was heroic for the Flying Flea to be dropped from the skies during World War 2, RE is now dropping its electric motorcycle from space, weirdly with a parachute preventing it from a free fall. Logic left the chat.

Nonetheless, the first electric motorcycle from Royal Enfield could shake up competition in the premium motorcycle segment globally. Ahead of its launch, we have gathered everything you should know about this spicy motorcycle.  

Royal Enfield electric motorcycle: What is it?

A patent image of the Royal Enfield electric motorcycle was leaked a few months ago, highlighting the design elements of the production-ready motorcycle. Now we have a new leaked image of its test mule, giving us a brief idea of what to expect.

In terms of styling, the Royal Enfield electric motorcycle follows the brand’s legacy of a retro design that is marginally modernised. The staple elements of Royal Enfield's design are all present here –  round LED headlamp, indicators and rear-view mirrors from the current models to retain a retro appeal. A closer look at the test mule reveals girder forks – a rather conventional form of suspension. 

Not too comfort-oriented then!

The motorcycle also seems to hold a large battery pack wrapped within the chassis for achieving superior handling and chassis balance, which will be essential for respectable performance and a reliable riding range. Power will be transferred to the rear wheels via a belt drive system to achieve ultimate efficiency.

What remains to be seen is whether RE positions its electric motorcycle as a relaxed cruiser or an eager city roadster darting through the streets like a flea. 

Other crucial bits of information about the motorcycle like battery capacity, range and charging speed are still under wraps. The wait for November 4 only gets longer! 

Why is this electric Royal Enfield important?

Although the electric motorcycle market has been rapidly evolving with exciting new launches over the last few months, none of the legacy Indian two-wheeler brands have anything to offer in this segment yet. Royal Enfield will become the first of the big four, which also include TVS, Bajaj and Hero, to have a fully electric motorcycle in its portfolio.

This new electric chapter may also open new possibilities to make the conventional motorcycles greener. The Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG demonstrated that hybrid powertrains are possible in mass-market two-wheelers. Hence, with a reliable electric powertrain in the market, Royal Enfield could work towards an internal combustion engine that uses an electrical motor for power or efficiency boosts. 

Imagine the next-gen Himalayan with an electrical hybrid engine taking care of power needs in the higher altitudes of Ladakh's treacherous trails. Or the next-gen Continental GT using a hybrid engine setup for short bursts of electrical boost.  The possibilities are endless. 

Royal Enfield electric motorcycle expected pricing

Since this will be a first-of-its-kind product from the brand, the pricing could be anybody's guess right now. Don't expect the first electric Enfield to be priced as aggressively as the top-selling products like the Classic 350 and the Hunter 350.