Some of you might say that the electric Himalayan is Royal Enfield’s first electric bike, which is partly true. But this EV isn’t production-ready, and so, the motorcycle that will be unveiled on 4 November is likely to be the company’s first electric motorcycle. So in this story, we’ll tell you five things that we expect from the new Classic Electric or the rumoured name – Flying Fea.
1: Polarised Styling
The first-ever Royal Enfield EV might look nothing like its current range of products. Through this new EV segment, the company could follow a new design language that will help create an entirely new perception of the brand. This new approach could help the brand bring in a new type of customer. While the patent pictures point out Classic-inspiration, we truly believe the new Classic electric or Flying Fea could get a polarised styling.
2: Top-spec features
Royal Enfield hasn’t been a company that believes in giving its motorcycles rich features. The full-colour TFT on the Himalayan 450 was literally their most advanced one. But the new EV could get plenty of new features. Things like a traction control system, multiple riding modes, and some new tech for its battery and motor could be seen.
3: City product positioning
'What will hit the road soon is a new category of electric two-wheelers from Royal Enfield to answer the call for urban mobility offering a sophisticated, nimble and connected experience.'
This is the quote that has been taken from the company’s official website. So it is clear that this new EV will be a city bike that will be equipped with some connected tech. A brand that is known for long-distance touring will have its first EV product focused only towards city use and it makes sense. For highway rides, a bigger battery will be needed and that won’t just increase the overall cost of the bike, but will add a lot more weight, which by the way, is liked by most RE riders.
4: Pricey
Let’s just say – this electric Royal Enfield will be the most expensive bike in their line-up. So expect an ex-showroom price of above Rs 4 lakh.
5: Exclusivity
There’s a high chance of the company launching this motorcycle as a limited edition model. Through this route, the company would be able to understand the nitty-gritty of the bike as the number of bikes on the road will be limited. Eventually, once the product is on public roads for a year or two, Royal Enfield could make the bike available to the masses. The electric RE is likely to have more acceptance in Europe and the US than in India. A nicely priced electric Hunter may do the job here, though.
