Hero Duet Electric scooter concept image for reference.
Hero Maestro electric scooter is currently under development to take on the growing number of e-scooters in India.
Hero MotoCorp plans to enter the growing electric mobility segment in the Indian automotive market. As a first, the company is developing an electric scooter based on its popular Maestro range since EVs currently make the best sense (financially and practically) in the country’s overwhelming scooter market. The Hero Maestro electric scooter is still in a concept format and its official debut is yet to happen.
At this moment, it is worth mentioning that Hero MotoCorp has never made a series-production electric vehicle in the past and its upcoming EV portfolio should not be confused with that of Hero Electric (which is an entirely different brand). The Maestro electric will be developed at the brand’s R&D hub in Jaipur. Titled as the Centre of Innovation and Technology (CIT), the facility has served as the base for over 150 Hero MotoCorp products, including the new BS6 range.
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Being the largest two-wheeler manufacturer in India as well as the entire world, Hero MotoCorp is expected to make an excellent package in the field of electric scooters. As per reports, the upcoming Hero ‘eMaestro’ will be an affordable EV with a sub-1-lakh-rupee price tag (ex-showroom). The powertrain would be a permanent-magnet motor coupled to a lithium-ion battery.
Hero MotoCorp officials shared minimal details of the e-scooter at the Hero World 2020 event that was held in Jaipur earlier this month. However, it has been confirmed that cloud connectivity would be part of the package. The eMaestro may not be a major breakthrough in the Indian EV space, but one can be sure that it will be a well-rounded product for the price.
At least in the current scenario, electric vehicles come at a higher base price compared to an equivalent ICE example. Running costs and general maintenance (except battery replacement) of an EV would be much more pleasing to the pocket in the long run, but the average Indian buyer is still not able to digest its initial asking price.
As far as EVs in India are concerned, e-scooters see the highest demand. Even though the best-selling electric scooter may not be as aesthetically impressive or have the performance of a regular ICE scooter, the new names of the category could make a difference. In this regard, key details of the Hero electric scooter would be revealed in the days to come. It is worth the wait to see how it will fare against relatively premium alternatives such as the Bajaj Chetak and TVS i-Qube.
Source: Bike - rushlane.com
