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    SVM Prana Electric Motorcycle Launch Price Rs 1.99 L – 126 Kms Range

    Image – Karthik
    Interested buyers can book the SVM Prana through the company’s official website at a token amount of Rs 1,999

    Coimbatore-based electric vehicle startup Srivaru Motors (SVM) has launched its high-speed electric motorcycle Prana in India. The electric bike will be offered in three variants- Class, Grand and Elite out of which the latter two have hit the markets as of now. Deliveries of the electric bike are expected to commence from March 2021 onwards.
    SVM is the brainchild of Mohanraj Ramasamy who has previously worked with multiple projects across the world including a one involving Tesla Inc. New Prana e-bike has been largely aimed at the commuter customer segment. It will directly square off with Kridn electric bike and the upcoming Ultraviolette F77.
    Price and Finance Options
    The electric bike had been priced at Rs 2.0 lakh and Rs 3.0 lakh for Grand and Elite trims respectively. However, the brand is currently offering a discount of up to Rs 25,000 SVMCSR Green credit.
    To avail this discount, consumers have to plant ten tree saplings in different places and send the required proof of it to the company. The EV startup has also announced attractive financing plans for the all-electric bike which turns out to be an EMI of Rs 5,200 per month which after three years gets limited to just electricity bills.
    SVM Prana Electric Motorcycle
    Powertrain Specs
    Coming to the bike’s specifications, it is powered by a bub mounted intelligent air-cooled BLDC motor which draws its power either from a 4.32 kW or 7.2 kW 72 Volt Lithium-ion battery pack.
    It can clock a top speed of 123 kmph which puts it against the 150cc bikes powered by conventional fossil fuels. The Grand trim powered by the lower-spec battery offers a claimed single-charge range of 126 km while the higher-spec Elite derivative is offered with the more powerful battery which claims a range of 225 km in a single charge.
    Features on offer
    Prana could do a 0-60 kmph sprint in just 4 seconds and is offered in four driving modes– Practice, Drive, Sports and Reverse. Practice mode is specific to new riders where top speed has been capped at 45 kmph while top speed in Reverse mode has been limited to 5 kmph.
    SVM Prana Electric Motorcycle
    The motorcycle is based on a Steel Double Cradle Tube frame and is suspended on telescopic forks at front and a mono-shock absorber at rear. It tips the weighing scale at 165kg.
    SVM is privately funded by the investor community of Tamil Nadu and the brand claims it has obtained selective investments from people who are focused on developing a quality product for long-lasting customer relationships.
    The company currently has an experience centre established in Coimbatore with new such centres coming up in Kozhikode, Madurai, Tirupur, Trichy, Bangalore, Pondicherry and Dindigul. It has confirmed that the startup will be expanding its footprint in India to other places such as Chennai, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Kerala. More

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    Hero MotoCorp Planning To Launch An Electric Car In India

    Image for reference
    On the occasion to mark production of 100 million units, Hero MotoCorp launched six special celebration edition models

    World’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer Hero MotoCorp recently clocked its 100th million production unit in the form of new Xtreme 160R. The company has a selling capacity of 5 lakh units on a monthly basis at any given period. Going forward, the homegrown manufacturer has revealed its plans for future.
    The first major announcement made was that Hero MotoCorp would be launching ten new two-wheelers every year for the next five years. In addition to expanding its global footprint, the company will be launching new motorcycles and scooters under its vision ‘Be the Future of Mobility’.
    Plan For Future – Electric car?
    Hero MotoCorp has shared its plans with Dr. Pawan Munjal, Chairman & CEO, Hero MotoCorp addressing a large audience including customers, dealers, investors, suppliers, distributors, employees and media. Munjal summarised the company’s plan and vision for the next five years. During this period Hero MotoCorp will further aim to consolidate its numero uno position in the Indian market and expand its footprint on global markets.
    The company will be launching new, exciting and relevant products during this period and at the same time continue working on innovative product concepts. In the next five years, Hero will be launching ten products every year including variants, upgrades and refreshes. This includes both motorcycles and scooters.
    Hero Quark 1 electric 3 wheeler concept
    In an interview with Times of India, Dr Munjal also stated that Hero MotoCorp does not intend to be limited only to the two wheelers space. We have already seen their 3 wheeler electric concept Quark1 – which is a brainchild of their internal startup called Hero Hatch.
    Hero MotoCorp has a part, which is consistently working to be the future of mobility. Hero is not the first two wheeler company to dabble in the four wheeler space. Earlier, Yamaha has also suggested that they might enter the electric car space.
    Hero Manufacturing Facilities
    Currently, the brand has eight manufacturing facilities in India out of which six of them are in India and one each in Bangladesh and Colombia. In India, these facilities are located in Neemrana in Rajasthan, Haridwar in Uttarakhand, Halol in Gujarat and Gurgaon and Dharuhera in Haryana. Operations in the sixth plant at Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh began last year.
    Production capacities per annum at each facility are as follows- 1.7 mn at Haridwar, UK; 2.1 mn at Dharuhera, Haryana; 2.1 mn at Gurgaon, HR, 1.1 mn at Neemrana, Rajasthan; 1.8 mn at Vadodara, Gujarat; and 1.8 mn at Chittoor, AP. Its newest plant will hit full capacity in three phases.
    Hero’s Partnership With Harley Davidson
    The next five years will also hold significance to its partnership with American bike icon Harley Davidson as well after the latter quit independent operations in India last year. Higher pricing, wrong product portfolio and marketing strategy adopted by Harley were a few reasons cited by many for the company’s slow sales in the country which made it call quits.
    As part of this non-equity partnership with Harley Davidson, Hero MotoCorp will sell and develop models under the former’s brand name in India. Harley even released a new AD film last month titled “H-D India Forever” which assured its customers of its presence in the country in future as well.
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    Bajaj Pulsar 250 Launch In 2021 – To Be Cheaper Than Dominar 250

    Bajaj Pulsar NS200. Image – MRD Vlogs
    Bajaj Auto currently retails six iterations of Pulsar in different engine configurations including 125cc, 150cc, 160cc, 180cc, 200cc and 220cc

    Bajaj is working on the development of its next generation of Pulsar bikes which will be powered by a 250cc engine. This will expand the bikemaker’s most popular range of motorcycles in India. Although no exact launch timelines have been confirmed yet, the new bikes are expected to hit showrooms sometime later this year.
    Latest reports suggest that the new Pulsar 250 will be offered in both naked sport and racing sport iterations, i.e., NS250 and RS250 respectively. These motorcycles will share most of their mechanical with KTM 250 Duke as they will utilise the latter’s platform as well as engine.
    Bajaj manufactures the quarter-litre naked streetfighter for the Austrian bikemaker in India at its Chakan-based facility near Pune, Maharashtra. While the fully-faired RS250 will rival the likes of Suzuki Gixxer SF 250, the naked street NS250 will lock horns with Yamaha FZ250 and Suzuki Gixxer 250. Both motorcycles will sport revised styling and will be equipped better in terms of features in comparison to their Pulsar 200 counterparts.
    New features onboard are likely to include a new LED headlight and all-digital instrument console with colour display and Bluetooth connectivity. Bajaj is also likely to offer new smartphone connectivity tech with these new bikes.
    Bajaj Dominar 250
    Engine Specification
    Coming to their powertrain specs, NS250 and RS250 will draw their power from a 248.8cc, fuel-injected, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine which also powers KTM 250 Duke, 250 Adventure and Bajaj Dominar 250. This unit is capable enough to produce 29 bhp at 8500 rpm and 24 Nm of torque at 6500 rpm.
    Although in Dominar this unit is slightly detuned to return an output of 27 bhp and 23.5 Nm of torque in order to suit its cruiser-friendly nature. This powertrain will be mated to a 6-speed gearbox.
    Hardware Configurations
    The new Pulsar range of bikes will offer slightly more torque at lower end in order to meet its city commuting requirements. A slipper clutch along with a dual-channel ABS is also expected to be offered as standard. Unlike Dominar 250, the new Pulsar NS250 and RS250 are not likely to be equipped with upside-down USD forks at front. It will get a preload adjustable mono-shock unit at rear. The suspension setup will be slightly tweaked for a sportier ride.
    Both Pulsar NS250 and RS250 are expected to be priced between Rs 1.60-1.80 lakh (ex-showroom) upon its launch in India. NS250 will be cheaper than Dominar 250 while RS 250 will be more expensive than Dominar 250, but cheaper than KTM Duke 250. Earlier, reports also suggested that Bajaj is also working on the development of an all new Pulsar AS 250 Adventure.
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    Ampere Electric Sales Cross 75k – Opens 300th Dealer Showroom In India

    Ampere Electric Scooters
    These landmark sales has been achieved since the company’s inception in 2018

    Indian electric two-wheeler manufacturer, Ampere Electric, has achieved a major milestone. Sales have crossed the 75,000 unit mark, an achievement of this EV maker, in 2 years of launch in India in 2018.
    Ampere Electric is also keen to expand its dealer base in India. Over the past few months, since the easing of the lockdown announced due to the pandemic situation in the country, has seen the company open 80 new dealerships adding to its existing count. The latest dealership has just been opened at Panvel in Maharashtra making it the 300th dealership in the country.
    Ampere Electric Demand Surge
    Over the past months, demand for electric vehicles – 3 wheelers, 2 wheelers – scooters and motorcycles have increased substantially. The need for personal means of travel, increased awareness for conserving and preserving the environment and several government benefits being offered to electric vehicle buyers in India has spurred up this demand.
    Catering to B2B and B2C customers for last mile deliveries and for personal mobility respectively, Ampere Electric has introduced a range of high performance 2 wheelers over the last 18 months. The company commands a 20 percent market share in the electric vehicle segment and its latest Ampere Magnus Pro, the brands flagship model, has seen outstanding demand.
    Ampere electric 3wheeler
    The Zeal scooter was what has also allowed the electric two wheeler maker achieve this sales target. Ampere Zeal targets a younger segment of buyers in the country. It is powered by a 1,200 W hob mounted Brushless DC motor with a 30 Ah 60 V lithium-ion battery pack. Ampere Zeal is priced at Rs.68,000 and competes with the Ather 450 and Bajaj e-Chetak.
    Ampere Magnus Pro e-Scooter
    Ampere Magnus Pro was introduced in India in June 2020. This feature rich, removable lithium-ion battery powered e-scooter is priced at Rs.73,990. It is currently only available in Bengaluru but will soon move into other showrooms across the country.
    The Magnus Pro gets an in-built anti-theft alarm system, a digital LCD cluster, USB charging, keyless operation, find-my-scooter function, LED head lamps with LED DRLs, and telescopic suspension. It boasts of class leading 450mm leg space. This sporty e-scooter has been tested under varying conditions and found to be highly efficient in Indian environment where it works well despite dust, uneven road conditions and even under drastic changes in temperatures.
    It gets its power via a 30 Ah removable lithium-ion battery with a 1.2 kW motor allowing acceleration upto 40 km/h in a few seconds and a top speed of 55 km/h. The battery is capable of 100 km range in Eco Mode and at around 75-80 km in Cruise Mode. Charging time is at 5-6 hours while the company also states that fast charging option is available. Ampere Electric offers a 3 year warranty as standard on the battery pack, motor and controller along with an additional 2 year extended warranty at Rs.2,700. More

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    Kridn Electric Motorcycle New Colours Launched – Gets LED Headlight

    Kridn Electric Motorcycle
    One Electric Kridn features a LED Headlamp, and is available in metallic colours

    One Electric Motorcycles has announced that its Kridn bike will feature LED headlamps. To be available in metallic colours, financing includes EMI options. As part of the media release, the company shared a first look of a Kridn in metallic red with a 6-inch LED headlight. Other metallic colour option sapper to be in shades of black and grey.
    On the financing front, One Electric is collaborating with multiple institutions. This makes it possible for one to finance their vehicle at an approx EMI of Rs 5,000. This could be lower basis individual credit score.
    Abhijeet Shah, COO of One Electric shares, “An EMI of Rs 5,000/- approx. makes KRIDN an immediately viable option for those looking forward to owning our motorcycle. Considering the savings on fuel, service cost and shorter EMI period, the cost of ownership is definitely lower.”
    Kridn motorcycle localisation
    CEO of One Electric, Gaurav Uppal expressed excitement at introducing a new range of metallic colour options and accessories. The choices go a long way in letting customers personalize their Kridn. LED headlights are on schedule to being launched in March 2021.
    Kridn Electric Motorcycle New Colours
    The company has already developed and started trials for its imported components. One Electric is on track to reduce parts imports to naught by 2021 end. A search is ongoing for dealer partners who look at this as a long term commitment. Upon finalisation of dealer partners, deliveries will start in Delhi NCR, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh.
    Electric motorcycles in India
    The quest for electric vehicles in India has begun, and progress is slow. However, there are some manufacturers that have read the market, and made an entry. The EV shift is being dominated by public transport, last mile commuter and delivery vehicles, and electric scooters.
    When it comes to electric two-wheelers, there are less than a handful of electric motorcycles available. As such, the marketplace could prove to be a great opportunity for new products.
    Kridn Electric Motorcycle
    Currently, only Revolt Motors operates in this space. With Kridn geared up for business, an early movers advantage is something the company would count on.
    This despite that fact that the said market is painfully small now. And there’s no telling how quickly folks adapt to EVs, especially an electric motorcycle. Nevertheless, though small, it’s a start. And for those seeking an electric motorcycle, a new entrant should be a welcome development.
    Kridn Electric Motorcycle More

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    Royal Enfield Bullet 350 Modified Into A 3 Wheeler – Total Cost Rs 3 Lakhs

    Royal Enfield Modified 3 Wheeler
    While most Royal Enfield aftermarket modifications are tasteful in design, this one is very functional as well

    Royal Enfield Bullet holds a special place in the hearts of Indian motorcyclists and it is by far the longest-running and one of the highest-selling motorcycles in India. The brand itself is known to build class-leading mid-segment retro motorcycles which are well-known for their touring capabilities.
    Another space where Royal Enfield bikes are extremely popular is in the aftermarket industry as almost all its products offer a range of customisation options. However, the latest case of modified Bullet 350 is surely out of the box and is worth getting noticed. A senior citizen who is also a Royal Enfield aficionado has converted into a Trike, a three wheeler.
    A video of the same has been uploaded on YouTube channel by NCR Bikerz which shows the bike in detail. The vlogger on his way to Delhi spots this customised Bullet and requests the owner to spend a few minutes on this side discussing the modifications on the motorcycle.
    The unique looking three-wheeler Bullet is being used by an elderly couple. Entire design of the bike has been modified into a trike based upon a Bullet 350 ABS.
    The owner was on a road trip along with his wife on their modified Royal Enfield Bullet 3 wheeler
    Modifications Incorporated
    The owner had this bike specifically designed for his purpose and has been factory built. The bike has retained its stock headlamps, turn indicators, suspension setup, wire-spoked wheels and disc brakes. Finished in glossy silver, frame of the Bullet here has been heavily altered and redesigned to look like a trike.
    This modified Bullet is a lot wider than the regular bike. Fuel-tank of the bike is now sitting at the right side of the rider instead of front which makes it more convenient for refuelling.
    Additionally, the engine has been mounted on the right-hand side beneath the fuel tank. Since it is a trike, the rider does not have to put his legs around the fuel tank, instead he sits comfortably on a specially built seat on the left-hand side. The gear lever has also been repositioned. It can be shifted via the controls on switchgears on the handlebar instead of near the footpegs.
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    Price of modification
    Since it is a trike, it rides on two wheels at rear which are connected to the engine on right side of the trike using the stock chain and sprocket setup. Pillion, in this case, the rider’s wife, is seated comfortably at the back facing the rear.
    On being asked about the cost of building this modified Bullet, the gentleman replied that the entire bike set him back by almost Rs 3 lakh. He paid Rs 1.75 lakh on-road for the Bullet 350 ABS and had to shell out nearly Rs 1.25 lakh for the customisation job.
    No changes have been made to its mechanical setup. It is still powered by a 346cc single-cylinder UCE engine which puts out 19.2 bhp and 28 Nm of peak torque and is paired to a 5-speed gearbox. Such modifications not only look unique but also prove to be utilitarian as well. More

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    Hero MotoCorp 3 Pronged EV Approach – Maestro Electric Scooter, Hero Hatch, Ather

    Hero Maestro Electric Scooter. Credit – 91 Wheels
    Hero MotoCorp currently has adopted a three-pronged approach in its development of electric vehicles

    Hero MotoCorp recently clocked 100 million production units thus becoming the first Indian two-wheeler manufacturer to hit this momentous figure. It also laid down the roadmap for the next five years in which the company would launch 10 two-wheelers every year.
    The company under its vision ‘Be the Future of Mobility’ will be developing new scooters and bikes which will also include the ones running on batteries. The first electric two-wheeler likely to come out of the Hero MotoCorp’s facility is eMaestro which is an electrified version of Maestro Edge.
    Hero MotoCorp’s Future EV projects
    Moving forward, Hero MotoCorp will focus on premium segments and products. In an interaction with a leading newspaper, Pawan Munjal, Chairman, MD and CEO, Hero MotoCorp shared details of the company’s vision towards electric vehicles. He said that the bikemaker has “a three-pronged approach” in the EV segment. First, it has its own projects under development at the company’s R&D centre in Jaipur (CIT).
    Second, there is the company’s internal startup called Hero Hatch which presented Hero Quark 1, a prototype electric rickshaw. Finally, there is the Bengaluru-based EV startup Ather Energy in which Hero MotoCorp has invested generously. In a conversation with the same publication last year, Munjal had confirmed that the company will also be developing electric motorcycles.
    Hero Quark 1 electric concept. Image – ET Auto
    Out the company’s own premises, the first electric two-wheeler to come out is likely to be eMaestro based on its IC engine counterpart Maestro Edge. A prototype of the e-scooter made its first public appearance at the Hero World 2020 event. From a distant view, eMaestro looks very similar to the regular Maestro Edge. However, on a closer look, one can notice subtle cosmetic differences.
    Styling & Expected Features
    For example, it gets a smoked LED headlamp along with its front suspension forks, alloy wheels and engine casing finished in copper brown. As of now, Hero has been tight-lipped about the specifications of the e-scooter’s powertrains although it is expected to use a belt-driven motor. It is also expected to offer three ride modes including drive, park and reverse which could be selected from the left side of the handlebar.
    The prototype also showcased a fully digital instrument cluster which is expected to be carried over to the production model as well. Features such as keyless start/stop and internet connectivity are likely to be included. Its powertrain setup is likely to feature a Lithium-ion battery paired with a powerful permanent magnet motor.
    It is expected to be launched by the end of this year and will compete against the likes of Bajaj Chetak, TVS iQube, Ather 450X and the upcoming Ola electric scooter.
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    Bajaj Pulsar Sales, Exports Dec 2020 – 125, 150, 180F, 220F, NS160, NS200, RS200

    Image – Firoz
    The Bajaj Pulsar brand of commuter bikes has seen increased demand both in domestic and export markets in the past month

    Bajaj Auto Limited reported total sales of 1,28,642 units in December 2020, up from 1,24,125 units sold in Dec 19. This was a 3.6 percent growth even as the company reported a 0.42 percent decline in market share from 11.82 percent to 11.41 percent. The two wheeler maker finished fourth in the lineup among best-selling two wheelers manufacturers in the country behind Hero, Honda and TVS.
    Bajaj Pulsar Brand
    The Bajaj Pulsar brand consists of 7 models in a price range of Rs.71,616 for the Pulsar 125, going up to the most expensive Pulsar RS200 sports bike available at Rs.1,52,179. The entire range offers high value for money, both in terms of performance and maintenance and is hence considered an important brand for Bajaj Auto. Their stand in terms of sales in December 2020 can be seen from the attached table.
    Pulsar sales in domestic markets in Dec 20 increased 48.08 percent to 75,421 units as against 50,931 units sold in Dec 19. MoM sales however, dipped 28.10 percent as compared to 1,04,904 units sold in Nov 20. Every model in the Pulsar lineup noted MoM de-growth.
    The Pulsar 125 was the most sold model in the Pulsar lineup with a YoY growth of 183.03 percent to 42,686 units in Dec 20. Even as sales of the Pulsar 150 dipped 25.47 percent to 19,958 units, sales of the Pulsar 160,180 and 200 increased to 8,279 units, up 58.51 percent as compared to 5,223 units sold in Dec 19.
    Bajaj Pulsar Domestic Sales Dec 2020
    The Pulsar 220F also noted a surge in sales to 4,498 units sold in the past month. For the 2021 model year, the company has introduced several updates on the 220F with an updated instrument cluster giving better and clearer readouts. The new Pulsar 220F is priced at Rs.1.25 lakhs and competes against the 2021 TVS Apache RTR 200 4V.
    Bajaj Pulsar Exports
    Every model in the Bajaj Pulsar lineup noted increased exports both in terms of YoY and MoM except for the Pulsar 125 which saw a 21.74 percent de-growth in Dec 20 over exports in Nov 20.
    Commanding the export list were the Pulsar 160, 180 and 200, with 42.27 percent market share and growth in terms of exports by 16.98 percent YoY. Total shipments to global markets stood at 15,573 units, up from 13,312 units shipped in Dec 19. MoM exports increased 9.68 percent as compared to 14,198 units exported in Nov 20.
    Bajaj Pulsar Exports Dec 2020
    Pulsar 150, 125 and 220F all noted increased YoY exports with exports of the Pulsar 150 noting a 100 percent increase from 7,008 units exported in Dec 19 to 14,043 units shipped in the past month. MoM exports were equally promising except for the Pulsar 125 which noted a 212.74 percent de-growth in Dec 20 to 4,555 units over 5,820 units exported in Nov 20.
    Earlier this month, Bajaj Auto increased prices across the Pulsar range. This was following the previous price hike that happened less than a month ago. Almost the entire Pulsar range except for the Pulsar 125 (drum variant) and RS 200 have seen a surge in prices. The price hike varies between Rs. 1,000 and a little over Rs. 2,000. However, Bajaj reduced price of Pulsar 125 Neon by Rs. 506 for an earlier Rs.72,122 to Rs 71,616. More