Himalaya Harbinger, Rudrapur Bureau
Bajaj Auto has launched the latest version of its electric scooter, Chetak in the Indian market. The electric two-wheeler has been launched at a starting price of Rs 1.20 (ex-showroom) for the 3502 variant while the 3501 variant will be priced at Rs 1.27 lakh (ex-showroom). The brand will also introduced a 3503 variant later. It is to be noted that the scooter has been on sale in the country since 2020 and has now received a host of updates in 2024. The changes in the EV can be seen in the form of updates in the powertrain, feature list, and more. All of this is aimed at making the EV “the best Chetak yet.”
In terms of design, the new Bajaj Chetak picks on the qualities of its predecessor with its neo-classic appearance and metallic body. This can be seen in the form of a circular headlamp with DRL. It also gets a sleek apron which adds to the modern appeal of the EV with integrated turn indicators, Chetak badge in the middle, and more such elements. The brand has also given it a longer floorboard and a longer single-piece seat (length increased by 80 mm).
The rear end of the scooter still seems to be similar to its predecessor with an extended tail section housing the tail lamps and gets a smooth appearance from the side with Chetak written on it. The brand is also offering a larger 35-litre boot space with the EV
In terms of features, the electric scooter gets a digital instrument cluster with 5-inch touch TFT screen giving the rider crucial information related to the EV. It also offers navigation through integrated maps, the ability to accept and reject calls, music control, document storage, and more. For safety, the brand is offering features like geo-fence, theft alert, accident detection, and overspeed alert among multiple other features. The brand has eliminated mechanical switches to use tactile switches.
The electric vehicle manufacturer has used a new platform for the EV making it longer and to provide more space for the battery. Bajaj Chetak is now powered by a new 3.5 kWh battery pack which transfers charge to a 4 kW motor. This motor is capable of pushing the EV to a top-speed of 73 kmph. All of this put together is claimed to offer a range of over 150 km on a single charge while the real world range is at 125 km. It comes with a 950 watt on board charger which can charge the EV from 0 to 80 percent in 3 hours.
