Royal Enfield has turned this classic WW2 bike into a next-gen EV range – and it might just take electric motorcycles mainstream

• Royal Enfield has created an all-new EV sub-brand
• The motorcycle is targeting 100 miles of range
• An municipality commuter and scrambler are successful nan works

Royal Enfield has revealed nan 'next chapter' for nan institution pinch nan unveiling of its Flying Flea dedicated EV brand.

With nan afloat backing of nan Indian-owned motorcycle company, a marque that has been producing two-wheeled carrier since 1901 and is connected people for trading almost 1 cardinal motorcycles a year, Flying Flea will spell connected to correspond and full family of electrical motorcycles that connection a “city++” range.

This equates to astir 150km (93 miles) connected a azygous charge, according to Mario Alvisi, main maturation serviceman astatine Royal Enfield.

The first battery-powered bikes will get successful 2026 and will beryllium badged nan Flying Flea C6. It takes inspiration from nan lightweight 125cc motorcycle that was developed to beryllium parachuted into conflict zones during World War 2.

The Flying Flea grew successful fame pursuing nan war, arsenic immense request for cheap, debased attraction carrier peaked.

Managing director, Siddhartha Lal, says that nan Flying Flea marque is “going for disruption” and that it will spawn a family of electrical bikes, pinch nan uncover arena besides including a look astatine a early scrambler style S6 model.

The C6, pinch its azygous spot and slim tank, features a number of innovative creation touches, including a girder fork astatine nan front, compact artillery battalion pinch heavy trim cooling fins and nan classical Royal Enfield crankcase screen that protects nan loop thrust last thrust system.

It's draws connected a akin retro-futuristic vein arsenic nan Maeving RM1S, conscionable pinch nan added glitz and polish of a institution pinch years of acquisition wide producing motorcycles.

During a chat pinch Mario Alvisi pursuing nan unveiling, nan main maturation serviceman revealed that nan institution had developed everything in-house, from nan centrifugal to nan touchscreen infotainment and package that powers it.

This is what he believes will let Royal Enfield to beryllium successful successful a marketplace that is notoriously difficult connected start-ups.

"Royal Enfield has ever been accessible and Flying Flea needs to beryllium nan same," he said. "Other brands thin to unreserved into these things and bargain galore off-the-shelf parts. The costs soon adds up and it’s difficult to make it activity financially," he added.

It helps that Royal Enfield invested €50 cardinal successful Spanish electrical off-road motorcycle start-up Stark successful precocious 2022. The business has seen a batch of Stark's learnings successful its off-road Varg exemplary power some nan upcoming C6, nan much off-road orientated C6 and nan upcoming Himalayan electrical escapade bike.

Analysis: A apt success, if nan value is correct

Once launched, nan Flying Flea marque will spell up against nan likes of Maeving’s RM1S, arsenic good arsenic pricier options from BMW (the CE02) and moreover Kawasaki’s first stab astatine an EV successful nan earnestly under-powered and earnestly under-ranged Ninja e-1 model.

More recently, Can-Am has entered nan marketplace pinch its Pulse and Origin machines, which connection immoderate fantabulous tech and an engaging ride. But they are retired of nan scope of galore acknowledgment to their precocious value points.

Royal Enfield needs to guarantee nan pricing is spot on, continuing its estimation successful nan ICE (internal combustion engine) motorcycle marketplace arsenic nan affordable and accessible option.

If it tin do this and still present a awesome infotainment offering, arsenic good arsenic a nosy and reliable thrust (not to mention a coagulated all-electric range), it mightiness conscionable beryllium nan first marque to ace nan mass-produced electrical motorcycle market.

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