Will the Hero Duet E launch this year?

Hero Motocorp which is the worlds largest manufacturer for motorcycles seems to be at the backend of the EV race for two-wheelers in India.

The recently launched TVS iQube was successful in creating hype in the market, along with the newly launched Ather450 and the already available Bajaj Chetak. Hero plans to change this with its EV entrant in the market- the Hero Duet E.

Overview

The Hero Duet E was previously showcased at the 2016 Auto Expo. Plans for its production were scrapped following a dispute with the Munjal group that controls the electric division of the company. However now it seems that Hero is set to finally launch this product now. Many people do not know but Hero holds a 30% stake in the electric scooter brand Ather, and this will definitely help the company in developing the Hero Duet E.

Design of the Hero Duet E

Design-wise, it is expected to get the EV treatment in terms of styling while retaining its design language with the scooter getting a futuristic design. Since the scooter is expected to be priced at around 1 lakh rupees, it will get a host of features that are seen on its rivals.

These features should also include LED lighting for both the front and the rear as well as a fully digital instrument cluster that will display all the important information of the bike such as range, speed, etc.

Hero Duet E battery pack

When showcased before four years, the Hero Duet E was equipped with a range of 65kms along with 0-60kmh timing of 6.5 seconds. After having another four years for the development of their scooter, the specifications of the scooter are expected to improve on these numbers as its rivals, the Chetak Electric and TVS iQube, for reference, boast a range of 95 km and 75 km respectively. Therefore we will have to wait for Hero for the official specifications of the battery pack.

Hero Motorcorp on its plans

A company spokesperson said: “We don’t comment on market speculation. Hero MotoCorp is fully committed to driving sustainability and green mobility in the country… Our internal EV programme is on track and we are working towards introducing mass-market products and solutions in a phased manner. However, we would talk about specific products and their brand names closer to their launch dates.

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It is expected to be launched later this year and will be priced around the 1 lakh rupee mark. Meanwhile, you can check out our walkaround of the TVS iQube electric scooter: