India To Attack European Electric Motorcycle Market |
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File under Electrical Ecology
Author: Mike Werner
Location: Normandy, France
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A few years ago, there were only one of two players in the electric motorcycles and scooters market. In the last year or so, we've seen several new players appear, some with novel designs (see related articles below). Most manufacturers are start-up companies, using the new technology and market as spearhead to develop electric bikes.
One company, a spin-off from a traditional motorcycle manufacturer, is anything but a small company. In fact, they belong to one of the biggest motorcycle manufacturers in the world; Hero. Hero, in a partnership that has recently dissolved with Honda (Hero Honda  ), has a subsidiary called Hero Electric . This company builds electric motorcycles. Well, actually they're more mopeds and scooters, but they've got two wheels and an engine.
Hero Electric are going to be introduced to the European market. On February 17th, the company is presenting itself in Switzerland to prospective European motorcycle dealers, and in a years time, they plan to be present in Europe with cheap electric scooters. In other words, they plan to flood the European market with electric motorcycles.
According to Sohinder Gill, chief executive officer of Hero Electric: "We are showcasing our electric motorcycle in Switzerland on February 17 and want to see what is the response to the product, and also gauge whether the demand is more for electric motorcycles or high-power electric scooters."
With rising fuel prices, electric PTWPowered Two Wheel - motorcyles, scooters, mopeds are becoming more and more a reality. In India alone, 85,000 units were sold last year. Europe, which has higher gas prices than anywhere else, and where distances are less, is an ideal market for electric bikes. Once electric motorcycles & scooters are being mass sold, it'll mean that other manufacturers will start making them cheaper, and battery technology will make leaps forward, allowing eBikes to go faster and ride for longer distances. Hero Electric can produce 200 to 250 units per shift, but initially they do not expect to see a high sales, more like 500 units per year.
Of course having has your top executives (CFO Hero Group ) from the parent company arrested for fraud might put a damper on the whole affair (Source: Indian Express ).
Via: Business-Standard
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