Few names in Indian automotive history carry the emotional weight of “Chetak.”
For generations of Indians, this humble scooter represented not merely transportation but aspiration, reliability, and the promise of mobility in a time when owning a motorized vehicle was a significant milestone.
When production of the original Chetak ceased in 2005, it marked the end of an era—a reluctant acceptance that the utilitarian scooters which had defined Indian family transport for decades had been definitively superseded by modern automatic offerings.
So when Bajaj announced the resurrection of this storied nameplate for its first electric scooter in 2019, the decision carried both tremendous opportunity and significant risk.
Could a thoroughly modern electric vehicle authentically carry forward the legacy of the beloved original? Would consumers accept this reimagining, or view it as mere nostalgia exploitation?
The answers have emerged gradually as the Chetak EV established itself in the rapidly evolving electric two-wheeler market—revealing a product that honors its heritage while embracing the future with conviction rather than compromise.
Design: Respectful Reinterpretation
The most immediately striking aspect of the Chetak EV is how successfully its design team managed the delicate balancing act between heritage and modernity.
Rather than creating a retro pastiche or slavishly copying the original’s form, Bajaj has produced a thoroughly contemporary scooter that nevertheless evokes the spirit of its namesake through thoughtful design elements and proportions.
The overall silhouette maintains the original’s fundamental character—a harmonious combination of curves that eschews the aggressive angles and forced futurism common in many electric two-wheelers.
The front end features a circular headlamp (now LED) that serves as a clear connection to the original while functioning as a design centerpiece that establishes the vehicle’s identity.
This headlight is housed in a distinctive horseshoe-shaped housing that adds contemporary flair without abandoning the heritage connection.
Body panels show particular refinement, with seamless integration and gentle curves that create interplays of light and shadow as the sun moves across the scooter.
The side profile reveals perhaps the most direct reference to the original, with a character line that echoes the distinctive “trailing edge” of the classic Chetak’s metal body—though now rendered in high-quality polymers rather than sheet metal.
Color options demonstrate similar thoughtfulness, with matte finishes in Indigo Blue, Hazelnut, and Brooklyn Black offering sophisticated alternatives to the candy-colored options common among competitors.
The paint quality deserves specific mention—a lustrous depth that enhances the sculpted surfaces and contributes significantly to the premium impression.
What distinguishes the Chetak’s design approach from many “heritage” products is its commitment to genuine quality rather than superficial nostalgia.
Details like the metal front grille, solid aluminum switchgear, and feather-touch operation of compartments reflect an investment in tangible excellence rather than merely visual references.
This approach honors the original Chetak’s reputation for solidity while establishing the new model’s independent identity as a premium product.
Engineering: Substance Behind Style
Beneath its elegant exterior, the Chetak EV reveals engineering priorities focused on longevity, reliability, and real-world usability rather than specification-sheet maximization—a philosophy that aligns perfectly with the practical ethos of the original.
The powertrain centers around an axial flux electric motor producing 4.2kW (5.6 HP) of peak power and 16 Nm of torque.
While these figures might seem modest compared to some competitors who advertise higher outputs, Bajaj’s approach prioritizes efficiency and thermal management—crucial factors for everyday reliability in India’s challenging climate conditions.
This motor connects to the rear wheel via a high-efficiency automated transmission that eliminates the direct-drive arrangement common in many electric scooters.
This design choice delivers several advantages: smoother power delivery across different speeds, improved hill-climbing capability, and protection of the motor from shock loads encountered in typical Indian road conditions.
The 2.9 kWh IP67-rated lithium-ion battery pack represents a similar emphasis on long-term durability rather than maximum range claims.
While the certified range of 108 kilometers (in Eco mode) may not lead specification charts, the battery’s sophisticated temperature management system and conservative charge/discharge parameters are designed to maintain performance over thousands of cycles—addressing a critical concern for practical electric vehicle ownership.
Charging occurs through a conventional 5-amp domestic socket (no proprietary charging infrastructure required), with the onboard charger managing the process to optimize battery health.
A full charge takes approximately 5 hours—aligned with overnight charging patterns that integrate naturally into most users’ routines.
The chassis employs a rigid single-cradle frame with trailing-link front suspension—a setup that both recalls the original Chetak’s architecture and provides structural advantages for an electric scooter.
The trailing link design allows the front suspension to absorb bumps while maintaining stability during regenerative braking—a scenario where telescopic forks can sometimes exhibit diving behavior.
Braking combines a disc front and drum rear with combined braking system (CBS), providing balanced deceleration that meets safety requirements without adding excessive complexity.
The 12-inch wheels—larger than many competitors offer—enhance stability on uneven surfaces and improve the scooter’s ability to navigate urban obstacles like potholes and speed breakers without unsettling the chassis.
Riding Experience: Refined Mobility
Swing a leg through the Chetak’s thoughtfully shaped floorboard, and the riding position immediately communicates quality. The seat provides supportive density with subtle contours that position the rider naturally.
Handlebars meet hands at a comfortable angle that avoids both the stretched-forward sporty position that becomes tiring in traffic and the overly upright stance that can feel precarious at speed.
Pressing the start button initiates an almost ceremonial startup sequence as the vibrant TFT display illuminates and the scooter performs self-diagnostics before indicating readiness with a subtle audio confirmation rather than artificial engine sounds—a confident embrace of electric propulsion’s inherent quietness.
Setting off reveals the Chetak’s most distinctive dynamic character: refinement. The motor delivers power with a linear smoothness that makes precise speed modulation intuitive, particularly valuable in congested traffic situations where maintaining walking pace alongside pedestrians or filtering between stopped vehicles demands delicate throttle control.
Two riding modes offer meaningfully different characters. Eco mode limits top speed to around 63 km/h while maximizing range, with softened throttle response that promotes efficient riding.
Sport mode unlocks the full 70 km/h top speed and provides more immediate acceleration, though still delivered with characteristic smoothness rather than the jerky enthusiasm some electric scooters exhibit.
Regenerative braking deserves specific mention for its natural calibration. Unlike some systems that create an artificial and unpredictable engine-braking effect, the Chetak’s implementation provides gentle deceleration when closing the throttle—sufficient to reduce speed gradually without requiring constant brake application in flowing traffic, yet subtle enough to never feel intrusive.
The suspension tuning reflects similar thoughtfulness, with sufficient compliance to absorb typical urban imperfections without floating or wallowing during more enthusiastic cornering.
The trailing-link front end maintains composure over larger obstacles that might unsettle telescopic forks, while the rear monoshock provides progressive resistance that prevents harsh bottoming even with a passenger aboard.
Perhaps most impressive is how the Chetak handles the transition from crawling in traffic to cruising at its top speed.
The powertrain maintains its composure throughout the operating range, never feeling strained or reminding riders of its mechanical efforts.
This seamless performance creates an almost contemplative riding experience—allowing concentration on traffic and surroundings rather than managing the vehicle itself.
Technology: Purposeful Integration
The Chetak’s approach to technology reflects the same balanced philosophy evident in its mechanical design: focusing on features that enhance the ownership experience rather than gimmickry that might impress during dealership demonstrations but detracts from everyday usability.
The full-color TFT dashboard presents essential information with clarity, automatically adjusting brightness for changing light conditions.
The interface eschews overwhelming complexity in favor of intuitive organization, with primary riding information (speed, range, mode) always visible and secondary functions accessible through logical menu structures.
Connectivity comes via the Chetak mobile application, which provides essentials like battery status, ride history, and service alerts without attempting to transform the scooter into a rolling smartphone.
The tamper alert and vehicle locator functions address practical security concerns, while the ability to review efficiency statistics helps riders understand how their behavior affects range.
Keyless operation adds genuine convenience to daily use, allowing the scooter to authenticate the key fob’s proximity without requiring physical key insertion—particularly valuable when handling gloves, helmets, or bags during mounting and dismounting.
The inclusion of reverse mode—accessed via a dedicated button—transforms tight parking situations from awkward shuffling to controlled precision, especially valuable for smaller riders who might struggle with the scooter’s 120kg weight when maneuvering in confined spaces.
Rather than highlighting theoretical “smart” capabilities that often go unused, Bajaj has focused on getting fundamental technologies right—ensuring the electronic throttle never exhibits lag or unpredictability, calibrating the regenerative braking for natural feel rather than maximum theoretical efficiency, and maintaining consistent performance across varying battery states and temperatures.
Ownership Experience: Beyond the Product
The Chetak ownership journey reveals Bajaj’s understanding that electric vehicles require a different support ecosystem than their internal combustion counterparts.
Dedicated Chetak Experience Centers provide specialized sales environments where potential customers can explore the vehicle’s features without the pressure and confusion sometimes associated with multi-brand dealerships.
The service approach acknowledges the fundamental differences in maintenance requirements. With no oil changes, filter replacements, or carburetor adjustments needed, scheduled maintenance focuses on software updates, brake system maintenance, and general inspections—typically requiring far less frequent dealer visits than conventional scooters.
Bajaj’s warranty coverage demonstrates confidence in the engineering: 3 years or 50,000 kilometers for the scooter overall, with 3 years and unlimited kilometers for the battery specifically—addressing a primary concern for electric vehicle adopters.
The gradual expansion of service locations shows a measured approach to growth that prioritizes quality of support over mere geographical coverage statistics.
The ownership proposition extends to residual value protection—an area where many electric two-wheelers struggle due to market uncertainty and rapid technological evolution.
Bajaj’s established brand presence and commitment to the electric transition provide a degree of confidence regarding future parts availability and support that less established manufacturers struggle to offer.
Market Position: Calculated Confidence
The Chetak occupies a fascinating position in the rapidly evolving electric two-wheeler market.
Rather than competing directly on specifications or pursuing the lowest possible price point, Bajaj has positioned the Chetak as a premium offering for discerning customers who value quality, reliability, and brand heritage over raw performance figures or feature lists.
This strategy has allowed the Chetak to establish a distinct identity in a increasingly crowded segment.
While startups and technology-focused entrants often emphasize disruption and maximum specifications, the Chetak offers something different: the reassurance of established manufacturing expertise combined with thoughtful electric conversion.
Pricing reflects this premium positioning, with the Chetak commanding approximately 15-20% higher prices than mass-market alternatives.
This positioning aligns with the original Chetak’s status—never the cheapest option but widely recognized as offering value through longevity and ownership satisfaction rather than mere initial affordability.
The measured production ramp-up and controlled geographical expansion demonstrate similar strategic patience.
Rather than pursuing maximum market share through aggressive discounting or unsustainable growth, Bajaj has focused on establishing the Chetak as a desirable product that commands its price positioning through genuine quality rather than marketing alone.
Bajaj Chetak EV Model come in 650 KM range
In resurrecting the Chetak name for the electric era, Bajaj faced a significant challenge: honoring a beloved heritage while embracing fundamentally different technology.
What makes the resulting product remarkable isn’t merely that it succeeds in this balancing act, but how it achieves this success—through substance rather than superficial nostalgia.
The Chetak EV doesn’t rely on retro design cues or emotional marketing to establish its connection to its namesake.
Instead, it embodies the essential qualities that made the original a legend: thoughtful engineering, everyday reliability, and a dignified presence that transcends fashion.
These characteristics find new expression through electric propulsion, premium materials, and contemporary technology, creating a vehicle that feels like an authentic evolution rather than a marketing exercise.
For the right customer—one who values refinement over raw specifications and long-term satisfaction over initial excitement—the Chetak offers a compelling proposition: electric mobility with the reassurance of both established manufacturing expertise and cultural heritage.
In a market segment increasingly defined by bold claims and rapid product cycles, this measured confidence represents a refreshingly mature approach to the electric transition—and a fitting continuation of the Chetak legacy for a new generation.