The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Leading the way with ‘green’, economically viable scooters

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Thursday, May 29, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Leading the way with ‘green’, economically viable scooters

Staff Reporter

Hero group plans to launch five electric scooter models

High-speed model of electric scooter to be launched in July
Dealers to be trained in spreading awareness

Bangalore: “The Government is thinking of increasing fuel prices; that is good news to us,” said Naveen Munjal, managing director, Hero Electric, a subsidiary of the Hero Group.

Mr. Munjal told presspersons that Hero Electric had plans to launch a range of five electric scooters in the low- and high-speed categories.

“We already have two successful low-speed models on the roads — Hero Maxi and Hero Optima. One high-speed model will be launched in July,” he said.

The buyers would not need a driving licence and need not pay road tax or bother about registration.

Hero’s e-scooter was reasonably priced, runs on a rechargeable battery at 1/10th of the running cost of the conventional petrol-driven two-wheelers. “This makes our e-scooters economical and environment-friendly,” Mr. Munjal said. Mr. Munjal announced plans of doubling its dealership network in the State to leverage the growth in the electric vehicle segment.

Mr. Munjal announced investment plans of Rs. 80 crore in boosting the manufacturing plant in Ludhiana, besides development of its research and development facility.

“We will be investing on training the dealers to create awareness among the consumers on the benefits and features of the electric vehicles,” he said.

South India was an important market. The company aimed at doubling its sales in Karnataka from 6,000 units, which was 40 per cent of the market share, to 12,000 units in the 2008-09 fiscal. It had plans to set up a regional office in Bangalore shortly and a warehouse at a suitable location to ensure better distribution of vehicles in the region, Mr. Munjal said.

With the rise in fuel prices, shifting to alternative modes of transport was the only way out, Mr. Munjal said.

“The running cost of the relatively new and green technology is 10 paise a km. We aim to reach out to a wider segment of people in big cities and tier two cities,” he said.

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