Amit Saraswat 
As the name suggests, the Himalayan electric testbed shares its design with the new Himalayan, which is also showcased at EICMA 2023. Launched back in 2016, the Himalayan has been a successful motorcycle in Royal Enfield’s lineup, both in India and abroad. The adventure tourer body style of the Himalayan turned out to be an exemplary test bed for the development of electric Royal Enfiled motorcycles.
Royal Enfield claims that the Himalayan electric has been extensively tested in the wind tunnel to bring down the drag coefficient and improve its aerodynamic efficiency. While it looks similar to the Himalayan 450, it incorporates a new Organic Flax Fibre composite material for its bodywork. As per the bike maker, the objective of the project was to unlock a new segment in the world of electric mobility, instead of trying to squeeze as many battery cells into the motorcycle.
Royal Enfield hasn’t revealed any specifications for the Himalayan Electric. However, the brand claims that the design of the battery pack has been designed in-house, which also works as a main structural element for the electric adventure motorcycle. The showcased concept abides by the ethos of Royal Enfield design and as a result, looks remarkably similar to the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 despite having minimal body panels.
Speaking about the purpose behind this project, B Govindarajan, CEO of Royal Enfield said, “At Royal Enfield, our Electric Mobility team is powered by the objective of preserving the quintessential Royal Enfield DNA, and extending that into our creative ideas and designs for electric motorcycles as well. This Electric Himalayan concept motorcycle is an outcome of this pursuit, as purpose and innovation meet distinct Royal Enfield design and character. This motorcycle is only just a part of a much bigger sustainable ecosystem of exploration and adventure that we are working on in the Himalayas. From green charging pit-stops, to our responsible travel initiative, from creating self-sustaining communities to collaboration with UNESCO to preserve the intangible cultural heritage of the Himalayan region, there are a lot of initiatives we are passionately driving”
Sharing more details about the design of the Royal Enfield Himalayan electric testbed, Mario Alvisi, Chief growth Officer – EV, Royal Enfield, said, “When we started this project, we were keen to create something that would be a guiding light for long term sustainable travel in the Himalayas. More than building a motorcycle for regulations or directive, we saw this as an opportunity to create something unique and to inspire future generations. What began as a capability exercise for our teams, is now this electric adventure motorcycle we are very proud of.”
