Royal Enfield Showcases Electric Himalayan Concept At EICMA

Royal Enfield unveiled its first-ever electric vehicle design concept at the EICMA Motor Show 2023 in Milan, Italy. Inspired by its pursuit of pure motorcycling and by the design of the original Himalayan, the Royal Enfield Electric Himalayan Testbed is a new expression of sustainable exploration for the future and an imaginative rendition of what a Royal Enfield electric adventure tourer could look like.

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 a part of a much bigger, sustainable ecosystem of exploration and adventure that we are working on in the Himalayas. From the green charging pit stop 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.

The Royal Enfield Electric Himalayan Testbed is a project that uses rapid prototyping and iterative design. The focus of the design team was to create a concept that encourages exploration by reducing stress on the rider as well as the environment.

Speaking about the design, Mario Alvisi, Chief Growth Officer, EV, Royal Enfield, stated, "More than building a motorcycle for regulations or directives, 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 this new expression of our love for adventure and the mountains. The Electric Himalayan Testbed is much more than a design concept. For us, this is our vision and a glimpse of what to expect from us in the future. There is a much larger electric mobility blueprint that is being brought alive at Royal Enfield as we continue to work on multiple ‘electrifying’ expressions of pure motorcycling".

The Electric Himalayan Testbed and future iterations of the motorcycle have been ridden and tested in their natural habitat and spiritual home, the Himalayas. In addition, the team has done extensive wind tunnel testing to improve efficiency and ride experience.

The Electric Himalayan Testbed, along with subsequent motorcycle iterations, has undergone testing in a natural and spiritual place, the Himalayas. Furthermore, the test has conducted thorough wind tunnel tests to monitor efficiency and evaluate the overall riding experience.