Hero Splendor Electric: In a first-of-its-kind development that could help rewrite India’s two-wheeler market, Hero MotoCorp is getting ready to launch an electric avatar of its famous Splendor motorcycle.
This move, which will make FAME II subsidy applicable to a commuter electric motorcycle for the very first time, can drive swift mass adoption of electric mobility in the world’s largest two-wheeler market.
Table of Contents
Hero Splendor Electric An Icon Reinvented
The Hero Splendor has a history that spans over two decades and is the undisputed champion of the Indian market with over 40 million units sold.
Its known for being reliable, inexpensive and efficient, and has become a default option for millions of cost-conscious Indians looking for a way to get around.
Jibu added, “By electrifying this platform that has always been trusted by the customers, Hero is providing a natural transition for a city commuter motorcycle user across the country who is currently looking to move to electric.”
“The Splendor brand name has a very high degree of trust value among Indian consumers,” says Arvind Sharma, analyst for the motorcycle industry.
“With an electric version, Hero is essentially saying to millions of loyal customers that electric is no longer exotic, it has arrived,” he said.
Unhindered by the legacy of previous electric two-wheelers that carved new segments or addressed the up-market, the Splendor Electric goes straight for the jugular of the motorcycle market in India – the family man who commutes on two when he isn’t bringing home the bacon.
India Specific:Made for Real Indian Conditions
The Splendor Electric has been designed with intimate awareness of the local rider in India and the riding conditions and challenges of the market.
And now for its propulsion dept:.”.. This motorcycle gets a mid-positioned 5.2 kW motor churning out 26 Nm of torque – many times more than what the petrol variant’s 8.05 Nm of torque can muster, delivering that –acceleration on demand– desperately needed in stop and go traffic.
Monsoon friendly: The 3.7 kWh lithium-ion battery pack on the motorcycle has been rated at IP67 for water and dust resistance, addressing concerns of durability during monsoon seasons.
The battery is packed in a strong, impact resistant cradle that can handle tough Indian road conditions.
“We have already tested them (prototype units) for over 200,000 km in an exhaustive list of almost all types of terrains,” says Vikram Kasbekar – Chief Technology Officer, Hero MotoCorp.
“Be it the reduces heat of Rajasthan or the salt of Kerala, Be it the great highways to back twisted roads of rural India, This bike is all set to change riding dynamics for the Indian operating conditions.”
Balancing Range and Price
Splendor Electric has a certified range of 110 km per charge and real-world performance of 85-95 km subject to driving conditions.
Hero’s research shows that this is substantially higher than the average daily riding distance of between 30-40 km for most Splendor customers.
Additionally, it can be charged via a regular home socket, charging 100% in about 5 hours or can be fast-charged, reaching up to 80% in less than 45 mins using Hero’s fast charger.
For riders worried about range anxiety, Hero is laying a ‘battery swapping ecosystem’ across select urban hubs that would allow for battery swaps in less than three minutes.
“Instead of opting for headline-grabbing, yet unrealistic performance numbers to increase cost – which would not add to the customer’s real life experience, we have been more focused on meeting the real life riding habits of our customers,” Pawan Munjal, Executive Chairman of Hero MotoCorp says. “We care about consistent daily performance at an affordable price.”
Design – Familiar and Forward Looking
The model continues to use the easy to use design language that has become a trademark for decades. The signature silhouette and proportions are largely the same, although it’s been subtly adapted to fit the electric powertrain.
New frame added to the mix to handle the changed weight distribution, no doubt the same great ergonomics and the same 785mm seat height to which millions of riders have already adapted.
The motorcycle is also equipped with full LED lighting, a distinctive light signature that makes it instantly recognizable as a non-combustion bike, while also clearly maintaining family resemblance.
Essential, configurable information from the motorcycle’s control systems are displayed in a compact round digital instrument screen, allowing the rider to ensure they are fully informed of the bike’s performance and battery charge. Three riding modes, Eco, City and Power, let you choose between maximum range or muscular performance.
Alternative Ownership Formats
Possibly the most interesting idea, however, is Hero’s method for handling the increased upfront cost that traditional electric vehicles usually entail. The company has structured a strategy of ownership involving multiple traditional ownership models such as:
Classic buying experience at an anticipated price of ₹85,000-90,000 (post subsidies)
Battery-as-a-service subscription model wherein customers will have to buy only the motorcycle (priced around ₹55,000) and they’ll pay a monthly fee for the battery usage
Complete EMI package with motorcycle, battery lease, insurance and maintenance in a single monthly payment which is in-line with the overall running cost of a petrol Splendor.
“The single biggest challenge for EV adoption in price sensitive segments has been the price of EVs,” says Niranjan Gupta, CFO, Hero MotoCorp.
We have flexible ownership options which means customers can select the option that makes the most financial sense to them, and they can potentially own for less than a petrol bike.
Infrastructure and Ecosystem Establishment
Understanding that the arms of product adoption as well infrastructure have to grow together, Hero has adopted the holistic charging ecosystem approach:
Transforming all 6,000+ Hero touch points across the country into charging points
Forging partnership with workspace, retail locations for destination charging
Establishing a battery swap station network in high- speed corridors
Working with the residential welfare associations to ensure overnight charging availability
The Splendor Electric will also get a dedicated smartphone app that will offer readouts of the battery’s status, the location of charging points, service reminders and ride statistics.
Hero Splendor Electric Market Influence and Industry Changes
Being the unchallenged champ in the commuter motorcycle segment in India, Hero stepping into the electric motorcycle segment definitely shows which way the two-wheeler market in India is heading.
Over the first 12 months of launch, the company expects to clock monthly sales of 15,000-20,000 units—business already counted, a minuscule volume compared with the numbers Clocking on February 25, 32-year-old petrol Splendor whose owner is Mohamad Mammar, 45, has been thinking of the new Hero as a speedy largish scooter.
According to industry watchers, the launch of Splendor Electric could indeed be sweet-spot electric two-wheeler adoption in India.
The ecosystem will follow as component suppliers, dealers and service networks accelerate their own transitions seeing the leading player fully committed to electrification.
When millions of people in India are thinking about taking their first step towards electric mobility, the name of Splendor in electric may come to them as the comfort they need to shift to the new generation of mobility.
As this classic motorcycle embarks on its electric odyssey, so it has the power to rewrite the history not only of a name, but of a whole nation’s relationship with getting out and about.
