KTM is working on a new electric bike called the KTM E-Duke
- The KTM E-Duke will sit alongside the baby Duke 125 and will resemble the Husqvarna E-Pilen
- The KTM E-Duke is likely to get a 5.5kWh battery pack and 13.4bhp motor electric drive system
KTM AG, the Austrian automotive company, will soon introduce the KTM E-Duke street naked electric bike as it diversifies into low-powered electric bike space. The KTM E-Duke will cater to the nascent but quickly growing electric bike segment and is likely to go on sale parallel to the current ICE (Internal Combustion Engine)-powered lineup of KTM bikes. Pierer Mobility, KTM’s parent company, had stated its plans to enter the EV space earlier this month. The KTM E-Duke was previewed as a blurred image in the company’s earnings call and gives us an idea of what to expect from the upcoming e-bike.
KTM E-Duke: What to expect?
The KTM Duke is a family of naked street bikes that are oriented towards outright performance, lightweight and compact architecture, stylish and feature-oriented packaging and ranges from small 125cc segments up to high-performance litre-class bikes. In India, KTM kicked off operations with the introduction of the Duke 200, later growing its portfolio to accommodate the Duke 125, the Duke 250 and the Duke 390. These bikes are highly popular amongst enthusiasts and youngsters as they cater to the likings of many.
The diversification that KTM plans to undertake will incorporate the core values of the current KTM Duke lineup and will shift to focus on a cleaner electric powertrain setup. The KTM E-Duke is likely to resemble and share components and powertrain specifics with its sibling the Husqvarna E-Pilen. It is expected to mimic a 125cc motorcycle and, hence, may also link closely to the existing KTM Duke 125. The specifications on the Husqvarna E-Pilen suggests that consumers could be looking at a 10kW or 13.4bhp power from the motor, which would draw power from a fixed 5.5 kWh battery pack. The current generation of the KTM Duke 125 aka the baby Duke posts a 15bhp power figure from its 124.7cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine. Given the spirited nature of the motorcycle, the Duke 125 uses an advanced Dual Overhead Camshaft (DOHC), 4 valves and fuel injection. The baby Duke also gets a precision close-ratio 6-speed gearbox as seen in bikes in higher segments. Advanced mechanics include USD forks and assisted rear suspension, disc brakes at the front and the rear, as well as an exposed multi-member rigid chassis. Tech gizmos include an LED lighting setup, a digital instrument console, single-channel ABS via its disc brake setup and more. The KTM Duke 125 is priced at Rs 1.70lakhs (ex-showroom).