India is rapidly making progress in its plans to phase out internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in the country. A few initiatives have seen the development of electric conversion kits that will transform ICE vehicles into electric-powered models. The outlook for the conversion kits is expected to grow and Hero Splendor is keying into the process. The Hero Splendor Electric GoGo A1 conversion kit has now added the ARAI certification to its previous regulatory endorsements.
GoGo A1 is the manufacturer of the Hero Splendor and with the kit, it is offering owners the option of converting their bike to an electric model. The full kit with a battery pack costs Rs. 95,000 (~$1,245) and Rs. 35,000 (~$459) without the battery. The company says the battery can deliver a range of 151km on a full charge. The kit had previously received RTO approval in addition to the ARAI approval it just got.
The kit contains a 2 kW electric motor, mounted on the rear wheel hub fed by a 2.8 kWh battery pack, with a regenerative braking system. A DC-DC converter, new accelerator wiring, a key switch with controller box, and a new swingarm are also included.
The conversion will be carried out at GoGo A1’s installation workshops in 36 RTO locations in India. Customers will be able to get insurance for the converted motorbike after some documentation at the local RTO. A converted bike is issued a new green numberplate although the registration number will remain unchanged.
The outlook on this new Gogo A1 initiative is a plus to the government’s effort to significantly reduce tailpipe emissions and a growing number of Indians embracing electric vehicles. The battery pack remains a very expensive component of the conversion. It brings again to focus the challenges Indian EV manufacturers face in ensuring affordability and durability. Recent weeks have seen several electric scooter fire incidents. Most of these fires relate to overheating of the battery packs partly due to summer in the subcontinent.
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