KTM launches Freeride E-XC electric dirt bike

KTM is in the process of going green. The company has just introduced their new EV, the Freeride E-XC electric dirt bike, in the United States. 

Based on the Freeride 250R, this KTM is being sold in limited numbers and only through selected dealerships. It costs $8299 (Rs 5.32 lakh) which is just $300 (Rs 19,000) more than its petrol powered sibling.

The electric motor that powers this bike produces 21.5bhp and 42Nm of peak torque as soon as the throttle is opened. The 260V 2.6 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery can be fully charged in 80 minutes. To make things exciting for the rider, KTM has equipped the E-XC with three riding modes - Economy, Standard and Advanced. 

All eleven US dealerships have been trained to take care of the new technology in this product. Will this bike come to India? Not anytime soon. The electric two-wheeler segment is still in its nascent stage, and the dirt bike segment is quite non-existent. In addition, the infrastructure to charge an electric vehicle is present in very few places – but it might become a reality by 2032, when the government intends to have an all-electric vehicle population.