Key highlights
- EMotorad Heritage revives the familiar Indian roadster design with a 350 W rear hub motor and upright riding position.
- Buyers can choose between two removable battery options, offering claimed ranges of up to 20 km and 35 km.
- It gets five levels of pedal assistance, mechanical disc brakes and a high-tensile steel frame.
India’s familiar roadster bicycle is getting an electric makeover. EMotorad has introduced the Heritage, an e-cycle that brings back the traditional roadster silhouette while adding electric pedal assistance for everyday commutes. The idea is fairly straightforward, retain the design and riding character that generations of Indians have grown up with, but make daily cycling a little less demanding.
And there is a sizeable audience for that format. The company points to All India Cycle Manufacturers’ Association data, which recorded 57.1 lakh roadster bicycle sales in FY2023-24, accounting for more than half of the 106.7 lakh bicycles covered in its sales table.
A familiar roadster, now with electric assistance
The Heritage stays close to the traditional roadster formula. It gets an upright riding position, tall 28-inch wheels and a sturdy high-tensile steel frame. Power comes from a 36 V, 350 W rear hub motor that offers five levels of pedal assistance, controlled through a C14 LED display.
The motor provides assistance up to 25 kmph. There is a single-speed drivetrain, so riders don’t have to worry about shifting gears, while a rigid front fork keeps the overall setup true to the conventional roadster design. Braking duties are handled by mechanical disc brakes with an auto cut-off function.
EMotorad says the riding position is suited to riders between 5ft 3in and 6ft tall, while the cycle can carry a maximum load of 110 kg, including the rider.
Two battery options
The Heritage is available with two removable lithium-ion battery options. The standard 5.2 Ah battery offers a claimed range of up to 20 km, while the larger 7.65 Ah unit takes that figure up to 35 km.
Both batteries can be removed using a key-lock mechanism, making it easier to charge them at home or at work without having to park the entire cycle near a power socket. Using the supplied 2A charger, the smaller battery takes around 2–3 hours to charge, while the larger one needs 3–4 hours.
These are claimed range figures, of course. Actual distance will depend on rider weight, load, road conditions and the level of pedal assistance being used.
Also read: Ather surpass 3 lakh annual sales for the first time
