Hero MotoCorp Predicts Electric Scooters Will Dominate Scooter Segment By 2030

Recently at a press conference, Hero MotoCorp’s CEO, Niranjan Gupta revealed that electric scooters will comprise 50 per cent of the scooter market in India by 2030. He revealed the same while announcing Hero MotoCorp’s ₹1,000 crore investment to expand its EV business. This fresh investment will see the launch of two new electric two-wheelers, including the ones from its American partner, Zero. 

Currently, electric scooters comprise just 15 per cent of the scooter market share in the country, and a mere 5 per cent of the overall two-wheeler business as electric motorcycles haven’t been popular among the masses.  So when Niranjan Gupta was asked about the current numbers and how all of that will stack up in the next five years. The CEO replied that the electric two-wheeler scenario is currently like a “Russian roulette”. It will see different manufacturers snatch the pole position for the most number of electric two-wheelers sold, every now and then. So unless and until this category becomes “sizeable”, this “game will keep changing”. 

On the other hand, Hero is also gearing up its Vida division towards production of electric motorcycles. As part of this transformation, it has been reported that the country’s favourite commuter motorcycle, the Splendor, will go all-electric. In fact, Hero has been working on the all-electric Splendor for the past two years, and the bike is expected to hit production by 2027. 

Interestingly, Niranjan Gupta views that electric motorcycles will not grow as extensively and rapidly as electric scooters in the next five years. This is primarily because motorcycles will require bigger batteries for longer range, and much more performance. But the technology available at the moment does not make electric motorcycles viable. 

But none of this expansion will be possible if there isn’t a solid infrastructure to support it. So, Hero will be collaborating with Ather Energy this year to develop the same, which will see both the brands introduce a shared charging ecosystem. Details about these developmental plans are still limited, and we should know more about the same in the coming years.