BSA to roll out new bikes on alternative fuel

BSA Motors, which is currently mulling over hitting the road with a new range of bikes that would run on alternative fuels, is likely to rope in partners who would collaborate with it for the venture.

BSA Motors has said that it is in the process of building bikes that would make use of a combination of energy sources. BSA is said to be in parleys with a few companies to collaborate on two-wheeler technologies for the new range of bikes.  The company is already working on the products and is likely to introduce them in the next nine months. More details are expected to be revealed soon.

BSA Motors had recently launched as many as five electric bikes as part of expanding its product portfolio. These five models of electric bikes with motors come in the 250 to 800 watts range and have been priced between Rs 26,000 and Rs 35,000.

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With the market for electric bikes in India expected to double its size by next year, from the current levels of Rs 450 crore owing to the surge in oil prices, BSA Motors eyes a major chunk of the market with its range of e-bikes. The company has already begun sprucing up its dealership network in the country with a special emphasis on the southern region.

The company which runs around five retail outlets at the moment is said to have signed up for 43 more. By January 2009, it is expected that BSA Motors would bring in its e-bikes at about 10 dealers across New Delhi, Chattisgarh and Chandigarh. Besides, it is also weighing options on setting up charging stations for the electric scooters in IT and ITeS companies and big parking lots.

Apart from selling the bikes in India, the south in particular, the company is looking forward to export the electric bikes in the SAARC and West Asian countries. Company officials said that there have been a lot of enquiries from these regions.