Hero talks tech with bikes, bets big on scooters

Hero Motocorp was among the big news-makers at the Expo, showcasing 30 models including new platforms,  existing models and some new concepts based on alternate fuel and technology.

Hero MotoCorp is fast revealing its tech-driven future. Exactly a week after managing director and CEO Pawan Munjal unveiled the 250cc HX250R motorcycle, the liquid-cooled RNT diesel hybrid concept bike, the Leap hybrid scooter and the 110cc Dash scooter, he took the covers off a trio of concept bikes at the Auto Expo. The tech-laden bikes comprise the Hastur, a 620cc premium motorcycle, the hydrogen fuel cell-powered Ion concept, and SimplEcity, a lightweight electric motorcycle.

“We have been challenging the routine and the conventional. Our new motto is to drive change through path-breaking innovations. We have now successfully developed an eco-system of technology research and development that is designed to think beyond the obvious and deliver future-ready mobility solutions. The all-new 620cc Hastur, which will likely mark our foray into the superbike segment, and the futuristic SimplEcity and Ion concept bikes showcase the shape of things to come from this ecosystem,”
said Munjal.

THE TECHY TRIUMVIRATE

The stylish and aggressive-looking 620cc Hastur comes with a water-cooled parallel twin engine that delivers 79bhp at 9600rpm. This power delivery, says Hero, comes from a new, compact powerplant that serves as a stressed member of the chassis for optimum mass centralisation to give best-in-class handling and manoeuvrability. Other highlights are top-notch fuel economy, advanced cylinder head and combustion design for reduced emissions.

The all-electronic, eco-friendly Ion has a hydrogen fuel cell in the centre structure, as well as advanced batteries and super capacitors to smoothen the energy needs of braking and acceleration. The batteries employ advanced Li-Air tech that has extremely high energy density since they use oxygen from the air instead of storing in an oxidizer internally. Airy, open wheels contain the rotor component of hubless electric traction motors that use magnetic levitation technology that works on zero friction. When needed, they double up as brakes. 

The Ion’s light finger-touch controls the handle grip. The steering is through a rotating front and rear wheel and suspension systems around the pivots that are mounted on the power module. Multi-axis gyros and accelerometers maintain stability at all times. All-directional sensors for VSA (Vehicle Situational Awareness) keep track of the surrounding traffic flow and make corrections to the PBS systems as needed.

Its highly advanced suspension system, called the m-link, utilises magneto-rheological damping which adapts to the road condition real time using several on-board sensors. These sensors continuously vary the power of electromagnet that controls the damping characteristics of the suspension system.

That’s not all. Core basic vehicle information is available in the compact instrument cluster, but full information and communication is transmitted to the rider’s helmet.

The SimplEcity lightweight urban electric motorcycle weighs only 35kg and comes with innovative features, such a removable battery pack for the convenience of recharging. Another innovation is the dashboard that is delivered through the rider’s smartphone through the free SimplEcity application. This can be achieved by conveniently mounting the phone on the handlebars. The ‘walk’ mode lets the rider roll it effortlessly when he/she walks or gives it a push if taken upstairs! And then Hero moved the action to scooters too. 

SCOOTING INTO THE FUTURE

Hero MotoCorp's chief seems to also have a thing for scooters. A few days after revealing the series-hybrid scooter, the Leap, he took the wraps off three new scooter models. Speaking at the reveal, he said: "Our repertoire now becomes much more wide-ranging and diversified with the launch of a bouquet of exciting new scooters. We are rapidly expanding our scooter portfolio with the clear objective of attaining leadership in this segment.”

The all-new 150cc Zir scooter range comes in two variants, the flat-floorboard model and a European-style step-thru model. These scooters are powered by a liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, 2-valve OHC engine that develops 10.5 kW and torque of 12.7 Nm. They get an integrated hydraulic braking system combined with hydraulic disc brakes in the front and at the rear. Top speed is a claimed 110kph. The company plans to commercially launch the ZIR models by 2015-16. 

Then there’s the aggressively styled 125cc Dare which is targeted at male riders, marking the company’s foray in the fast-growing 125cc scooter segment. The Dare is slated for a launch in the second half of 2014-15. Hero MotoCorp also showcased the recently unveiled, 110cc Dash scooter. 

With this expanded product range, Hero expects to further enhance its presence in the scooter segment. Its share in the scooter market has been consistently rising, selling an average of over 60,000 units a month (Pleasure and Maestro). The company is now scaling up its monthly production of scooters to over 75,000 units to meet the increasing market demand.

Clearly, Pawan Munjal is very bullish on the scooter market in India and expects the overall scooter share to rise from the current 25 percent to 30-35 percent of the overall two-wheeler market in the near future.