The Walton e-bike is the first product of its kind in Bangladesh to receive BRTA approval and with this, the environmentally friendly e-bike can now be used on Bangladeshi highways just like other gasoline-powered motorbikes.
Walton's e-bikes can be registered with BRTA for two to ten years, just like traditional gasoline (petrol-octane)-powered bikes, and the registration fee is significantly lower.
Last week, Liakat Ali, the deputy managing director of Walton Digi-Tech Industries Limited, informed the media that the company markets e-bikes in the domestic market under the Takyon brand name with the Walton logo.
One can purchase this eco-friendly e-bike for Tk127,750 from any Walton showroom located throughout the country as well as from Walton Digi-online Tech's sales platform, which I personally think is too high, especially when there are many cheaper alternatives.
Regarding the high pricing and how they are going to compete in the segment, Touhidur Rahman Raad, the chief business officer of Walton Digi-Tech Industries Limited told Dhaka Tribune: “Our bikes are BRTA approved and customers can get the opportunity to ride all over the country after getting the license and these bikes are very cost-efficient, easy to ride and have a low maintenance cost, also, we are providing service from our countrywide service centres. And when it comes to looks, these bikes are stylish and come in different colours. So we are sure that Walton e-bike can compete with other conventional bikes and customers will love them.”
Walton initially only offered the Takyon 1.00 model in three colours: red, blue, and grey.
Why choose an electric bike over a conventional one?
With the recent hike in fuel prices and the uncertainty of what the future holds for the petroleum market, most vehicle owners are now opting for cheaper means of transport, as the price hike has left most people in disarray.
Getting the e-bike can actually solve a lot of these issues, as electric motorcycles only cost 10-15 paisa only for each kilometre compared to fuel-powered bikes that cost Tk2 or more per kilometre.
To put things in perspective, the maximum range for a 100 cc fuel-powered bike is 50–60 kilometres per litre of fuel, whereas an electric bike can travel up to 70 kilometres on a single charge.
Fuel-powered motorcycles, which require significant ongoing maintenance expenditures, e-bikes are extremely inexpensive to maintain.
On top of that, e-bikes don't produce noise or environmental pollution, in contrast to fuel-powered bikes.
One of the main reasons why a lot of people do not go for two-wheelers is because of how difficult it becomes to ride one on a daily basis, and that too in this notorious Dhaka traffic, but Walton's e-bikes come with completely automatic gear that is easy to learn, whereas fuel-dependent bikes have manual clutch gear that is challenging to use.
One of the major concerns for anyone wanting to buy an electric vehicle is its battery life, as it can sometimes be extremely expensive to replace one after it completes its life cycle.
“The graphene-based battery packs consist of six battery cells and if one battery cell gets damaged, customers can change that particular battery cell from our service centres. We have available batteries and other spare parts and customers can enjoy any parts replacement at a minimal cost,” Touhidur Rahman Raad added regarding battery replacement.
We were also told that these bikes are easy to recharge as well, as the Walton e-bikes can be charged from any conventional power port and can be charged from any 220-volt power line used in offices, homes and garages.
It usually needs around six to eight hours to fully charge the bikes, with a stable power connection.
