Suzuki Motorcycles is readying its first EV for India in the form of the Burgman Electric and the latest update is that the scooter has now got mild internal design updates. While it’s still 2 years away from launch as per sources, this development does give a sense of hope. The design updates have been revealed through Suzuki Burgman Electric’s new set of leaked patent images. In a first for a scooter in India, the upcoming Suzuki EV will get a chain final drive from a centrally placed motor.
The chain drive has various advantages
over a belt drive. It has a solid 97-98 percent transmission efficiency while a
belt drive’s efficiency is just between 91-94 percent. A chain can transmit
power even under extreme slack while a belt will start to slip even under mild
reduction in tightness. As the belt needs to be always in a tight position, it
will keep the motor and wheel axles, and the ball bearings under load all the
time. But, a chain, on the other hand, is always designed with a slack. The
only disadvantage though is the higher maintenance.
The usage of chain has also made the
Burgman Electric rugged and monsoon ready. The scooter sports a proper swing
arm with dual rear shocks like a commuter motorcycle. In the earlier patent
images, there used to be a cooling fan for the battery but now it’s missing. Maybe
Suzuki would have improved the thermal efficiency of the battery pack that it
no longer requires a cooling fan. Other than these updates, the new patent
images sport the same elements as the older ones.
The battery pack and the controller unit
sit under under the seat on the driver side. The scooter’s rear wheel and chain
sprockets are fully covered using plastic panels for a perfect waterproof
setup. On the outside, the Burgman Electric is same as the regular Burgman
Street 125 expect for the Suzuki’s trademark blue elements on the white body
panels. When launched, the Burgman Electric will become the first Japanese
electric 2-wheeler in India.
