More details emerge for Royal Enfield’s electric Himalayan

I can’t help feeling that we missed the actually important thing in Royal Enfield’s new model teases last week.

Most of the motorcycling press – myself included – were drawn to the seemingly close-to-production Himalayan 750 that the brand featured on its Instagram account. But, really, if you think about it, delivering another bike with an air-cooled parallel twin engine isn’t all that impressive. At least not compared to the challenge of producing an electric motorcycle that is relevant and engaging.

*Royal Enfield team in the Himalayas with the prototype Himalayan 750 (left) and markedly sexier ‘Him-E’ electric Himalayan (right)*

The other bike featured in Royal Enfield’s Instagram post was the electric Himalayan – or “Him-E,” as everyone seems to be calling it – that the company has been working on for a number of years. What we see here is far more refined than previous glimpses and – intriguingly – appears more geared to serious off-road riding than its gasoline-powered counterpart. It has a bigger 21-inch front wheel and knobbier tires. The one-piece seat lets the rider move around more easily, and since there’s no fuel tank, the area in front of the rider appears to be less obstructive.

Compared to the 2023 prototype, this electric bike is F’n gorgeous and looks very close to being ready for production. According to Cycle World, it looks like it now has two battery packs, with a central frame structure between them holding the steering head. You can see new cooling fins on the outside, like those on the Flying Flea that Royal Enfield unveiled back in November, and also on the inside edges of the batteries, allowing air to flow between the two packs.

The alloy swingarm, gold fork, and single front disc brake look the same as the 2023 prototype. However, the rear frame section, on either side of the swingarm pivot, is much better, with a trellis-style aluminum casting bolted directly to the battery cases. The seat, which used to be on a steel subframe, now appears to be a standalone unit, possibly made of plastic or a composite.

The electric Himalayan’s design is also improved over the earlier prototype. It has shaped side panels at the front with tubular protection around them. It also looks bigger and wider, possibly due to the new battery layout, which might mean it has more cells for a longer range.

A rider in full gear stands next to a modern electric motorcycle on a road with mountains in the background, showcasing the bike's off-road capabilities. — *This is probably one of the best-looking electric bikes I’ve seen – largely because it doesn’t really look like an electric bike*.

According to a report last year from Electric Cycle Rider, the Him-E’s body panels are made from flax plant fibers. Flax is used for food products like linseed oil and linen textiles, but also offers advantages for bodywork.

First, flax fibers are not petroleum-based, aligning with EV sustainability goals. Second, flax-based composites (natural fibers with resin, like fiberglass or carbon fiber) are reportedly stronger than plastic.

Your guess is as good as anyone else’s as to when Royal Enfield will choose to officially unveil this thing, but EICMA 2025 is probably a good bet.