Meet the Bajaj Chetak 3001, a scooter that feels both familiar and refreshingly modern. As a biking enthusiast with a decent dose of skepticism (especially when it comes to budget EVs), the 3001 caught my eye the moment it landed just under ₹1 lakh (ex-showroom). Bajaj, after all, revived the Chetak nameplate with the 2903, and now this 3001 seems poised to shake things up even more.
As someone who’s ridden through chaotic Mumbai monsoons and tackled Delhi potholes, I’m always hunting for a ride that’s practical, sturdy, and fun. When the 3001 was revealed, I felt that familiar tingle, the kind you get when a machine takes cues from the beloved Chetak DNA but adds something new. What would it feel like in traffic? How would it behave on the outskirts? More importantly, can it live up to Bajaj’s promise of benchmarks for mass EV adoption? That, my friends, makes me genuinely curious.
Let me share what I’ve gathered so far, from tech specs and ride feel to the little quirks you’d only notice on real starts and stops. This scooter could truly fit a rider who’s done Leh-Ladakh weekend runs and the daily grind without getting fleeced at the showroom.
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Design & Build Quality
The 3001 carries on with the classic metal body you expect from the Chetak range, something that makes other scooters look like flimsy plasticky toys. Put it this way: it feels as solid as Bajaj’s old-school scooters but designed with modern minimalism. There’s none of the over-the-top bling you see on some EVs, just quiet confidence. With an IP67 water and dust rating, it’s built to handle Bangalore mudslides or Kolkata monsoons.
The new floorboard-mounted 3 kWh battery pack isn’t just about numbers. It completely changes the ride feel. By lowering the center of gravity, Bajaj has given the 3001 better balance and stability. You don’t feel like you’re top-heavy when swerving through trucks, nor does it tilt over when you park it on uneven ground. That’s a real plus for city folk, one of those subtle things you only appreciate in real use, not on glossy dealership floors.
And that under-seat storage? A jaw-dropper. 35 litres, yes, 35, and that floorboard battery shift is what made it happen. Try fitting a full-face helmet in a TVS iQube’s trunk, now imagine everything sitting under your seat instead of your legs. Brilliant packaging. It’s the kind of practicality that makes you nod and think, that’s how you do a utility scooter.
Engine, Performance & Ride Comfort
Beneath the retro shell, you get a 3.1 kW (peak) electric motor, good for a top speed just north of 60 km/h. It’s not going to win drag races with Pulsars or pop wheelies, but for urban usage, that’s more than adequate. Take-off is pleasantly brisk. EV instant-torque soothes through traffic snarls, while overtakes feel nonchalant but assured.
Ride comfort is slightly improved over the 2903. The floorboard battery gives it a more planted feel on roads with switchbacks or gentle curves. Where once it leaned more heavily, now it feels composed and perched. Weight at around 123 kg is neither light nor heavy for a metal-bodied EV. Suspension (telescopic forks up front and dual shocks at the rear) gives a forgiving yet predictable ride. It is neither jarring nor floaty.
What surprised me? The hill hold assist option. No rollback, no foot-braking, just smooth transitions when negotiating slopes in places like Ladakh or Manali. For someone who’s had to balance those stops in traffic, this small tech matters.
Tech Features & Safety
If you’re tech-skeptic like me, the basics matter: clear display, easy inputs, and zero gimmicks. The 3001 nails that with its LCD screen, intuitive navigation, and minimalist layout. Add the optional TecPac package, which includes Bluetooth, caller and music control, guide me home lighting, hill hold, reverse light, and an automatic flashing stop lamp. That reverse-light feature is a small gem. It saves your calves after parking tight.
Ride modes, Eco and Sport, help balance between the claimed 127 km range and grabby acceleration. Two ride profiles, simple and not overwhelming, but useful depending on if you’re pushing past the city edge or creeping in bumper-to-bumper. Hill hold is priceless in stop-start gradients.
Regarding safety: disc up front, drum rear with combined braking. Not fancy, but the feel is reassuring. On-country road brake checks, it stops confidently without pitch or hesitation, an expected but welcome trait.
Touring Capability & Off-road Use
This isn’t a gravel-scrambling adventure bike, but its DNA seems ready for mild touring. That floorboard stability, hill hold, and predictable suspension make you trust it outside the city bubble. Imagine short weekend runs to the Ghats, maybe a trip from Bengaluru to Mysuru. This one feels capable.
The 127 km ARAI-certified range (real-life 110 to 115 km) isn’t going to match a petrol scoot, but for short overnight stays or intercity hops, it’s useful. Quick charge to 80 percent in about 3 hours 50 minutes with the standard 750 W charger could fit overnight stops easily.
What about roads that stray off tar? Bumpy farm stretches, minor graveled tracks. This will do it, but that 12 inch tyre setup and steel frame mean it’s a pleasant compliance machine, not a hair-raising corner carver. Just don’t expect it to shimmy through rocky Himalayan trails. That’s not the mission.
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Who Should Consider This Bike
So who is this really for?
- Urban commuters who lug groceries, laptops, maybe kids’ school bags. That massive rear storage and stable ride make daily life easier.
- First-time EV buyers, unwilling to burn ₹1.2 lakh but still wanting reputable build, decent range, and service backup.
- Weekend riders doing short out-of-town explorations, where range and hill tech come in handy.
- People upgrading from petrol step-throughs, wanting familiarity but with an eco friendly twist.
Who it might not suit? Those needing blistering speed, riders wanting TFT-connected app ecosystems, or someone looking for rugged adventure. It’s not an Ather 450X, but it doesn’t try to be. Instead, it’s a ground-down, well-thought EV scooter priced for pragmatism.
Final Thoughts
The Chetak 3001 felt like a breath of fresh air during my initial info dive. Bajaj has struck a chord by blending practical updates, subtle tech, and honest pricing into a scoot that checks the right boxes. It might not be headline-making or full of flashy screens, but that’s its charm. It’s real.
If you’ve ever complained about cramped storage or shaky bodies in other EVs, you’ll get why the 3001 is important. For sub-₹1 lakh EVs, it feels like a standard-setter with thought-out packaging, decent range, and a touch of nostalgia with metal styling.
Sure, it won’t blow minds at Teds Café, but when your daily ride demands reliability, comfort, and capability, and you want something that grows with you, the Chetak 3001 gets the nod. As a rider who’s biked across terrains and weather, I’d say this model deserves a test ride. Maybe even a place in your garage.