Japan's Honda Motorcycle forays into EVs with electric Activa, price yet to be revealed

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter has forayed into the rapidly growing electric two-wheeler market with the launch of 'ACTIVA e:' and 'QC1', two electric scooters, the company said on November 27.

Tsutsumu Otani, Managing Director, President & CEO, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India said the launch is a significant step for the company in the electric mobility space. "With our EV roadmap now in the execution phase, HMSI is committed to build one of India’s best EV ecosystems,” Otani said. This is a milestone moment in Honda's journey to electrification, he added.

Bookings for the latest electric scooters will begin from January 1, and deliveries will start from February, HMSI said. The price of the electric scooters have not been revealed yet.

HMSI's ACTIVA e: will have a swappable battery technology while QC1 will be launched with a fixed battery set-up, the company said, as it aims to cater to the diverse needs of customers. The new Activa will come equipped with an all-LED headlight and tail lamp, 12-inch 'diamond cut' alloy wheels, flat footboard, a sturdy grabrail, and in five colours. The scooter will feature a 7.0-inch TFT screen and real-time connectivity through a RoadSync Duo app.

The ACTIVA e: will come with a 'H-Smart' key carrying features such as Smart Find, Smart Safe, Smart Unlock and Smart Start, the company said.

"...to ensure the highest level of safety for our technicians and the vehicle, we are introducing industry-first insulated tools designed specifically for the servicing of electric vehicles," Yogesh Mathur, Director - Sales and Marketing, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India said.

The new ACTIVA e: buyers will get two swappable batteries, each of 1.5 kWh capacity, and a tested range of 102 km on a full charge.

Honda QC1 sports a sleek design with LED headlights and tail lamps, also offered in five colour options. The QC1 is powered by a 1.5 kWh fixed battery pack, offering a range of 80 km on a single charge, and home charging option with a 330-watt off-board charger. The company claims QC1 can be charged from 0 to 80% in 4 hours 30 minutes, and full charge will take 6 hours and 50 minutes. It will have a top speed of 50 km/h.