Honda Activa Electric Launch Confirmed For Indian Market

[Nairrk]

Honda is entering the EV scooter segment with its all-new Honda Activa E. In an interview with ET Auto, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India President, Atsushi Ogata, confirmed an HMSI EV product debut in the country. The Japanese company had even started the development of flex-fuel technology for the low-cost Indian commuter motorcycle segment. But the lunch is not expected in India until 2023. Honda also considering battery swapping options to keep the initial purchase cost affordable and eliminate range anxiety – a big challenge for the greater adoption of electric vehicles.

Honda has stated its upcoming EV will be out within the next financial year, possibly by the end of this year if we’re lucky. It will likely be the Honda Activa E. Additionally, Honda has also teamed up with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) to establish a network of battery swapping stations across the country at the latter’s petrol pumps.

Honda Activa’s all-metal body is its USP and it remains to be seen whether the Activa E would retain the metal construction or switch to a fiber body to keep the weight in check. Honda has over 6000 dealers across India and can provide the necessary charging infrastructure and battery swapping stations for its customers. The removable battery packs provide the convenience of replacing the discharged battery at battery swap stations or you can charge it at your home.

For this electric scooter, Honda has already set up a new subsidiary for manufacturing battery packs. The new subsidiary has been registered in Bengaluru and Rs 135 crores are expected to be invested in it. The production of battery packs in the local market will ensure that Honda will have an edge over its rivals in terms of price.
///

 

[Nairrk]

Honda electric scooter gets two removable batteries

The latest teaser for an upcoming electric scooter from Honda shows that it will have two removable batteries.

Widely referred to online as the Honda Activa Electric, it is becoming more and more clear that this scooter is based on the same platform as the Honda CUV-e electric scooter shown at EICMA 2024.

Earlier teasers have revealed that it has the same swingarm-mounted motor as well as a very similar 7-inch TFT display. The latest teaser confirms that the India-spec Honda electric scooter will also have two removable batteries housed in the boot – just like on the CUV-e.

While specs have not yet been revealed, Honda’s international site lists each battery at 1.3kWh on the CUV-e. The company claims a range of ‘over 70km’ on the international site, but the previous teaser for India showed that number to be 104km in Standard mode.

The removable batteries are an appreciable feature, but the downside is that they will result in very little boot space on this scooter. From what is visible in the teaser, it appears that the underseat storage space is restricted to a small cubby area behind the batteries. Honda may ease this issue with a storage box built into the front apron, but that remains to be seen.

As for performance, the international site lists a peak output of 6kW and a top speed of 80kph. The numbers on the India-spec product may vary, but we expect them to be in the same ballpark.

The Honda electric scooter for India will be unveiled on the 27th of November, which will make Honda the first of the Japanese brands to release an EV in our market.

Autocar