Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) is betting big on the Indian electric mobility segment and launched ‘ACTIVA e:’ and ‘QC1’ in the electric vehicle segment nationally during an event in Bengaluru. This is interestingly its first-ever EV launch in India for which bookings will begin on January 1, 2025, and deliveries will commence from February 2025 onwards.
However, Honda refused to declare the pricing of the two models. Initially, HMSI outlined a capacity to manufacture 1 lakh units of EV two-wheelers in India.
Both these electric scooters will be sold via HMSI’s existing selected dealer network. The ACTIVA e: will be available in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru with deliveries starting from February 2025 onwards.
The QC1 will be initially available in select cities from February 2025 onwards. Both the EV models will be manufactured at HMSI’s Narsapura plant near Bengaluru. These models will be offered with 3-year or 50,000 km warranty along with three free services for the first year. Honda will also be providing free roadside assistance for the first year.
“As we enter the electric mobility space in India with the introduction of ACTIVA e and QC1 it reassures our commitment to sustainable mobility in the country. It is in line with Honda’s global ‘Triple Action to ZERO’ concept to realize carbon neutrality by 2050, which focuses on three areas: carbon neutrality, clean energy, and resource circulation. With our EV roadmap now in the execution phase, HMSI is committed to build one of India’s best EV ecosystems,” remarked Tsutsumu Otani, Managing Director, President and CEO, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India during the event in Bengaluru.
The company wants to tap the growing EV market with these two new models. “Activa is our flagship product in India and has a dominant market share in the country. With ACTIVA e’s swappable battery technology and QC1’s fixed battery set-up we aim to meet the diverse needs of our customers. Moreover, 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,” said Yogesh Mathur, Director, Sales and Marketing, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India.
Mathur added that the company aims to set up around 500 battery swapping stations across Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. He added that the two wheeler EV market is one of the biggest in the world and had huge potential for further growth.
Honda ACTIVA e: is equipped with pristine all-LED headlight has a dual-tone seat, 12-inch diamond cut alloy wheels, flat footboard and a grabrail. Available in two variants – ACTIVA e: and ACTIVA e: Honda RoadSync Duo along with five colours and will be offered in Pearl Shallow Blue, Pearl Misty White, Pearl Serenity Blue, Matt Foggy Silver Metallic and Pearl Igneous Black.
It also has a 7.0-inch TFT screen that has real-time connectivity with Honda RoadSync Duo app, allowing riders to stay connected and updated. The in vehicle infotainment system supports navigation and also gets day and night modes which can optimize screen’s brightness and readability as per ambient light automatically. The TFT screen can be controlled by using toggle switches placed on the handlebar. The ACTIVA e: also comes with Honda’s H-Smart key that gets features like Smart Find, Smart Safe, Smart Unlock and Smart Start.
The ACTIVA e: also has swappable battery technology, allowing for a quick recharge to keep riders on the go. It is equipped with Honda Mobile Power Pack e: which are swappable batteries developed and maintained by Honda Power Pack Energy India Pvt. Ltd. The ACTIVA e: has two such swappable batteries, each of 1.5 kWh capacity, and it is tested to offer a range of 102 km on a full charge.
The swappable batteries can be exchanged with the help of designated Honda Power Pack Exchanger e: (BeX swapping stations) planned across the city for a seamless experience. It is already live in Bengaluru and Delhi and will be soon started in Mumbai as well. Besides this ACTIVA e also has an in-house developed permanent magnet synchronous electric motor that delivers 6 kW of peak power and 22 Nm of torque. It can go from 0 to 60 km/h in 7.3 seconds and has a top speed of 80 km/h. The ACTIVA e: has three riding modes, namely Econ, Standard and Sport.
On the other hand Honda QC1 is being offered in five colour options including Pearl Serenity Blue, Pearl Misty White, Matt Foggy Silver Metallic, Pearl Igneous Black, and Pearl Shallow Blue. This electric scooter also has rear-view mirrors, a 12-inch front alloy wheel, a grab rail. The Honda QC1 also has a 1.5 kWh fixed battery pack that has been tested to provide a range of 80 km on a single charge. It will have a 330-watt off-board home charger that comes with an auto-cut technology for a safe and efficient charging process.
It can be charged from 0 to 80 percent in 4 hours 30 minutes where as a full juice up will take 6 hours and 50 minutes. The QC1 has an in wheel electric motor that has a peak power rating of 1.8 kW and maximum torque of 77 Nm. It will have a top speed of 50 km/h. There are also two riding modes, Standard and Econ, that will adjust power and efficiency based on the rider’s preference.
The Honda QC1 also has a 5.0-inch all-info LCD display that will provide all the vehicle information at one glance. It will also have a USB Type-C outlet to charge personal mobile devices on the go, along with a 26-litre under-seat storage box.