Honda electric scooter to disrupt market?
Increasing pollution levels and rising fuel prices have pushed buyers towards choosing an electric vehicle. The EV market has Last few years the EV market in India has grown at a rapid rate, especially the two-wheeler segment. Brands like Ather, Revolt, Joy, and Okinawa have multiple electric scooters and bikes in their lineup. The Indian buyer wants reliability along with affordability when they look for a two-wheeler. Honda is in news for bringing an all-new electric scooter to India. In this article, we will discuss what the new electric scooter from Honda has to offer.
Honda Electric scooter design
The new electric scooter from Honda will continue to carry the same design and styling that the brand offers through its ungeared scooters. This will help buyers to relate more to the existing scooters that are currently sold by Honda. The electric scooter will get front & rear disc brakes. The scooter will get all-LED headlamp, indicators and tail lamp. A fully-digital instrument cluster with Bluetooth connectivity will also be offered as these features are becoming standard in electric scooters.
Detachable Battery
Having a detachable battery in an electric scooter makes it very practical. A removable battery makes it easy to charge and convenient to carry, instead of using a long cable to connect the battery from the wall socket in your home to the scooter in the parking and to then proceed with charging. But why a detachable battery you ask? Well, Honda, KTM, and several other major manufactures have signed an MOU that they will be using a similar design battery to create an ecosystem for manufactures.
Swappable Battery
Recently a consortium was formed with Honda Motor Co., KTM AG, Yamaha Motor Co., and Piaggio to promote the use of swappable batteries for electric motorcycles and light electric vehicles. This will bring uniformity and set standards related to battery charging time and battery life. In India, Honda will establish a subsidiary company that will manage the battery-sharing services business. This subsidiary company will install multiple battery charging stations where one can walk in with a drained battery and exchange it for a fully charged battery. This will somewhat reduce the range anxiety amongst EV buyers.
Decent under-seat storage is another feature that we expect Honda to offer in this new electric scooter. The storage space should be sufficient enough to store a full-face helmet. This is one major feature that is either missing or inadequate in electric scooters that are currently available.
Long Range
The recently launched Simple One claimed a range of 236km with its 4.8kWh battery. This has set very high expectations amongst buyers who want a range that is either equal to or longer than the Simple One. We expect Honda to offer a longer range and a bigger battery in the new electric scooter that they are planning to launch. Honda has gained popularity based on the fuel efficiency and mileage of its two-wheelers. Honda has the ability and technology to bring a scooter that can offer good range figures.
Honda Electric scooter price and launch
Currently, the Ather 450X, Bajaj Chetak, and TVS iQube are priced above Rs 1 lakh price point. Honda will try to undercut the competition by placing this new electric scooter at a very competitive price. The launch date is not yet confirmed by Honda. With major players like Honda entering the EV segment, the EV ecosystem will grow at a faster pace in the country. Trusted brands like Honda, Suzuki, KTM, and Yamaha should enter the electric scooters market and launch their products soon.
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