Bengaluru/IBNS: Japanese motorcycle manufacturer Honda has finally entered India's electric two-wheeler (E2W) market with the launch of its two new electric scooters — Activa e: and QC1.

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI), the wholly owned Indian subsidiary of Honda Motor Company, held its first-ever electric two-wheelers' launch event in Bengaluru on Wednesday (Nov. 27).

According to the motorcycle manufacturer, bookings for the new QC1 and Active e: will begin on January 1, 2025, and deliveries will start from February 2025 onwards.

Introducing Honda’s maiden EVs for the Indian market, HMSI's Managing Director, President & CEO, Tsutsumu Otani, said, “The introduction of ACTIVA e: and QC1 marks a defining step in our commitment to sustainable mobility in India."

"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," Otani said.

"With our EV roadmap now in the execution phase, HMSI is committed to build one of India’s best EV ecosystems," he added. "This is a milestone moment in Honda’s journey to electrification, and with every step forward, we are focused on building a future that is safer, more sustainable & meets the evolving needs of our society.”

Commenting on the unveil, HMSI's Director, Sales and Marketing, Yogesh Mathur, said, “We are ecstatic to mark our entry into the Indian EV market with not just one but two all-new electric vehicles, marking a significant milestone in our journey towards achieving sustainability by providing cleaner mobility solutions."

"With ACTIVA e:’s swappable battery technology and QC1’s fixed battery set-up along with the industry-leading hassle-free ownership experience, we are striving to meet the diverse needs of our customers," Mathur noted.

"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. Together, let us ride towards a cleaner future,” he added.

Honda Activa e:

The all-new ACTIVA e:’s design blends Honda Activa silhouette with modern, sophisticated elements, giving it a fresh yet familiar look that speaks about both tradition and innovation.

The Activa e: is equipped with pristine all-LED headlight and tail lamp along with smiling DRLs.

The E2W comes with dual-tone seats, 12-inch diamond cut alloy wheels, flat footboard and a sturdy grab-rail.

The Activa e: is available in two variants – ACTIVA e: and ACTIVA e: Honda RoadSync Duo® along with five colours – Pearl Shallow Blue, Pearl Misty White, Pearl Serenity Blue, Matt Foggy Silver Metallic and Pearl Igneous Black.

The E2W is equipped with a 7.0-inch TFT screen that offers 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 optimizes 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: 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: gets 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, according to the company.

Powering the ACTIVA e: is an advanced in-house developed permanent magnet synchronous electric motor that delivers 6 kW of peak power and 22 Nm of torque for impressive performance.

Honda claims the E2W can sprint from 0 to 60 km/h in 7.3 seconds and has a top speed of 80 km/h.

The ACTIVA e: gets three riding modes — Econ, Standard, and Sport.

Honda QC1

According to Honda, the new QC1 is a personal mobility solution that combines fluidic design and sophisticated engineering.

The new QC1, which is equipped with LED headlights and tail lamp as well as clear winkers, is offered in five colour options – Pearl Serenity Blue, Pearl Misty White, Matt Foggy Silver Metallic, Pearl Igneous Black, and Pearl Shallow Blue.

This electric scooter also boasts classy rear-view mirrors, 12-inch front alloy wheel, and a sturdy grab rail.

As claimed by the company, the Honda QC1 is powered by a 1.5 kWh fixed battery pack that has been rigorously tested to provide an impressive range of 80 km on a single charge.

Charging the QC1 is effortless at home with a 330-watt off-board home charger that comes with an auto-cut technology, ensuring a safe and efficient charging process.

The e-scooter can be charged from 0 to 80 percent in 4 hours 30 minutes while a full juice up will take 6 hours and 50 minutes.

The QC1 gets an in-wheel electric motor that has a peak power rating of 1.8 kW and maximum torque of 77 Nm, and it has a top speed of 50 km/h.

Moreover, there are two riding modes, Standard and Econ, that adjust power and efficiency based on the rider’s preference.

The Honda QC1 is packed with a 5.0-inch all-info LCD display that offers all the vehicle information in a simplified manner at one glance.

For added utility, it gets a USB Type-C outlet to charge all your personal mobile devices on the go, along with an ample 26-litre under-seat storage box.

Honda is raising the bar in the EV segment with the launch of ACTIVA e: and QC1.

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, while 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 three years or 50,000 km warranty along with three free services for the first year.

Honda said it is aiming to elevate the customer experience to "unparalleled" heights by also providing free roadside assistance for the first year.