Honda launches Activa e: electric scooter with battery rentals

Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India has started delivering its electric scooters, the Activa e: and QC1. The company predicts that electric vehicles (EVs) will make up about 20% of its total two-wheeler sales by 2030. The Activa e: and QC1 will be produced at a new plant in Narsapura, Karnataka. Honda can currently produce 100,000 electric scooters annually and plans to grow this capacity if demand increases. The scooters will be available at RedWing dealerships along with traditional gas-powered models. In the first phase, the QC1 will be sold in major cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chandigarh. The Activa e:, which uses battery-swapping technology, will be available in Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi. Honda aims to cover half of the EV market within the first year. The QC1 has a fixed 1.5 kWh battery that takes about seven hours to charge fully. The Activa e: offers swappable batteries, allowing users to exchange depleted batteries at designated stations. Currently, there are 231 battery swap stations in Bengaluru, 110 in Delhi, and 28 in Mumbai. For the Activa e:, battery subscription plans are available for customers. The basic plan costs Rs 1999 (+GST) per month and provides 35 kWh of energy, suitable for about 40 kilometers of daily use. The advanced plan costs Rs 3599 (+GST) for 87 kWh, ideal for those traveling up to 100 kilometers a day. The Activa e: is offered in two versions, starting at Rs 1.17 lakh. The connected version, known as RoadSync Duo, is priced at Rs 1.52 lakh. It features a 6 kW motor and has two swappable batteries, providing a range of 102 kilometers. The QC1, with a 1.5 kWh fixed battery and a 1.8 kW motor, is priced at Rs 90,000 and can travel up to 80 kilometers on a single charge.