[UtkarshC]

Honda is planning to enter the electric two-wheeler segment in India. The company is aiming to launch an electric scooter in FY22-23.



While Honda has not shared any specific details regarding its electric scooter for the Indian market, the bike maker could be planning to introduce the BENLY e in India. It is an electric scooter developed by Honda Motor Japan for commercial use. It was spied testing at the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) earlier this year.

At this moment, it is not clear whether Honda will launch the BENLY e or its electric scooter for India will be an entirely new model.

When launched, Honda’s electric scooter is expected to compete with the TVS iQube, Bajaj Chetak and the likes.

Source: ET Auto

Link to Team-BHP News

[deovrat]

I, for one, sincerely hope that its NOT the Benly e.

For the electric vehicles to really capture mass market, they need to look right first and fit in. Mass market can find this one either too funky or too downmarket.

Curious to know what others think.

[anjan_c2007]

BENLY e was unveiled by Honda at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2019. The report says that this was primarily designed for commercial use.

Let us hope for a tweaked version of this EV for private use. Going by history, Suzuki had not tweaked the commercial Suzuki Carry (ST-40) mini truck (1979-85). It was passed on as the Maruti Van/Omni here in 1985 with its commercial trappings including the stiff rear leaf springs.

Only hope Honda does not repeat the Suzuki Carry story with the BENLY e.

The good part of the news is that Honda also intends to export the two wheelers from India to its other markets.

[TusharK]

Honda’s first electric scooter for India could launch in 2023

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) plans to launch its first electric scooter in the Indian market in 2023.



Atsushi Ogata, MD, President and CEO, HMSI, stated that the company is currently in the process of forming a team of engineers to develop core technologies and platforms for the e-scooter to suit Indian conditions.

He also confirmed that the feasibility study has been completed and the actual development process will now begin. The scooter is being developed in collaboration with engineers from Honda Motorcycle, Japan.

The new model is likely to be the all-electric version of the popular Activa. Ogata claims that it will be a “futuristic Activa” designed for short-distance travel in urban and semi-urban areas.

Source: ET Auto

Link to Team-BHP News

[Everlearner]

If HMSL play their cards right, they can have a huge winner product. Brand Activa has a HUUUGE recall in India and many skeptical bench sitters will take the leap.

My Wishlist would be

1. No "cost inflating but not much useful in real life" fancy features. I just need a simple scooter not a gadget and at a reasonable price.

2. Removable battery. It will take a many years for public charging infrastructure to have same level of availability as fossil fuels.

3. Guaranteed buyback/exchange of battery every few years

[volkman10]

Honda Activa EV to arrive by March 2024.

Mid-speed e-scooter will be followed by ground-up, India-specific EV currently under development.

The first of Honda's all-electric products is likely to be introduced around March 2024 and is going to be based on the existing Activa with a transplanted e-powertrain replacing the IC engine. It will be a mid-speed scooter having a fixed-battery setup and offering a maximum speed of 50kph, Ogata revealed.

Following the Activa EV will be a second electric scooter from the company which is being developed as a ground-up electric scooter on a completely new platform. This 'futuristic Activa' concept will boast a swappable-battery setup and offer high performance in line with other electric scooters available in the market.

Explaining the situation, President, Managing Director and CEO, Atsushi Ogata:

“For the last few years, it was not an urgent matter for the company to invest into an EV programme from a business point of view, but with market expectations growing, we are going to get into the EV segment next year."

HMSI could have served the Indian market earlier with any of Honda's EV products from China, but it chose to cater to the specific requirements of the Indian customers by working on India-specific products.

The company will also brace the EV infrastructure by setting up battery-swap stations across all its 6,000 consumer touch points in the country before the second e-scooter is rolled out shortly after the first mid-speed product in March 2024.

Link