[TusharK]

Honda has confirmed two new electric scooters for the Indian market. The bikemaker plans to roll out both models in FY2024.



Honda has revealed that its new electric scooter range will be based on a dedicated EV platform (codenamed: Platform E), which will support different battery architectures.

As reported earlier, Honda’s first electric scooter will be a mid-range offering featuring a fixed battery. Rumours suggest that it could be called the Activa Electric. The second model will feature a swappable battery setup.

Honda will be setting up battery-swapping stations at over 6,000 touchpoints across India. 23 of these have already been installed in Bangalore and more will be added in the southern states in Phase 2. Honda will expand its charging network further in Phase 3.

Honda will also be converting some of its service centres to dedicated EV workshops, dubbed Workshop ‘E’. The brand’s EV range will be manufactured at Factory ‘E’ in Narsapura, Karnataka. The plant will have a production capacity of 1 million units by 2030.

[Viju]

I firmly believe this will be a turning point in the shift of the Indian two wheeler market to electric scooters. Unlike in four wheelers, Honda is the No.1 two wheeler company in the world, and they have taken their own sweet time studying the market and benchmarking the competition.

Just the fact that their first product could use the nameplate 'Activa' shows the confidence they have in it. I hope this will succeed, and also help in improving the overall charging infrastructure across India.

[sri_tesla]

Originally Posted by Viju

I firmly believe this will be a turning point in the shift of the Indian two wheeler market to electric scooters. Unlike in four wheelers, Honda is the No.1 two wheeler company in the world, and they have taken their own sweet time studying the market and benchmarking the competition.

A turning point already came in the Indian EV 2-wheeler market but quite a few people are unaware. It's happening with multiple products (Ola, TVS iQube, and Ather). Here is the best-selling scooter list in Feb 2023.

• Activa = 1,74,503

• Jupiter = 53,891

• Access = 40,194

• Ola S1 = ~20,000

• Ntorq = 17,124

• TVS iQube = 15,522

• Dio = 14,489

• Ather 450x = 12,147

3 EVs are on the best-selling electric scooters list already. All 3 will continue to grow for the months to come due to increased production, and wider availability while the petrol scooter sales stagnated and actually started declining in the recent months. All these 3 EVs are priced much higher than the petrol scooters. In the next few months, we will see more models from these companies (ex: Ola S1 Air, more Ather, and TVS EVs). Bajaj also reduced the pricing of the Chetak recently due to competition from these 3 models.

Just the fact that their first product could use the nameplate 'Activa' shows the confidence they have in it. I hope this will succeed, and also help in improving the overall charging infrastructure across India.

I don't think the Activa nameplate is confirmed but it will be good if it's true. Companies like Honda, Hero, Suzuki, and Yamaha must be really worried and make EVs their prime focus if not already. None of these companies are going to reach their 2018 or 2019 market shares in the future even if they invest everything into EVs from now onwards but at least they will be much better position to do well.

Even with limited models, production, and availability, electric scooters are already taking a substantial market share from petrol scooters. Ola is developing S1 Air and multiple electric bikes which are expected to be available in 2023 and 2024. TVS is developing electric models for each of their petrol vehicle segments including bikes and expected to be released in the next 18 to 24 months. They already announced that their primary focus (R&D and investment dollars) are on EVs. Ather is also working on a cheaper scooter.

[Torino]

Originally Posted by TusharK

Honda will be setting up battery-swapping stations at over 6,000 touchpoints across India. 23 of these have already been installed in Bangalore and more will be added in the southern states in Phase 2. Honda will expand its charging network further in Phase 3.

I guess Suzuki & Yamaha will soon announce their electric scooter line up for India since Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki & Kawasaki are together part of the battery swapping consortium 'Gachaco Inc' in Japan by which they will together use Honda's Power Pack battery swapping stations across Asia. With 'Gachaco Inc' the big 4 agree to standardize battery specification to help them control cost and accelerate sales, which we will have to wait and watch. Like 'TVS', the strong brand image & decades of expertise will allow Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki to get consumers on board their electric scooter line up.