After many years of waiting and anticipation, the day finally arrived. Honda 2Wheelers India has officially announced its venture into the Indian EV two-wheeler space with the unveiling of not one but two models. Say hello to the all-new Activa e: and QC1 electric scooters. The Activa e: comes with swappable battery tech, while the QC1 features a fixed battery. The Activa e: and QC1 are both available in five colourways to suit the preferences of buyers. Bookings for the e-scooters will begin from January 1, 2025, while delivery will begin from February. While the QC1 will be available across multiple dealerships across India, the Activa e: will initially be introduced in Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi.
Starting with the design, both scooters feature a futuristic styling, but at the same time, the flow of the lines is smooth across the body panels. Both e-scooters are very similar to each other in terms of design and seem to have taken design cues from the internal combustion Activa on a few parameters. The e-scooters are equipped with LED lighting all-around, body-coloured rear view mirrors, a flat floorboard, an all-digital display, a contoured long and wide seat, a front storage compartment with a C-type charging port, smart key and more.
In terms of the architecture, the Activa e: is designed with a swappable battery configuration consisting of two battery packs that can be swapped with a fully-charged one through Honda’s e:swap battery stations. Meanwhile, the QC1 features a fixed battery architecture with a portable charger that can be used by the user to charge the scooter at home, workplace or at a charging station. With the help of the dedicated app, users can easily access the battery swapping networks in their vicinity for the Activa:e or charging stations for the QC1. While the QC1 offers 26 litres of underseat storage that can accommodate a half-face helmet and a few more items, the Activa e: has limited underseat storage space after inserting both the batteries in the provided slots.
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The battery packs have been designed to withstand shock or impact thanks to their shockproof construction, thermal management for limiting degradation, in-built clip to manage its working, and malfunction prevention from EM waves.
The 7-inch TFT instrumentation unit on the Activa:e is packed with lots of information for the user and is equipped with navigation, call alerts, battery swap locations, vehicle health diagnosis, music controls and more. The system comes with a built-in GPS for seamless tracking and navigation updates. The lower variant features a smaller 5-inch TFT screen with limited smart connected features. Meanwhile, the QC1 comes with a 5-inch LCD with a simpler system yet complete with all the necessary information for the user.
Coming to the powertrain, the Activa e: is powered by a direct drive PMSM motor with 6kW power output and peak torque of 22 Nm, while the battery pack is 1.5 kWh each, providing a total battery output of 3 kWh. The scooter comes with three riding modes - Econ, Standard and Sport. In terms of performance and range, the Activa e: is rated to offer a range of 102 km on a full charge, a rated top speed of 80 kmph, and a 0-40 kmph acceleration in 7.3 seconds. The scooter has a kerb weight of 119 kg, while the lower variant weighs a kilogram less.
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In the case of the QC1, the e-scooter is powered by an in-wheel electric motor with a peak power rating of 1.8 kW and peak torque of 77 Nm mated to a fixed 1.5 kWh battery pack, which is capable of returning a range of 80 kilometres. The scooter comes with two ride modes Econ and Standard. Top speed is rated at 50 kmph. The QC1 has a rated charging time of 4 hours and 30 minutes to achieve 80 per cent charge.
The Activa :e comes with a telescopic fork set for the front and a preload-adjustable monoshock at the rear. The e-scooter rides on 12-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, while braking duties are handled by a disc brake up front and a drum brake for the rear. In terms of dimensions, the Activa:e has a seat height of 766 mm, ground clearance of 171 mm and wheelbase of 1310 mm which is slightly longer than the engine-powered Activa.
The QC1 is also suspended by a telescopic fork setup and twin shock absorbers at the rear. Braking is handled by drum brakes at both ends, with no disc brake option. The scooter rides on 12-10 inch alloy wheel setup. the seat height is set at 769 mm, while kerb weight stands at about 90 kilograms.
