Honda Activa e: 25 lakh units that’s what Honda sold of the Activa range in FY 2024 that’s 2.5 million units of the most popular scooter in India so you know it’s a big deal when Honda goes electric with the Activa and to be very true expectations have been skyrocketing as to what the Activa e has to offer because it’s not just an electrified Activa this is a completely new platform all new looks and a whole lot
more and more importantly this is Honda’s fora in the e-mobility segment which means an all new customer base so does the activ live up to the expectations hello and welcome to HD Auto my name is Amir contractor and we are here to answer all that and more.
Honda Activa e Design and Styling
the new Activa e won’t win any points on style but it has a familiar yet new look all new from the groundup it’s developed specifically for the Indian market the design is simple with the LED headlamp and DRL bringing a modern touch there is little to remind you of the petrol powered Honda Activa but you will instantly recognize it as a scooter that will appeal to everyone in the family the Activa e will age gracefully there are 12-in wheels at both ends with stylish all loys while the paint quality and Plastics exude a longlasting feel
Comfort and Ergonomics
the ergonomics on the Activa are actually quite nice let me get on the scooter and I’ll tell you just how comfortable this is plenty of room on the floorboard just enough uh in terms of KNE room as well and as you can see plenty of space for the pine as well I’m a larger Rider but even then I think there’s just decent space to accommodate a billion now the overall riding position is quite nice and comfortable for taller Riders The Handlebar may seem a little low but apart from that I think this works rather well and that’s something a lot of people will like
Storage Space and Practicality
when it comes to storage though that’s where I think the scooter has missed out on a bit you do get these cubby holes with the inner AirPrint but they can’t even huddle the bottle maybe a bit few knick-knacks here and there but that’s about it having said that this comes with removable batteries which means there is no unded storage the swappable batteries that you see here actually take up all the unded storage so there’s no real utility here except for this small pocket maybe for a first aid kit and a tool kit but that’s about it
Features and Technology
the feature list is extensive on the top spec variant there’s a 7-in TFT screen with the features via the Honda Road snc Duo app there’s Bluetooth connectivity for call and SMS alerts OTA updates navigation with ESO locations and more the toggle switch controls the functions and the unit is intuitive to use with easy readability and a rider friendly interface
Smart Key and Convenience Features
the Activa e also gets the smart key function with keyless start remote seat unlock illumination and more as standard
Performance and Riding Experience
talking about performance well it gets a swinger mounted motor and I have to say that this was a pleasant surprise in the way it rides the motor is powerful as you would expect from an electric scooter but what really impresses is the riding modes economy is of course dull but you get the standard and sport mode and I really enjoyed myself in that sport mode Honda made out outright s but this is the sportiest Activa they’ve made yet and I really really enjoyed myself today in the roads of bangaluru
Suspension Setup and Ride Quality
what really works is also the suspension setup it gets telescopic Forks up front twin shocks at the rear and it is nice and plush the ride quality is quite nice and add to that a sporty performance especially with very nice calibration of the throttle all of this comes together rather well and for anybody looking at a family scooter that can give you some of that oomph some of that performance the Activa will surely not disappoint
Handling and Maneuverability
maneuverability through traffic is easy and the scooter feels Nimble high-speed stability is impressive but performance is mostly restricted between 50 to 70 kmph with quick overtakes
Braking Performance
braking is prog aggressive with a disc at the front and a drum brake at the rear helping shed speeds quickly there is no regenerative braking on the electric scooter
Battery Swapping Technology: The Big Highlight
but the key difference on the Activa e and other electric scooters is its swappable batteries so how does it work now what you see behind me is what Honda calls an e swap station essentially this is where the removable battery goes
the swappable battery as you call it and this is where you rent it out from you don’t own the battery you rent it so the batteries go under the seat and this is what you it looks like you first remove the locks and before you swap in you get something like the RFID key card that I have in my hand right now every customer of the Activa e will get one of these that will come with access to this esap station so you tap it here
essentially starts the machine and makes way for two batteries now it tells me to return two batteries which I will do now this is a mighty 10 kg battery over here I push it in number one this is another 10 kg battery and that goes in there now it tells me checking for Batteries it’s checking the health of the batteries I just added to the E station and it now tells me to remove two new batteries and from remove i
t from these so you can see the the glowing batteries here these are fully charged and ready to use so I just pull them out first battery goes in I pull out the second battery and this goes back into the scooter put the lcks in and all of this done in under a minute
Instant Range Solution
the battery swapping Tech acts as a instant range solution resolving range anxiety altogether swap the batteries and you’re good to go for another 100 o kilm with ease can Honda’s game-changing technology revolutionize the Indian Electric Mobility segment
Pricing and Subscription Model Explained
I have to say I’m very impressed with what the activ has to offer but is everything really that good for me to recommend it to you well this is not the end of the review so I’m going to say no there’s plenty you need to know more about it and let’s dive into it which is the mathematics behind the scooter
so what exactly is a mental math I’m talking about well you see you pay 1 151,000 R for this top spec variant you pay 177,000 R for the base variant of the Activa e but that’s just the exro cost what you pay after that is the battery rental or subscription model that Honda is bringing with the Activa
Battery Rental Cost Details
now for 40 km per day you will pay a monthly rental of 2,000 Rupees plus GST you also get 100 km per day option which obviously offers more range and that is 32,000 rupees plus GST on a monthly basis that’s a fixed cost month- on Monon along with the scooter think of it as an Emi for the battery without really owning the battery
Challenges in Customer Adoption
this is a newer concept and I do think that it will take a lot of time or at least a lot of Education to give the customer and make them understand how that works and to me honestly that’s like a recurring cost that I do not want to have I would like to have the fixed battery that gives me the option to use it the way I want charge it the way I want
No Home Charging Option
currently this does not come with a charging station or a charging point at all you cannot plug it in and charge it at home you have to go to a swapping station and that means you need to have a swapping station around you
Need for a Strong Swapping Network
now in bangaluru where Honda is already experimented with that uh they have a swapping station in a 5 km radius across the city they’ve built it over the years they will have to do this across other major cities as well but only then only then can the adoption of an active a become more seamless because it is a physical task you have to actually go there remove it uh you know put it back in that is a physical task
Cost of Ownership Concerns
but what I would have liked honestly is a lower cost of ownership with the activ that I think is where Honda is missing the mark because it is priced at a premium but at the same time the cost of the battery pack itself is quite a premium at the moment
the new Activa e commands a significant premium over its Rivals especially with the battery packs not a part of of the exor room cost a more accessible price tag would have made it truly a model for the masses which the petrol power Activa has always been
Launch Timeline and Availability
Honda will need a comprehensive swapping Network in each market which is extremely necessary for the electric Activa success the brand will commence sales in bangaluru first followed by Mumbai and Delhi by April this year will Honda’s bets pay off we are eagerly waiting to find out