Honda Activa e & QC 1 unveiled: Here’s what the brand’s first Indian electric 2-wheelers get….

While the Honda QC 1 has been specifically developed for India, the Honda Activa e has been developed for India and other emerging markets.

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India has finally entered the Indian electric two wheeler market with two new models, Activa e and QC 1. Whereas Honda Activa e is developed for both the emerging domestic and international markets, the Honda QC1 has been designed specifically for the Indian market.

Even though the Honda Activa E and QC 1 are the first electric models from the brand for India, they happen to be the 12th and 13th in Honda’s global portfolio. The company plans to introduce 30 electric two wheeler models around the world by 2030. The Honda Activa e and the QC 1 are said to help the company inch towards its ambition of achieving carbon neutrality across all products and corporate activities by 2050. It also aims for carbon neutrality on its motorcycle range in the 2040s.

The Honda Activa e and QC 1 are both scheduled to be launched in phases from Spring 2025. Bookings for these will open on January 1, 2025 and prices for the two models will be announced in January 2025.

The new design of HMSI will resemble two variants very closely. Minimalistic designing language has been adapted on the two wheelers which can be seen in Activa e, wherein Honda wanted to borrow some of that selling attributes from Activa being sold and outsold to others. Honda Activa e features LED combination light and rear as well. Overall design look gives the scooter a stylish glimpse.

Meanwhile, the Honda QC 1 is termed to be an electric moped rather than an electric scooter. It gets a very similar design to the Honda Activa e, however there are few subtle differences. Firstly, the QC 1 misses out on the high mounted LED DRL. It further misses out on a wraparound taillight and some of the chrome elements that are offered with the Activa E.

The Honda Activa e is a simple underbone frame with a telescopic fork and monoshock suspension setup. It comes in two variants—Standard, weighing 118 kg, and Honda RoadSync Duo, weighing 119 kg. With a ground clearance of 171 mm, it is designed to handle typical Indian road conditions. Braking is done by a 160 mm front disc and a 130 mm rear drum, and it also comes with 12-inch wheels on both sides. Honda QC 1 is accompanied by a telescopic front fork along with dual rear springs. Its braking comprises drum brakes, plus a 12-inch front alloy wheel and a 10-inch rear alloy wheel.

The Activa e comes with a proprietary permanent magnet synchronous motor. The power train gives 8 bhp and 22 Nm of torque as peak output. It covers 0 to 60 kmph in 7.3 seconds and gives a top speed of 80 kmph. Three riding modes of the electric scooter are Econ, Standard, and Sport.

Honda QC1 is mounted with in-wheel electric motor. This vehicle holds a peak power of 2.4 bhp and gets the top speed up to 50 kmph. Its power and efficiency levels are two riding modes of this machine, Standard, and Econ, according to the users’ needs.

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Honda Activa e and QC 1: Battery and range

The Activa e has two replaceable batteries of 1.5 kWh capacity which offer a cumulative range of 102 km on full charge. Honda also introduced the battery-swapping service e:Swap, at launch, starting with Bengaluru and Delhi and Mumbai intially.

While, QC1 comes with fixed battery pack. Now, another very major difference of Activa e: that owns a removable battery system. Its 1.5 kWh battery in Activa can produce nearly 80 km for each charge.

The Honda Activa Electric comes with a 7.0-inch TFT display that automatically adjusts its brightness according to the day’s time. The screen can be controlled using the toggle switches on the handlebar. The electric scooter also features a smart key, which offers inbuilt features like Smart Find, Smart Safe, Smart Unlock, and Smart Start. The top variant comes with the Honda RoadSync Duo application, which offers real-time navigation and connectivity.

On the other hand, the Honda QC1 is equipped with 5.0-inch LCD and a USB Type-C charging port and 26 liters of under-seat storage.

How does the activa e compare to other electric scooters like the Ola electric S1?

The Honda Activa Electric and Ola Electric S1 differ significantly in specifications and features:

-Power and Performance: The Activa Electric will offer a peak output of 6.11 hp, while the Ola S1 provides up to 11 hp, making the Ola sprightlier in performance.

-Range: The Activa Electric boasts a claimed range of 104 km, while the Ola S1 comes in multiple variants with ranges from 85 km to 195 km depending on the battery size.

-Features: The Ola S1 has a 7-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, and multiple riding modes, whereas the Activa is focused on traditional features such as keyless operation and silent start.

-Pricing: The Activa is generally more reasonably priced, starting at a price of ₹76,684, while the base variant of the Ola S1 starts at ₹1.35 lakh.

Overall, while the Activa is known for being reliable and having a big service network, the Ola S1 offers sophisticated technology and better performance suited for urban commutes.

What are the critical benefits of the OLA S1 AIR OVER THE ACTIVA E?

-The Honda Activa Electric has several plus points over the Ola S1 Air:

-Performance: The S1 Air has a peak power of 6 kW (approximately 8 hp) compared to the Activa’s lower output, allowing for a top speed of 85 km/h versus the Activa’s 80 km/h .

–Range: The S1 Air boasts a claimed range of 151 km, surpassing the Activa’s 102 km per charge, making it more suitable for longer commutes 23.

Charging Time: The S1 Air will take 4.5 hours to charge fully, while the Activa’s takes more than that to fully charge .

-Technology and Features: S1 Air features a 7-inch TFT display with latest connectivity features, thus adding more comfort to the experience as compared to the setup in Activa .

On the whole, the Ola S1 Air shines for its performance, range, and technological developments.

#What are the major differences that set apart the Ola S1 AIR from the ACTIVA E.

The key features distinguishing the Ola S1 Air from the Honda Activa Electric are as follows.

-Power and Performance: The S1 Air boasts a peak output of 4.5 kW (about 6 hp), while the Activa Electric has an output of around 6.11 hp. But the S1 Air can hit a top speed of 90 km/h, a little higher than the Activa’s 80 km/h .

-Range: The Ola S1 Air claims to offer a range of 151 km, which is a lot more than the 102 km per charge offered by the Activa .

-Technology: The S1 Air is a high-tech vehicle with a 7-inch TFT display, Bluetooth connectivity, navigation, and OTA updates. It is definitely more advanced than the very basic Activa .

-Charging Time: The S1 Air has a charge time of 4.5 hours, making it a competitive electric scooter. For the Activa, no charging time was given but generally, it takes more than 12 hours to charge.

These features make the Ola S1 Air a more technologically advanced option for urban commuting.

#What are the user experiences with the Ola S1 air versus the Activa e?

User experiences with the Ola S1 Air and Honda Activa Electric vary significantly:

-Performance: Users in general praise the Ola S1 Air for its decent performance and acceleration. As an example, they opine that it handles the traffic of cities quite effortlessly, though some report calibration problems with the throttle – which is jerky sometimes.

-Comfort and Ride Quality: The Activa Electric is frequently praised for its comfortable ride and refined engine, making it suitable for longer journeys. In contrast, users of the Ola S1 Air appreciate its lightweight design, which enhances maneuverability but sometimes leads to a less stable feel at higher speeds.

-Features and Technology: Ola S1 Air has features that include a modern feature like a TFT display and connectivity with a smartphone. It is enjoyed by users due to these technological advances; the Activa lacks this kind of feature.

-Service and Maintenance: Ola’s service and maintenance are reported by most of its customers to be more satisfactory compared to traditional petrol scooters such as the Activa.

On the whole, while the Ola S1 Air is liked for performance and features, comfort and reliability win over in Activa Electric.

#What common problems are faced by the users with Ola S1 Air and Activa e?

The following common problems are faced by the Ola S1 Air users and the Honda Activa Electric:

#Ola S1 Air

-Battery Degradation: Users have experienced rapid battery capacity loss, especially in the last 10% of charge, which impacts overall range and performance .

-Software Glitches: Frequent software issues require users to restart the scooter frequently, with unresponsive screens during rain or high heat .

-Service Challenges: Many report difficulties accessing timely service, with long wait times for repairs and inadequate customer support .

-Quality Construction: It rattles the parts and does not absorb shock as well, and seat discomfort for taller riders is often complained about .

*Honda Activa Electric

-Performance Issues: Underwhelming power output of Activa compared to competitors reduces its ability to accelerate and climb up hills

-Feature Limitation: Compared to newer models like the Ola, the Activa misses the advanced tech features leading to a relatively more mundane riding experience .

-Service Availability: Although usually trustworthy, some users have cited delayed service appointments and lack of parts availability because of the high demand .

Both scooters are strong but have challenges affecting user satisfaction.

#How do the maintenance costs of Ola S1 Air compare with the Activa e?

The maintenance costs of the Ola S1 Air and the Honda Activa Electric vary significantly:

-Ola S1 Air: The running cost is about ₹0.13 per km considering electricity costs at about ₹5.5 per unit. The overall maintenance is typically lower as it has fewer moving parts and no regular oil change or fuel expenses are incurred. The scooter is covered for three years or 40,000 km, while the battery gets a three-year unlimited-km warranty.

-Honda Activa Electric: The running costs aren’t detailed, but a normal petrol scooter like the Activa incurs more expense in terms of fuel price and regular servicing. In the case of the Activa, maintenance is more predictable but will be higher in the long run compared to electric variants.

In summary, the Ola S1 Air has lower running and maintenance costs, making it economical in the long run as compared to the Activa Electric.

#Are there any extra costs associated with charging the Ola S1 Air at home?

There are a few extra costs incurred while charging the Ola S1 Air at home:

-Installation Fee: In case you want an Ola service executive to install a home charger for you, this may range between ₹2,000 to ₹3,000 .

-Electricity Costs: it depends on the locality for full charging of the Ola S1 Air however, it is reported at ₹7 to ₹27 per charge, according to local electricity rates and usage .

Thus, the installation cost may go toward a one-time expenditure in the initial stage. It is relatively lower as an ongoing electricity cost compared with using traditional fuels.