Honda has launched its most trusted scooter, the Honda Activa, in an electric avatar, but is it really a great deal? The company claims a range of 102 km, but in the real world, its mileage and running cost have surprised everyone. In this detailed analysis, know the reality of Honda Activa e and why it can be a burden on your budget.
Recently, India’s largest two-wheeler company, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI), has launched the electric version of its most popular scooter, Honda Activa e, in the market. The company has kept its starting price at ₹ 1.17 lakh, which goes up to ₹ 1.52 lakh. The company claims that this electric scooter will give a great range of 102 km on a full charge. But is this claim true in reality? A recent mileage test has exposed this claim, and some shocking truths have come to light.
Big difference between claims and reality
The Honda Activa e is fitted with two 1.5kWh swappable batteries, named Honda Mobile Power Pack e. According to the company, these two batteries together give a range of 102 km. But in a real-world test conducted in the city of Bengaluru, when these batteries were fully used, the scooter was able to run only 56.6 km. This is 45.4 km less than the company’s claim! This shortcoming is a big blow to electric scooter buyers, who often trust the company’s claim.
More expensive than petrol scooters
The biggest feature of the Honda Activa e is its battery swapping plan. The company has not given ownership of the battery to the customer. This means that you have to go to Honda’s swapping station to charge the battery and replace your discharged battery with a charged battery there.
Its running cost is also shocking. The company’s basic plan is ₹2000 + GST (₹2360), in which you can use up to 35 kWh of energy. One swap consumes 3 kWh of energy. Accordingly, for ₹2360, you can swap the battery about 12 times; that is, one swap costs about ₹196. In this way, the cost per kilometer of the Honda Activa Electric is more than that of a normal petrol scooter.
Questions on convenience, not battery ownership
At present, the company has launched Activa e only in Bangalore and has built many battery swapping stations. But not having battery ownership can create problems for customers. They will always have to depend on Honda’s station to swap the battery. This is a big drawback for those who like to charge their vehicle at their home or office.
Overall, the real mileage and cost per kilometer of the Honda Activa e are completely different from the company’s claims. Firstly, its price is high, and on top of that, the running cost is also equal to or more than that of a petrol scooter. In such a situation, it can be difficult for customers to decide whether this electric scooter is the right investment for them.