Honda lays out plans to launch electric scooters in India
Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) has revealed its plans to launch electric vehicles (EVs) in India. As a part of this plan, it will introduce two made-in-India electric scooters by the financial year 2024. For this, it will set up an EV-specific production facility in Southern India. More importantly, Honda will also manufacture battery packs and electric motors in the country.
Honda's upcoming new electric scooters
The two upcoming electric scooters will utilise a newly-developed EV-specific architecture, called Platform 'E'. Honda said that one of the two offerings will be a mid-range electric scooter with a fixed battery pack, whereas another electric scooter will have a swappable battery pack, called Honda Mobile Power Pack e. Notably, one of these EVs is expected to be the long-awaited Activa Electric.
Honda's EV infrastructure
The brand also plans to use its over 6,000 touchpoints to install EV charging stations and battery swapping points. For the battery swapping locations, it will convert some touchpoints into Workshop E - a dedicated chain of EV-specific touchpoints equipped with EV chargers and battery swapping stations. Honda Power Pack Energy India Private Limited (HMEI) has already set up 23 battery-swapping stations in Bangalore, Karnataka. It will install about 70 such stations in the city by 2023.
Honda's new electric vehicle plant in India
Furthermore, Honda has confirmed a new manufacturing plant, called Factory E, for electric two-wheelers in Narsapura, Karnataka. With this, It aims to produce 10 lakh (one million) units by the end of this decade. Above all, the battery packs, electric motors, and Power Control Units (PCUs) will also be locally produced.
Honda's plans to launch new ICE two-wheelers
In other news, the two-wheeler maker has announced three new ICE offerings for the Indian market. It will introduce a new 125cc scooter, 160cc motorcycle, and 350cc motorcycle by Diwali this year.