Mumbai :In order to take on the inevitable future of total electrification of mobility, many major two-wheeler manufacturers like Harley-Davidson, Yamaha and Ducati have already started developing their own electric powertrains. Now, the latest company to join the pack is Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI), which has also started working on an electric scooter.
The news comes directly from Minoru Kato, president and CEO of HMSI, who said the work is well underway at its headquarters in Japan. He also stated that “Inputs are also being taken from the Indian operation.”
According to the CEO, it is a struggle to meet the expectations of Indian customers even with Honda’s vast global experience in electric two-wheeler segment. There are certain challenges like pricing, battery range and performance that needs to be addressed before making a commitment.
Kato further stated that they are targeting a minimum range of 100km on a single charge. However, when asked how soon we will be able to see a Honda electric scooter in India, his answer was: “Nobody knows the timeline as yet.”
The electric two-wheeler market in India is quite tricky for many manufacturers. Customers shy away from buying an electric scooter due to its inherent drawbacks such as limited range, expensive price tag and overall fragile construction. Now, with Honda’s willingness to enter the segment, the expectations are quite high.
Honda recently announced its outline for the FY 2018-19, which involves one new launch and over 18 model updates.
