2023 Honda EM1 e electric scooter has debuted in the European market. It offers nimble dynamics with swappable batteries for ease of riding.
- Debuts in Europe - launch by June 2023
- Gets swappable battery packs underneath the riding seat
- Honda promises a real-world riding range of up to 40 km per charge
Honda has finally taken the wraps off its first electric scooter. The 2023 Honda EM1 e e-scooter has debuted in the European market. the 'EM' stands for an electric moped in the nomenclature of Honda. Hence, it boasts small dimensions and lightweight construction. It is destined to be launched by June 2023 in Europe. However, we discuss below whether Honda India will launch it here or not along with its details.
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2023 Honda EM1 e Details
Seeing the design of the EM1 e, it indeed looks small. However, Honda has plans to sell it as a short-distance commuter moped only. Hence, the EM has been added to its name. However, speaking of the riding range, it is capable of doing up to 40 km per charge. This is a real-time riding range figure given by Honda. Meanwhile, this riding range might look very less on paper but the presence of swappable batteries makes up for it. Feature-wise, it gets a disc brake at the front tyre, alloy wheels, & a small touchscreen TFT infotainment display.
Look at the design the e-scooter looks nimble and slim. Honda has used futuristic design elements like square panels and LED lighting. The white & black gloss colour contrast makes it look classy as well. However, there are intelligent design details to notice on it. For example, it gets a large rear parcel tray/luggage carrier. Similarly, the footboard area is bigger & hence the ferrying of luggage shall be more easy. We can not comment on its performance as it is still away from hitting the roads. But, Honda might have done well because this moped/scooter is mainly aimed at delivery service use. Hence, we suspect that B2B deals are also on their way with Honda. Bluetooth connectivity for the smartphone is also offered as standard.
Verdict
While the concept of a nimble scooter is amazing, the EM1 e does tick all the right boxes for India. How? Well, it has a short riding range which comes as a big con for it. Competitors like Ather 450x Gen 3, Ola S1 Pro, & TVS iQube offer more riding range and better performance. However, Honda has not said that it will launch the EM1 e in India. But, another e-scooter with a bigger chassis and better performance might be on its way. It might also get swappable battery technology when it surfaces in the market. Remember the Honda-HPCL swappable charging station deal? Yes, a lot of pieces connect well but the image of a strong contender is still missing for India. Let us know in the comment section what you think about the Honda EM1 e.
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