Honda e:Swap Battery Swapping Network Launch Dates Revealed

Quick News Highlights:

• The battery swapping stations will be first setup in Bengaluru by Feb 2025

• Mumbai and New Delhi to follow by April 2025

• Honda has partnered with petroleum companies for setting up the stations

Honda Power Pack Energy India (HEID), the battery swapping division of Honda, has announced that it will launch its Honda e:Swap service. It is for the recently unveiled Activa electric. It will be first launched in Bengaluru from February 2025 and then New Delhi, Mumbai will follow by April 2025.

Honda just launched the Honda Activa e: on 27 November 2024, the electric version of its best selling Activa scooter. The new model uses swappable batteries, developed and supported by HEID. It was launched alongside another electric scooter, the Honda QC1, which comes with a fixed battery.

Honda plans to significantly expand its network of battery-swapping stations. The brand plans to install 250 stations in Bengaluru, 150 in New Delhi, and 100 in Mumbai by March 2026. This expansion will facilitate easier access for a larger user base. To use these stations, customers will need a  membership, which can be registered for when buying the electric Activa.

The brand is in the process of setting up more partnerships with petroleum companies and electricity providers to set up the swapping stations at strategic locations. These stations serve two-wheelers and auto-rickshaws that use swappable batteries (Honda Mobile Power Pack e:).

Bookings for the Honda Activa e: will open on January 1, 2025, with deliveries starting in February 2025. The Activa e: will be equipped with two 1.5kWh swappable batteries, providing a claimed range of 102km on a full charge. The scooter is powered by a 6kW motor, delivering a peak of 22Nm. It offers three riding modes—Econ, Standard, and Sport. It has a top speed of 80km/h in Sport mode and an acceleration from 0 to 60km/h in just 7.3seconds.

The Activa e: also features a 7-inch TFT display with advanced connectivity via the Honda RoadSync Duo app. The display supports navigation and can be operated using toggle switches on the handlebar, with both day and night modes for improved visibility. The scooter is equipped with 12-inch alloy wheels, telescopic forks at the front, dual rear springs, and a disc-drum brake setup.

In contrast, Honda’s other electric scooter, the QC1, features a fixed 1.5kWh battery pack powering a compact in-wheel motor. The QC1 offers a range of 80 km and a top speed of 50 km/h.