Honda has revealed that it will launch 3 new electric 2-wheelers by 2024 as the brand takes yet another step towards an all-electric future.
This was revealed by President and Representative Director of Honda Motor Company, Toshihiro Mibe, recently, who also disclosed the firm’s plan to only sell battery electric and fuel cell electric vehicles globally by 2040.
When it comes to 2-wheelers, the Japanese auto major has plans for improvement of fuel efficiency of petrol engines, utilisation of biofuels, apart from electrification of its products.
The 3 new Honda electric 2-wheelers that will be launched by 2024 include 2 scooters and 1 motorcycle. They will compete against 50cc and 125cc petrol-powered 2-wheelers.
These will join the Gyro e: and Gyro Canopy e: business-use models, while more electric 2-wheelers under what the manufacturer calls the ‘Fun’ segment will also be introduced a bit later.
Honda says the key to successful electrification of motorcycle products is to consider the battery separately from the motorcycle, for the cells are still very expensive.
In developed countries, Honda plans to pursue electrification utilising its ‘Mobile Power Pack’, targeting our B-to-B (business-to-business) and B-to-G (business-to-national/local governments) customers.
For personal-use customers, a large number of battery-swapping stations will be made available and, to this end, Honda has established a consortium with other motorcycle OEMs in Japan and Europe to develop technology standards for swappable batteries.
Apart from launching Honda electric 2-wheelers, the brand aims to expand its mobile power pack applications and has even begun demonstration testing rickshaw type tricycle taxis in India.
That is not all. The Japanese brand also wants zero traffic collision fatalities involving Honda motorcycles and 4-wheelers by 2050. To minimise motorcycle collision fatalities, especially in developing countries, Honda states it will continue to research on safety tech which will lead to a collision-free society.
The first of a series of actions from the brand will be to provide advanced driver assistance systems in all of its new passenger vehicles sold in developed countries by 2030.
In developing nations, Honda plans to initially focus on traffic safety educational activities and government/industry relations activities. The latter, says Honda, will enable it to approach the issue from the perspective of infrastructure and government policies.
