The Honda Activa has been a household name since its debut in 2001. Over the past two decades and more, it has sold nearly 3.5 crore units, making it the best-selling scooter in the world. It revolutionised the four-stroke scooter segment and redefined urban mobility. Its popularity even paved the way for today’s electric scooter boom. While nearly every major manufacturer, along with startups, has jumped on the EV bandwagon, Honda took its time, carefully studying the segment before introducing an e-scooter that addresses real-world user concerns.
Interestingly, Honda has been making electric scooters for decades, with its first model hitting the Japanese market back in 1994 called the CUV ES (look it up, still looks super cool even today). In India, after years of testing and market research, the brand has launched not just one but two electric scooters: the Activa e: and the more affordable QC1 (read the first ride review here).
Honda’s goal was to make the Activa e: as familiar as its petrol-powered sibling while ensuring it stands out as an EV. Inspired by the CUV e: concept showcased at EICMA 2024, the Activa e: dials back the sportiness for a more family-friendly look.
The front features a large LED headlamp with integrated indicators, while a sleek DRL strip across the upper fairing adds a modern touch. The body-coloured mirrors complement the design, and the silhouette remains classic Activa—clean and practical. A dual-tone seat sits atop neatly sculpted bodywork, with flush-fitting foldable footrests and an elegant Activa e: badge on the rear panel.
From the left side, the Honda electric motor stands out, while the right side showcases the striking diamond-cut alloy wheel. But it’s the rear that impresses the most, with its wraparound LED tail lamp and integrated indicators, giving it a futuristic and premium look. Fit, finish, and build quality are top-notch—arguably one of the best in the segment.
The Activa e: uses an underbone frame housing a 6kW PMSM swingarm-mounted motor—similar to the one in the CUV e:. What sets it apart from the rivals is its smooth, refined power delivery. While many EV scooters have a sudden torque surge, Honda has deliberately tuned the Activa e: for a more linear, predictable response. It’s still torquier than its petrol counterpart, with 22Nm of max torque available instantly.
Acceleration is brisk but not breathtaking, with a claimed 0-60 kmph time of 7.3 seconds. The top speed is officially 80 kmph, but I managed to hit an indicated 89 kmph on a downhill stretch. While we didn’t test it extensively on inclines, Honda claims a 13-degree gradability.
The motor remains whisper-quiet across all speeds, reducing fatigue on longer rides. There are three riding modes: Econ, Standard, and Sport. Econ limits top speed to 50 kmph for maximum efficiency, while Sport offers the most responsive throttle. Standard mode strikes a balance, but I found Sport to be the most engaging—though it’s unavailable when battery levels drop below 30 percent.
Weighing in at 119kg, the Activa e: feels light and effortless, masking the kerb weight effectively, which makes it perfect for navigating city traffic. The 12-inch wheels, telescopic front fork, and three-step adjustable rear monoshock ensure a comfortable ride, even over potholes. The footboard is spacious, and ergonomics are just as intuitive as other Honda scooters. Braking is handled by a front disc and rear drum setup, with no ABS—a feature still absent on most electric scooters.
In terms of battery and charging architecture, Honda has played its trump card. Unlike most rivals that use fixed batteries, the Activa e: features two swappable lithium-ion battery packs (1.5kWh each, totaling 3kWh). Honda has already set up e: Swap stations in Bangalore (231), Mumbai (28), and Delhi (110), with more cities to follow. The swappable system means a full charge takes just a few minutes—the time it takes to pull out the battery and insert a fully-charged one, eliminating the hassle of long charging times.
During my test ride, on open roads with a little bit of city riding mixed in, I was able to cover about 60km with speeds averaging below 50 kmph, which was below what I expected. Interestingly, even when the range indicator hit zero, the scooter kept going for another 8km, getting me back to the hotel without shutting down. Honda claims an ideal range of 102km, though real-world numbers will likely vary. In case you run out of charge before you can make it to a swapping station, Honda’s rescue service can deliver a fully charged battery within minutes. We were able to experience this first-hand as during our test, the support rider arrived in under 10 minutes, and the swap was quick and seamless. However, it’s best to swap batteries proactively to avoid being stranded.
The Activa e: comes with no fixed batteries and has to opt for the battery as a service (BaaS) that is being offered by Honda based on the user’s range and energy requirement. For 35kWh a month which Honda claims equates to about 40km a day of riding, the basic plan can be availed at Rs 1999 a month while 87kWh a month or about 100kms a day of riding (per the manufacturer) will require the user to choose the advance plan priced at Rs 3599 a month. These prices are excluding GST and are not part of the vehicle cost.
The Activa e: is offered in two variants, the regular variant and the RoadSync Duo variant. The former gets a 5-inch TFT screen with a peak brightness of 1,000 nits and an auto-brightness feature. There’s a side-stand indicator on the screen with various data available as well. A smart key remote is also offered as standard and can be used to unlock the scooter without a key. One can also spot the scooter by using the Smart Find feature on the remote and even start the scooter without the key. This Activa e: base variant is priced at Rs 1.17 lakh, ex-showroom. The top variant, the RoadSync Duo, comes at a premium as it features a larger 7-inch screen and offers the same 1,000 nits of peak brightness. The screen connects to the user’s phone through the Honda RoadSync Duo app and offers a multitude of connectivity features. One can access the various features using a neatly done 5-way navigation button integrated into the switchgear and also control calls and music playback on the phone. The screen is powered by a quad-core processor running a custom Android-based OS and offers 32GB of storage and 6GB of RAM for a smooth and lag-free experience. The OS is also designed well and the UI takes very little time to get used to.
Other features include vehicle tracking, navigation, a battery swap station finder, live tracking and OTA updates. The premium variant is priced at Rs 1.52 lakh, ex-showroom. Both variants get USB charging under the instrumentation and a small glovebox on both sides. There’s also a frunk offered as an accessory that can offer some much-needed storage. Standard warranty is for three years or 50,000km for the battery and motor and can be extended to five years and 70,000km.
Honda took its time entering the EV game, and expectations were sky-high. While the Activa e: delivers in terms of refinement, ride quality, and ease of use, its swappable battery tech is the real game-changer—as long as swap stations are accessible in your city. However, range could be better, and battery swapping costs more than home charging. The premium pricing, especially for the RoadSync Duo variant, also makes it pricier than competitors offering fixed-battery setups with under-seat storage. That said, if you want a refined, well-built, and ultra-convenient electric scooter with no long charging times, the Activa e: is a solid choice. And being an Activa, it’s almost guaranteed to be reliable for years to come.
