Join 91mobiles WhatsApp Channel
Honda U-Go could be aggressively priced within Rs 1 lakh in India.
Honda is eyeing the electric scooter space in India and rightfully so - many prominent manufacturers in the Indian EV space have tasted decent success. The popularity of a city-friendly e-scooter is only set to grow. Recently, reports from trustworthy sources indicate that Honda is planning to introduce the Honda U-Go electric scooter in India. It appears that Honda has already managed to apply for a patent for the same Honda U-Go which solidifies the chances of the Japanese scooter coming to India. Last year, the U-Go was introduced in the Chinese market, and given the similarities in the two markets. We take a closer look at what the Honda U-Go can offer.
The Honda U-Go could be an excellent value proposition for Indian buyers if Honda manages to price the U-Go at par with its Chinese variant. While specific details are unavailable at the moment if the Chinese market product is anything to go by then the Honda U-Go would be offered in two battery pack options and that will govern the pricing.
The Honda U-Go with a single 48V 30Ah lithium-ion unit that will be available as the lower trim level is priced at RMB 7,499 (approx Rs 86,000). The higher trim level will benefit from a dual battery pack and will be priced slightly higher at RMB 7,999 (approx Rs 92,000). This sub-Rs 1 lakh pricing will pitch it against electric scooters from Bounce and Greta while the e-scooter could also go against the likes of the Ola and Ather which reside on the higher side of the Rs 1 lakh mark.
The Honda U-Go will be a compact electric scooter that will be aimed at urban users who are interested to get a vehicle for last-mile commuting or a short intra-city commute. The e-scooter is 1790mm long and 690mm wide at the front. The scooter tips the scale at 83kg. The design too wraps around the body with minimalist designs on the body panels. Upfront, the apron houses the headlamp cluster with an inverted 'U' shaped DRL and the handlebar is flanked by a pair of LED turn indicators. The rear gets wraparound tail lamps that are simply designed but get modern LED elements within.
The floorboard which is 350mm long will add to the practicality and the saddle which is 740mm high and 600mm long should be able to seat two in decent comfort, especially for shorter commutes within city confines. Practicality is further aided by the inclusion of a 26L under-seat storage space. The front apron also gets pockets to house nick-knacks and is supplemented by a hanging hook and a USB Charger.
The all-electric powertrain on the Honda U-Go comprises a hub-mounted electric motor and a Li-ion battery pack setup. The lower variant uses a 0.8kW motor paired with a single 48V 30Ah lithium-ion unit. This powertrain delivers a range of 65km and propels the scooter to a top speed of 43kmph. The higher-end variant gets a 1.2kW hub motor with a peak power of 1.8kW. The motor is paired to a dual 48V 30Ah lithium-ion unit battery pack that enables the scooter to get a range of 130km and also allows the scooter to go on to a top speed of 53kmph.
The Honda U-Go given the price point will be decently specced out and will get most features that electric scooter buyers have come to expect. The Honda U-Go gets triple beam LED headlamps, LED turn indicators, floating LED tail lamps, inverted LCD multi-information display, USB Charging socket, etc. The scooter also gets a 12-inch front wheel with telescopic front suspension and a disc brake set up and a 10-inch rear wheel set up with a drum brake unit.